A nationwide system, a web of companies—some already closed—and a specific goal: to fraudulently gain access to public funding intended for the development of Southern Italy.
This is what emerges from the notice of conclusion of the preliminary investigations served by Public Prosecutor Giovanni Corona of the Public Prosecutor's Office at the Court of Naples North.
The investigation, which could be dubbed the "False South," involves 29 people (one of whom remains untraceable) under investigation, on various counts, for aggravated fraud against the Revenue Agency (articles 640 bis and 61 no. 7 of the Criminal Code), a crime charged as a criminal conspiracy aimed at the systematic dispossession of state funds.
The prosecution's case, reconstructed by investigators, appears well-tested and repetitive. The suspects, in their capacity as legal representatives of companies operating in diverse sectors (from construction to restaurants, from metals trading to consulting), allegedly submitted tax returns to the Revenue Agency for the years 2020, 2021, 2022, and in one case, 2023.
In these documents, in the RU section, they indicated the existence of a tax credit with tax code 80 (DTA – Deduction for Investments in Southern Italy) of an exorbitant amount and, according to the prosecution, completely non-existent.
The aim was to deceive the Agency officials, obtaining formal recognition of the credit and, consequently, the possibility of using it as a set-off or requesting reimbursement, thus causing financial damage.
In several cases, the fraudulent scheme was two-pronged: in addition to declaring the fictitious credit, the suspects also allegedly submitted specific communications of investment in Southern Italy (CIM), certifying the completion of works or acquisitions of assets worth millions of euros that were never actually realized. Through this second channel, they also allegedly obtained the illicit recognition of additional, substantial credits.
The amount of the alleged fraud: over 140 million euros
An analysis of the documents, adding together the amounts of the fictitious DTA credits declared and those obtained through non-existent investment disclosures, shows the potential damage to the Treasury exceeds €140 million. This is a conservative estimate, based on specific disputes. Among the most significant claims are:
Russian Rosary (director of an electrical installations company in Brescia): fictitious credit of €20.074.555.
Anna Ioele (director of several Neapolitan companies): fictitious credits and false investments totaling more than 30 million euros between various companies.
Giuseppe Spina (director of companies in Campania and Lombardy): overall, for 5 different companies, illicit debts amounting to over €22 million.
Luigi Noto (director of a construction company in Benevento): fictitious credit of €6.783.215.
Henryk Kwiatkowski (director of a construction company in Rome): fictitious credit of €15.610.000.
The geography of the suspects and the companies involved paints a national map of the alleged fraud, with epicenters in Campania, Lombardy, Lazio, and Piedmont, but with offshoots in Veneto, Tuscany, Puglia, Sicily, and Emilia-Romagna. This aspect, combined with the similar operating methods, underpins the conspiracy hypothesis contested by the Prosecutor's Office.
The investigation, now formally concluded, opens the way for the defense phase. All the suspects, represented by a panel of lawyers from across Italy, have 20 days to review the case files, submit briefs, produce documents, and request questioning. After this deadline, Prosecutor Giovanni Corona will decide whether to request indictment for all or some of the suspects.
The extensive list of defense attorneys includes, among others, Vincenzo Miele, Pasquale Di Marzo, Valeria Verrusio, Massimo Viscusi, Vincenzo Barone Lumaga, Paolo Zinno, Luigi Alaia, Francesco Schettino, and Pietro Lamberti.
LIST OF INVESTIGATED
MONFORTE SYMONCHUK Svitlana, born on 01/11/1997 in Ukraine.
DE CAPUA Luigia, born on 09.05.1984, resident in Tufino (NA).
GNECCO Giuseppe, born on 19.01.1977 in San Paolo Bel Sito (NA).
ESPOSITO Stella, born on 23.09.1965 in Nola (NA).
NOTO Luigi, born on 04.07.1960 in San Nicola Manfredi (BN).
SORVILLO Fabio, born on 07.08.1974 in Naples (NA).
CAMPAGNA Anna, born on 19.03.1981 in Naples (NA).
PAGANO Annunziata, born on 05.08.1989 in Naples (NA).
CAPPAI Luisa, born on 06.05.2001 in Naples (NA).
SPINA Giuseppe, born on 21.09.1950 in San Giorgio a Cremano (NA).
Mr. Renato, born on 12.11.1964 in Naples (NA).
RUSSO Rosario, born on 09.07.1966 in Centuripe (EN).
IOELE Anna, born on 16.04.1963 in Naples (NA).
BUSIELLO Salvatore, born on 02.01.1967 in Portici (NA).
D'ALBENZIO Mauro, born on 07.06.1970 in Naples (NA).
VIGLIONE Vincenzo, born on 28.06.1963 in Naples (NA).
BARILE Lucia, born on 30.11.1962 in Naples (NA).
PARTY Giovanna Antida, born on 24.01.1983 in Naples (NA).
IANNIELLO Aniello, born on 02.06.1983 in Battipaglia (SA).
FIAMMENGHI Katiuschia, born on 06.10.1982 in Battipaglia (SA).
ROMANO Massimo, born on 24.04.1968 in Livorno (LI).
KWIATKOWSKI Henryk, born 05.02.1952 in Poland.
ABBATE Emilio, born on 20.07.1975 in Caserta (CE).
STAIANO Jessica, born on 26.02.1992 in Naples (NA).
SCARCI Emanuele, born 11.12.1975 in Taranto.
CANNAVALE Tobia, born on 15.03.1967 in Castellammare di Stabia (NA).
AMBROSINO Cristian, born on 17.06.1999 in Naples (NA).
PELLECCHIA Lucia Carla, born on 10.04.1968 in Petilia Policastro (CZ).
VOLGARE Giuseppe, born on 20.12.1977 in Melfi (PZ).
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Comments (1)
The article explains the situation of these people under investigation for fraud very well, but I wonder how it's possible no one checked beforehand. It's important that justice be done in these cases.