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As part of detailed investigations delegated by this Public Ministry – District Anti-Mafia Directorate, the Financiers of the Provincial Command of the Guardia di Finanza of Catania, with the collaboration and support of the SCICO (Central Organized Crime Investigation Service), carried out a ‘ Precautionary measures order issued by the GIP in the local court against 18 people, subjected to investigation, for various reasons, for criminal association of the mafia type, extortion, usury, dismantling of auctions, personal aid, detention and Weapons
At the same time, the preventive seizure, for a total value of one million euros, of the shares and corporate assets of “FRISCUS srl”, a company operating in the transport logistics sector, whose property was registered, was carried out fictitiously in the name of a figurehead of the clan, in order to evade patrimonial investigations.
The complex investigation activity, carried out by the Economic-Financial Police Unit of Catania, involved 37 subjects and was conventionally called “REPORT”, in reference to the orders that Orazio SCUTO (alias “the glazier”) – regent of the “clan LAUDANI ”for the Acese area and detained in Caltanissetta – he imparted to his associates through“ pizzini ”hidden in packages of fruit juices or chocolate bars and which were taken out of the prison with the help of Valentina SCUTO. The communication system has enabled SCUTO Orazio to issue directives to its closest associates externally, both in relation to the management of FRISCUS Srl, and in relation to some initiatives to be undertaken in the context of criminal activities attributable to the group.
The investigations, carried out by the specialized units of the GICO of Catania, revealed the operating methods of some of the most operative groups belonging to the “LAUDANI” clan, including the one headed by Orazio SCUTO and physically managed in the area by Litterio “Rino” . “MESSINA, in addition to tracking serious extortion episodes against Catania businessmen carried out by members of the” SANTAPAOLA clan. “
In particular, researchers from the PEF Nucleus of Catania have rebuilt, first, the network of illicit interests of the “LAUDANI clan”, active in extortion and with interests in the sector related to bankruptcy proceedings.
In detail, in the course of the investigations, in the first place 8 episodes of extortion were found, in some cases carried out by members of the clan to the detriment of businessmen and professionals to finance the association while, in other circumstances, members of the association Criminals have acted to illegally favor businessmen, who in the face of unpaid commercial credits have preferred, instead of proceeding legally, to resort to the intermediation of mafia exponents to recover the sums, using the force of intimidation linked to belonging to this last to the criminal organization and in order to speed up the credit collection procedure.
The other sector involved in investigative activities is represented by interference in judicial procedures for the auction of goods.
In this context, individuals belonging to or close to the Laudani clan intervened, on several occasions, so that businessmen declared bankrupt – against whom the real estate foreclosure procedure had been activated – could illegally recover the property put up for auction, obtaining a profit. In this context, exponents of the “Laudani clan” acted, resorting to threats and intimidation, in order to inhibit the participation of potential bidders in the execution procedure, thus guaranteeing the debtor to obtain, although through fictitious owners, the return of goods.
In this context, one of the episodes that was the subject of investigative attention by the GICO concerned a real estate auction procedure carried out in the Court of Catania. On this occasion, a businessman, owner of an apartment in bankruptcy, requested and obtained the intervention of the aforementioned Litterio “Rino” MESSINA, in order to alter the procedure for the sale of the property. On that occasion, the group identified a compliant front man and, at the same time, fired potential bidders through the use of intimidation and threats.
In this context, the conduct developed by subjects belonging to the Laudani clan was particularly serious, through which the buyers of the foreclosed property were forced by threats to resell the property, at a base price, to the foreclosed debtor who had requested and obtained the intervention of the first
During the investigations, other crimes committed by members of the “SANTAPAOLA clan” against businessmen from Catania were also highlighted. In particular, the investigations highlighted a first extortionate conduct in which Salvatore MAZZAGLIA and Mirko Pompeo CASESA, demanded from businessmen active in the territory of Catania and the province, the payment of a periodic sum of money to guarantee the security of the plays. .
In addition, the investigations revealed an important availability of weapons of the members of the mafia organization, which were used in the realization of violent episodes and intimidation. Of particular importance, in this context, was the figure of Giacomo CAGEGGI (alias “the boxer” or “Rocky”), a reference to the “Laudani clan” for Lineri and Misterbianco, several times the protagonist of punitive armed expeditions and intimidation against rival clans.
LIST OF RECIPIENTS OF THE PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE
CASES IN PRISON
- BONACCORSO Carmelo
born 12/28/1962 in Catania (CT) - BONANNO Rosario
born 08/10/1962 in Catania (CT) - BRANCATO Girolamo
born on 11/20/1973 in Catania (CT) - CAGGEGI Giacomo
born 04/28/1980 in Catania (CT) - CARUSO Alberto Gianmarco Angelo
born on 03/31/1980 in Catania (CT) - CASESA Mirko Pompeo
born 10/03/1983 in Catania (CT) - MAZZAGLIA Salvatore
born on 05/29/1957 in Nicolosi (CT) - MESSINA Litterio
born 10/16/1962 in Catania (CT) - PUGLISI Antonino
born 08/03/1965 in Catania (CT) - SCUTO Orazio Salvatore
born 01/01/1959 in Aci Catena (CT)
HOUSE ARREST
- TIEZZI Dante Giuseppe
born 02/12/1962 in Catania (CT) - SIDOTI Rosaria Gabriella
born in Catania on 07/18/1972 - PAPPALARDO Vincenzo Massimiliano
born in Catania on 08/13/1969 - ANCIENT Luca
born 02/05/1974 in Paternò (CT) - GIUFFRIDA Alfio
born 04/02/1966 in Biancavilla (CT) - MANNINO Rosario
born 06/10/1964 in Germany (EE) - PAPPALARDO Gianfranco Antonino
born 05/10/1972 in Paternò (CT) - SCUTO Valentina Concetta Caterina
born 07/23/1987 in Catania (CT)
