Mario Adinolfi arrested: fraud and tax evasion totalling 400,000 euros
The leader of the Popolo della Famiglia has been placed under house arrest. Roman magistrates accuse him of defrauding investors through a fundraising scheme linked to sports betting.
Mario Adinolfi arrested: fraud and tax evasion totalling 400,000 euros
Magistrates in Rome have ordered house arrest for Mario Adinolfi, founder and leader of the Popolo della Famiglia party. The man, a journalist and former deputy, must answer charges of aggravated fraud and tax fraud: the tax evasion is estimated at around 400,000 euros.
Investigations conducted by the Guardia di Finanza at the request of the Rome prosecutor's office have uncovered a money-collection scheme dubbed "collective betting". Through social media channels, Adinolfi allegedly persuaded private citizens to hand over substantial sums — up to 150,000 euros in the case of some participants — promising returns derived from gambling on sports competitions.
The judge for preliminary investigations, in the arrest decree, highlighted the suspect's ability to orchestrate the criminal scheme with determination and skill. The financial flows analysed would demonstrate a systematic intention to conceal income and evade tax authorities' oversight. The conduct, repeated over time by multiple victims using recurring methods, would reveal widespread dangerousness, amplified by the suspect's public visibility.
According to the prosecution, the unlawfully collected money was reinvested in luxury goods: houses, cruises, boats and wristwatches.
Adinolfi, assisted by criminal defence lawyer Riccardo Di Lorenzo, has rejected all charges. In a statement released following news of the restrictive measure, he declared himself "completely unrelated to the facts", describing the entire matter as "surreal". He announced an appeal to the Court of Review and reiterated that he leads an ascetic existence, denying that he ever profited from people who shared his passion for betting with him.
Source: Sky TG24
Source: Google News IT — Crime (it)