Leaders and followers of the ‘Ndrangheta “Borghetto-Latella” gang, among the alleged mafia souls of the southern urban belt, and in the Modena, Ciccarello and San Giorgio Extra districts, will appear in the Court of Appeal from 23 September after the heavy sentences received at first instance. The “Garden” trial will be celebrated in front of the first section panel. 19 in the dock: Davide Berlingeri (1998), Francesco Bevilacqua (1993), Giovanni Cacopardo (1972), Armando Catanzariti (1970), Antonino Familiari (1976), Francesco Ferrante (1975), Maurizio Filocamo (1978), Pasquale Giulio Fumante (1998), Badr Guasby (1999), Bruno Iaria (1977), Carmelo Rocco Iaria (1974), Angelo Latella (1990), Vincenzo Malaspina (1972), Felice Melchionna (1969), Giovanbattista Mento (1983), Fabio Pennestrì ((1982), Matteo Perla (1962), Nicola Danilo Polimeno (1968), Francesco Saraceno (1983).
The parallel line with the ordinary rite is being defined. Among the civil parties are the Ministry of the Interior and the Government’s extraordinary commissioner for the coordination of anti-racket and anti-usury initiatives, the Municipality of Reggio.
In the first instance, despite the reduction due to the choice of the abbreviated procedure, the Gup imposed penalties as heavy as a boulder – 20 years of imprisonment – on the alleged leaders of the gang and specifically those who were considered, by the DDA first and by the Gup in the sentence, among the promoters of the mafia association. Among the anti-mafia pool’s complaints, in addition to mafia association, extortion, illegal possession and carrying of firearms, drug dealing and trafficking, usury, and the escalation of the nomads of the community of southern Reggio, the same ones who roam around the buildings in the Marconi and Ciccarello districts. And according to the investigators of the Gico of the Economic-Financial Police Unit of the Guardia di Finanza of Reggio weapons are available to the clan.
The judge of the preliminary hearing also applied a heavy hand to the gang that lorded it over between Ciccarello and the buildings in the Marconi district where they had set up a thriving drug dealing square.