It ended with 14 reduced sentences (of which 10 agreed between prosecution and defense) and one acquittal the second degree trial of ordinary procedure arising from the “Isola Scaligera” investigation coordinated by the Venice DDA that in 2020 defeated the “Verona cell” of the Arena-Nicoscia clan of Isola Capo Rizzuto. This was established the other day by the Court of Appeal of Venice which reiterated, in essence, the evidentiary system outlined by the Court of Verona with the ruling of 1 March 2023. With the “Isola Scaligera” operation that began on 4 June four years ago with 26 precautionary measures carried out by the State Police, the Anti-Mafia prosecutors said they were convinced they had dismantled a criminal organization capable of dictating the law in Verona and the province through extortion, fraud, money laundering, corruption, bid rigging, false invoices and drug trafficking.
The sentences: Totareddu, Antonio Giardino, known as “The Great”, received 29 years and months in prison (30 years in the first instance); Alfredo Giardino, 19 years (30 years); Michele Pugliese, 17 years (23 years); and Francesco Vallone, 13 years (15 years). The agreed sentences: for the collaborator of justice, Domenico Mercurio, 1 year and 10 months suspended (3 years and 4 months); Francesco Giardino, 6 months (4 years and 8 months); Marchio Brunello, 1 year and 8 months (5 years and 6 months); Francesco Caruso, 1 year and 8 months (2 years and 6 months); Luigi Caruso, 1 year and 6 months (2 years and 6 months); Francesco Scino, 1 year and 7 months (3 years); Francesca Durante, 1 year and 6 months (2 years and 3 months); Agostino Durante, 3 years (4 years and 9 months); Antonio Lo Prete, 1 year and 8 months (8 years and 6 months); and Arcangelo Iedà 1 year, 9 months and 28 days (9 years). Giovanni Giardino acquitted (10 months).