Clergy Allegedly Orchestrate Robbery too Conceal Abuse
A complex web of alleged criminal activity involving two priests and a group of accomplices has been uncovered in the Naples region. The case centers around a robbery that took place in April 2024, allegedly commissioned by the priests to silence potential victims of sexual abuse.
The Carabinieri, Naples’ military police, have arrested three individuals – giovanni Castaldo, Sergio Colalongo, and Patrick Filippini – in connection with the robbery. Castaldo, 52, is currently under house arrest, while the younger men, aged 20, face the same restriction. These arrests follow the apprehension of eight other individuals in August 2024, including the two priests, Domenico Silvestro and Nicola Gildi.
Silvestro, the parish priest of the Basilica of Sant’Antonio di Padova in Afragola, and Gildi, serving at the “Santa Maria Lavoravole” convent in Piedimonte Matese, are accused of paying €5,000 to orchestrate the robbery. Their alleged motive: to retrieve cell phones containing photographic and video evidence of sexual encounters with the intended victims.
The investigation, led by the Naples North Prosecutor’s Office, revealed a network of individuals involved in the plot. Biagio cirillo and Danilo Bottino were identified as the primary perpetrators of the robbery, while Domenico De Maso acted as the intermediary, connecting the priests with the criminals. Giuseppe Castaldo allegedly played a crucial role in identifying the targets.Through meticulous wiretapping, investigators uncovered the involvement of three additional accomplices. Giuseppe Cirillo, Biagio’s father, inadvertently revealed Giovanni Castaldo’s participation in a conversation with a friend. Meanwhile, bottino, incarcerated, disclosed the identities of his accomplices during a phone call with his partner. He named Patrick Filippini as the driver, Giovanni Castaldo as the individual who pinpointed the victims’ location, and Sergio Colalongo as a passenger in the vehicle.
The investigation further suggests a possible connection to the Capasso Camorra clan, a powerful criminal institution operating in the Neapolitan hinterland. Giovanni Castaldo is believed to have ties to this clan,raising concerns about the potential influence of organized crime in the case.
The financial arrangements surrounding the robbery also point towards a structured criminal enterprise. Most of the suspects received payments from external sources,a common practice within Camorra clans. Though, there were exceptions. giuseppe Cirillo reportedly refused the €1,000 payment, while Bottino complained that one accomplice had failed to provide his share.
This case highlights the disturbing intersection of religious authority, criminal activity, and the exploitation of vulnerable individuals. The ongoing investigation aims to shed further light on the extent of the conspiracy and bring all those involved to justice.
It appears you’ve provided facts about a serious legal case involving clergy adn alleged criminal activity.
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