They had set up a system based on three “paper mill” companies, without employees and a real commercial activity, established for the sole purpose of issuing fictitious invoices, a turnover of around 10 million euros according to the Guardia di Finanza: 14 subjects, of which 8 natural persons and 6 companies active in the construction sector are accused in various capacities of issuing and using false invoices. The Parma yellow flames seized bank accounts, real estate units and vehicles for a total value of over 1,100,000 euros. The investigations conducted by the military of the Fidenza lieutenancy involved Parma, Reggio Emilia, Cremona and Crotone, where some of the companies involved had their headquarters.
According to the investigators, the system allowed the “customers” of the paper mills to reduce revenues and reduce the taxes to be paid to the state, allowing the creation of slush funds for the owners of the companies. Once payment of the invoices was received through traced channels, the administrators of the paper mills would withdraw the money that was returned in cash, retaining a “commission” of between 10 and 15% of the taxable amount, as compensation for issuing the false invoice. In the home of one of the suspects there is a price list was found containing the percentages that would have been due to the issuer and a “discount” proportional to the volume of false invoices requested by customers.