Rome prosecutors on Monday requested Italy's tough '41-bis' maximum security prison regime for Massimo Carminati, a former right-wing terrorist and gangster who is the alleged ringleader of a Rome-based crime syndicate involving politicians, businessmen, and civil servants. The 41-bis regime is reserved for Italy's most dangerous criminals and mob bosses. Prosecutors believe Carminati's mafia ring muscled in on profitable city contracts in construction, waste management, parks maintenance, and immigrant and refugee reception centers (CIEs).
It did so using mafia methods including "violence...and intimidation," Rome Chief Prosecutor Giuseppe Pignatone told parliament earlier this month.
"Do you have any idea how much I make on these immigrants?" Carminati's right-hand man, Salvatore Buzzi, said in a 1,200-page wiretap from early 2013.
"Drug trafficking is not as profitable".
"We closed this year with turnover of 40 million but...our profits all came from the gypsies (Roma people), the housing emergency and the immigrants," said Buzzi, who is also behind bars.
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