The Economic Criminal Court No. 1 declared 12.07.2019 customs officials guilty on Friday (12) in the case known as "Moving Mafia", initiated by a complaint from AFIP-Customs in 2016.
The decision was taken in an abbreviated trial, which led to the exoneration of the customs officers, who were convicted of the crime of smuggling qualified by reason of their status as customs officials and of illicit association.
Summary trial
The defendants submitted to an abbreviated trial, accepting the charges that were duly imputed to them. In this way, each defendant expressly acknowledged his participation and guilt in the events brought to trial and the sentences of effective imprisonment plus legal accessories.
Officials convicted
The customs officers involved are: Graciela Vesella, David Kyselycia, Leonardo Savio, Pedro Gomez, Edgardo Paolucci, Eduardo Bernardi, Gustavo Pellegrina, Maximiliano Ciappina, Julio Loscalzo, Edgardo Kornuta, Marcelo Carone and Irene Machuca. In addition, Cesar Ayala (customs agent) and Hector Lopez received the same sentence.
Modus Operandi
The case initiated from the complaint filed by Customs, consisted of the smuggling operation by capturing removals from Argentines who had resided in Miami and were returning to the country, using the tax exemption regime and
introducing merchandise that would ultimately be used for sale in Argentine territory. Among other goods, high-end motorcycles, household appliances, computers, cell phones. Involving a smuggling of 1.600 billion pesos worth of merchandise, with an approximate fiscal loss of 600 million.
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