The Anti-Mafia Investigation Directorate of Messina, coordinated by the Prosecutor’s Office, executed the seizure decrees, issued by the Prevention Measures Section of the Peloritano Court at the request of the District Anti-Mafia Directorate, against two brothers already convicted of mafia association, for having participated in the maintenance of the mafia association promoted and organized respectively by Francesco and Vincenzo Romeo, belonging to Cosa Nostra and connected to the clan Santapaola-Ercolano, already subjected to special public security surveillance with the obligation to reside in the Municipality of Messina for 4 years.
The ablative provision arose from a proposal jointly signed by the Director of the DIA and the District Attorney of Messina, following complex economic and financial investigations, from which it emerged that the recipients of the measure, during the period of time in which they were responsible for serious crimes, had accumulated assets disproportionate to their declared incomes, a clear result also of the profitable illicit activities carried out.
In particular, it was judicially ascertained that the defendants operated in close synergy with a top exponent of the mafia association, who largely favored them, also by exploiting his criminal charisma, in their professional activity in the field of drug distribution.
The seizure concerned 3 apartments and a garage located in Messina and its province, as well as a commercial business in the city center, traced back to one of the two subjects affected by the measure, although formally registered in the mother’s name. Furthermore, multiple financial relationships were seized, mainly consisting of postal savings bonds. Overall, real estate, commercial companies and financial relationships were insured to the Treasury for values equal to €1,000,000.00.