Palermo: Rolex, jewels and over 220 thousand Euros seized from a neomelodic singer, listed as “unemployed” and receiving subsidies for almost 40 thousand Euros.

The Guardia di Finanza of Palermo recently completed an important operation called “Sold Out”, which led to the seizure of assets for a total value of over 220 thousand euros against a well-known neomelodic singer from Palermo. The artist, who was unknown to the tax authorities, was part of a family unit that received citizen income, despite the considerable earnings deriving from his musical activity.

Investigations by the Financial Police

The operation is the result of a complex tax investigation conducted by the 2nd Metropolitan Operations Unit of the Palermo Group, which reconstructed the income received by the artist between 2016 and 2022. The investigation revealed that, despite never having opened a VAT number, the singer earned almost 850 thousand euros in six years through concerts, private events and the diffusion of his music on digital platforms.

The investigative activities have highlighted how the artist, over the years, had already been the recipient of personal preventive measures pursuant to Article 3 of Legislative Decree 159/2001. On several occasions he had been banned from performing live for reasons related to public safety. However, despite these measures, the singer continued to advertise hundreds of shows and concerts through his social media channels, demonstrating a professionalism and continuity of work that should have led to tax obligations that were never fulfilled.

Tax evasion and seizure of assets

Tax checks revealed that the artist never declared his income, failing to pay the taxes due. In particular, for the years 2018, 2019 and 2021, the singer would have been responsible for the crime of failure to declare income, an offence for which he was reported to the Public Prosecutor's Office of Palermo. The latter requested the Court to apply preventive seizure for equivalent, in order to recover the sums owed to the Treasury.

During searches carried out in the provinces of Palermo and Naples, the Guardia di Finanza seized numerous luxury goods, including Rolex watches, valuable jewelry and a significant sum of cash, attributable to the singer's undeclared income.

Illegal acts related to the Citizen's Income

In parallel with the tax investigation, the Fiamme Gialle investigated the position of the artist's family unit, discovering that the father had received citizen's income between 2019 and 2022, collecting a total of almost 40 thousand euros in subsidies. In the request for the benefit, the son had been indicated as "unemployed", despite the large earnings deriving from his musical activity.

The singer's father was also reported to the Palermo Judicial Authority, which ordered the seizure of the equivalent amount of money unduly received. This measure aims to recover the resources unduly subtracted from the public welfare system.

The role of the Guardia di Finanza

Operation “Sold Out” is part of a broader framework of interventions by the Guardia di Finanza to combat tax evasion and protect national public spending. The objective is to identify and repress illicit conduct that damages the entire community, both economically and socially.

The Guardia di Finanza, as the economic and financial police, plays a fundamental role in preventing and repressing tax fraud and irregularities related to access to public subsidies. Through in-depth investigations and advanced monitoring tools, such as the analysis of social media and digital platforms, the Guardia di Finanza is able to unmask forms of illicit activity that would otherwise go unnoticed.

The “Sold Out” operation represents a strong signal against those who, by evading taxes and taking advantage of public subsidies, steal resources intended for those who really need them. The case of the neomelodic singer from Palermo demonstrates the importance of tax controls and the fight against tax evasion, reiterating the principle that anyone who produces income is required to declare it and to contribute equally to the well-being of the community.

The investigations will continue to verify any further responsibilities and to ascertain whether other people are involved in the system of tax evasion and undue receipt of public subsidies.