2016 Marche earthquake: investigation into the reconstruction efforts; Acquaroli’s former chief of staff arrested
Investigation into public procurement for post-earthquake reconstruction
Among the eight people arrested by the Ancona Financial Police as part of the investigation into public procurement contracts for post-earthquake reconstruction is Fabio Pistarelli, a lawyer from Macerata and former chief of staff to Francesco Acquaroli, President of the Marche Regional Council (until December 2025): the lawyer, a member of the centre-right, whose office was searched, is accused of corruption in the part of the investigation concerning the awarding of contracts; the other part, which does not involve Pistarelli, concerns subcontracts awarded to companies infiltrated by organised crime. The builder Enrico Crucianelli has also been arrested on charges of external association with a mafia-type organisation.
Post-earthquake reconstruction: 8 arrests by the Ancona Financial Police and 51 people under investigation
Eight pre-trial detention orders, 51 suspects and the seizure of assets worth over 57 million euros. This is the overall outcome of the operation carried out by the Ancona Financial Police, coordinated by the Anti-Mafia Directorate, targeting an illegal scheme involving contracts for private post-earthquake reconstruction following the 2016 earthquake and tenders issued by the Marche Region, Erdis Marche and the University of Camerino, on charges of aggravated fraud, infiltration by mafia-style organised crime, and corruption. Over 50 searches were carried out in the provinces of Ancona, Macerata, Pesaro-Urbino, Fermo, Rome, Caserta, Naples, Reggio Calabria, Modena, Terni, Chieti, Treviso and Piacenza.
