In the early hours of today's morning, the Genoa State Police executed an order for the application of precautionary measures issued by the Judge for preliminary investigations at the Court of Genoa, at the request of the Public Prosecutor's Office - District Anti-Mafia and Anti-Terrorism Directorate, in against nine people living in Genoa and in the province of Alessandria, one of whom has already been convicted of mafia-type criminal association, as he is believed to be affiliated with the Fiandaca clan of Nissena origin, part of Cosa Nostra, but long rooted in Genoa. The recipients of the precautionary measure are seriously suspected of having jointly committed the crime of usury and criminal association aimed at illegally collecting bets.
The suspects are accused of having created a complex system for collecting bets on sporting events, managed via one of the most common electronic messaging platforms. The system was an alternative to the legal one which can be accessed by betting at a betting agency authorized by the State to collect money. The numerous bettors identified could play by formulating bets on sporting events, accruing a debt corresponding to the sum they had bet: some players, in the event of a loss (a rather frequent circumstance), became so indebted that they were unable to repay the sums of money you play. In these cases, sometimes, a mechanism was triggered whereby usurious rates were applied to the debts which continued to accrue until the debt was repaid.
In particular, from the investigations conducted by the staff of the Flying Squad and the Investigative Section of the Central Operational Service of Genoa (SISCO) of the State Police, it emerged that at the center of the system there were two subjects, both already accused in conspiracy for the crime of fictitious registration from the Genoa Prosecutor's Office.
During the investigations, it also emerged that one of these, in collaboration with a real estate agent, had granted a loan at a usurious rate to a man who wanted to sell a house and who needed a sum of money to pay off a bond from which the real estate was encumbered. The same suspect, who illegally carried out the profession of insurance intermediary, found himself at the center of a money lending circuit that was still being investigated.
In the next few days the Police will take statements from people able to provide useful information regarding this latest profile.
The same suspect is also responsible for the crime of self-laundering for having "cleaned" the proceeds of criminal activities by betting systematically and through the mechanism of "hedge bets" on sporting events using legitimate channels.
During the investigation, the managers of three betting agencies in Genoa were also identified and subjected to a local search this morning; all operators involved were part of the illegal bet collection system and used the agencies to disguise the more profitable illicit traffic. In the next few days, the administrative profiles relating to the continuation of the requirements for maintaining the license to carry out the activities will be evaluated.
The charges also include the granting of a loan at a usurious rate in which the main suspect is involved together with another to whom the crime of usury is attributed in relation to a loan granted at interest higher than the legal rate to a player suffering from gambling addiction.
The precautionary measure, carried out today thanks also to the support of the crews of the Liguria Crime Prevention Department, was issued in total against nine people, three of whom were sent to prison while three other suspects were subject to the measure of house arrest at their respective homes. Finally, the less afflictive measure of the obligation to stay was applied to the remaining three.
One of the 9 suspects is also the recipient of a preventive seizure order for an amount equal to the value of the illicit profits achieved over time.
At the same time as the precautionary measures, the State Police is carrying out a series of searches delegated by the Judicial Authority of Genoa.
The presumption of innocence referred to in art. 27 of the Constitution for suspects.
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