https://www.corrieredellacalabria.i...hieste-condanne-per-oltre-200-anni-nomi/THE PROCESS
'Ndrangheta, Alvaro-Penna gang on trial: sentences requested for over 200 years – NAMES
The Reggio branch of the “Propaggine” investigation. The acquittal of the former mayor of Cosoleto Gioffrè requested
Published: 07/03/2025 – 11:23
The operation of the Reggio Calabria District Anti-Mafia, which began on May 10, 2022, led to the arrest of 34 people, 29 of whom ended up in prison, 5 under house arrest. A blitz born from the investigation coordinated by the then prosecutor Giovanni Bombardieri against the alleged top exponents of the Alvaro di Sinopoli clan, the Reggio branch of the large “Propaggine” investigation of the Rome DDA.
The Alvaro-Penna gang
Now, after almost three years, the prosecutor at the end of the prosecution, has advanced the request for conviction for 14 defendants for over 2 centuries of prison. Among them are Antonio Alvaro known as “u massaru”, Carmelo Alvaro, known as “Bin Laden”, for whom sentences of 16 years and 22 years and 6 months of prison were requested respectively. From the investigations conducted by the Reggio Calabria DIA, it emerged that the Alvaro-Penna clan, in addition to being operational in the territory of Sinopoli, also dominated the urban center of Cosoleto, a town in the Aspromonte, where there is an autonomous 'ndrangheta local but functionally dependent on the one in Sinopoli. For this reason, the request for acquittal of Antonino Gioffrè, former mayor of Cosoleto, stands out, at the time placed under house arrest, on charges of political-mafia electoral exchange and aggravated aiding and abetting. Acquittal also requested for Domenico Rechichi, Giuseppe Durante Palermino, Antonino Gioffrè and Antonio Carzo. Nicola Alvaro, however, died.
Investigations started in Rome in 2016
The investigative activity was started in 2016 by the Operations Center of the DIA with the coordination of the Rome Public Prosecutor's Office. Subsequently, following the emergence of numerous and significant points of contact with Calabrian subjects operating in Sinopoli, Cosoleto and neighboring territories, part of the documents were transmitted for competence and the investigations, for that part, continued with the coordination of the DDA of Reggio Calabria. In addition to confirming the existence of the 'ndrangheta local in the territory of Sinopoli, where the Alvaro mafia family is rooted and to which the Penna family is linked, the investigations made it possible to ascertain how the gang gave life, in the capital, to a branch (called the Rome local), which represents an autonomous "detachment" of the association rooted in Calabria.
Meetings with the Calabrian leaders only for weddings or funerals
According to investigators, with the DIA investigation there is a clear image of the existence of a Roman offshoot, the object of investigations coordinated by the DDA of Rome. Authorized by the highest leaders of the Calabrian 'ndrangheta, it is a place that was in close connection with the "mother house in Sinopoli" that had the task of finding a solution to the frictions between the Roman associates. The observance of traditional rites and languages ??was also exported to Rome. The two leaders of the Roman place limited to a minimum the in-person meetings with the Calabrian leaders, making them coincide with particular events, such as weddings or funerals. (g.curcio@corrierecal.it)
The names:
Antonio Alvaro (class of '37): 16 years;
Carmelo Alvaro (class of '60): 22 years and 6 months;
Domenico Alvaro: 20 years;
Giuseppe Alvaro (class of '69): 12 years;
Alfredo Ascrizzi (class of '98): 12 years;
Franco Carmelitano (class of '66): 13 years;
Vincenzo Casella (class of '88): 12 years;
Carmelo Versace (class of '60): 20 years;
Francesco Luppino (class of '48): 13 years;
Antonino Penna (class of '85): 22 years and 6 months;
Carmine Penna (class of '79): 20 years;
Giovanni Penna (class of '97): 15 years;
Carmela Penna (class of '83): 8 years;
Maurizio Rustico (class of '80): 4 years and 6 months.
