The investigation into connections between former Italian Justice Undersecretary Andrea Delmastro and a Rome restaurant, Bisteccheria D’Italia, has intensified, raising questions about potential money laundering and ties to organized crime. At the heart of the matter is whether funds from the Senese clan, a notorious criminal organization, were used to finance the restaurant, and what role Delmastro played in its establishment. The controversy surrounding Delmastro e il ristorante legato ai clan – “Delmastro and the restaurant linked to the clans” – centers on claims that the Caroccia family, allegedly acting as frontmen for the Senese, were instrumental in the restaurant’s founding.
Giovanni Donzelli, the organizational head of the Brothers of Italy (FdI) party, publicly asserted that the Caroccia family did not contribute any capital to the venture. “I called Delmastro and asked him, ‘Andrea, how much money did the Caroccia family put into your business where you were a partner, how much of this money was laundered through Caroccia by the Senese?’ He replied, ‘Zero,’” Donzelli stated, according to reporting by Il Messaggero. This account directly contradicts the hypothesis put forth by anti-mafia prosecutors in Rome, who have placed Mauro and Miriam Caroccia under investigation for fictitious ownership of assets and money laundering.
The core accusation revolves around “Le 5 Forchette,” the company that owns Bisteccheria D’Italia. Prosecutors allege that the company was fraudulently registered in the name of Miriam Caroccia, daughter of a known associate of the Senese clan, and served as a vehicle for laundering criminal proceeds. Miriam Caroccia became the sole shareholder of the company less than a month ago, following the final conviction of her father, Mauro Caroccia, in a separate case. However, the company was initially founded in December 2024 in Biella, with Miriam, then 18, partnering with Delmastro, three other FdI members from Piedmont, and an employee named Donatella Pelle.
According to Fabrizio Gallo, the Caroccia family’s lawyer, Miriam Caroccia was unaware that she had acquired ownership of the shares from all the other partners, despite documentation to the contrary filed with the Chamber of Commerce. Gallo announced that they would present evidence to investigators demonstrating that no funds originating from criminal activity were involved in the company. “We will explain Delmastro’s role and his estrangement,” Gallo said, emphasizing that the Caroccia family contributed expertise in the restaurant industry, whereas the other partners, including Delmastro, provided the financial backing.
The Founding and Initial Investment
The establishment of “Le 5 Forchette” occurred while Mauro Caroccia’s initial appeal in the “Affari di famiglia” (Family Affairs) case – related to the Senese clan – was still pending, though later overturned by the Cassation Court. The restaurant opened after a subsequent appeal too failed, with the Cassation Court upholding the conviction in February. Initial investment in the company totaled 10,000 euros, with an additional 40,000 euros spent on furnishings and equipment, including arrangements with a Chinese supplier.
Investigators are scrutinizing these expenditures, along with the monthly rent of 2,000 euros, to determine the source of the funds. The anti-mafia prosecutors in Turin have also launched a separate investigation into events preceding the company’s formation in December 2024.
Parliamentary Scrutiny and Security Concerns
The case has drawn the attention of the Italian Parliament’s anti-mafia commission, which has scheduled a series of hearings. Beyond Delmastro and the Rome prosecutor, the hearings will include testimony from officials at the Department of Penitentiary Administration (DAP) due to Delmastro’s frequent dinners at the Bisteccheria. A particular focus will be on Delmastro’s security detail, provided by the penitentiary system, and why no alerts were raised regarding the restaurant’s ownership and ties to the Senese clan, despite Delmastro’s regular patronage since 2023.
The situation raises questions about potential lapses in security protocols and whether Delmastro’s security team adequately assessed the risks associated with frequenting an establishment linked to organized crime. The commission will seek to understand why no internal signals or warnings were triggered, given the known connections between the Caroccia family and the Senese clan.
Timeline of Key Events
- December 2024: “Le 5 Forchette” is founded in Biella by Miriam Caroccia, Andrea Delmastro, three FdI members, and Donatella Pelle.
- 2023: Bisteccheria D’Italia opens in Rome, with Andrea Delmastro becoming a regular patron.
- February: The Cassation Court confirms the conviction of Mauro Caroccia in the “Affari di famiglia” case.
- Recent: Miriam Caroccia becomes the sole shareholder of “Le 5 Forchette.”
- Present: Anti-mafia prosecutors in Rome launch an investigation into alleged money laundering and fictitious ownership of assets. The Parliamentary anti-mafia commission initiates hearings.
The investigation is ongoing, and the next steps include further questioning of the Caroccia family and Andrea Delmastro, as well as a thorough review of financial records and security protocols. The anti-mafia commission’s hearings are expected to shed further light on the connections between Delmastro, the Caroccia family, and the Senese clan, and the potential implications for Italian politics and the fight against organized crime. The outcome of these investigations could have significant repercussions for all parties involved, and will be closely watched by the public and the Italian government.
Disclaimer: This article provides information regarding an ongoing legal investigation. We see not intended to provide legal advice.
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