Chogan Group executives, including its co-founders, have been arrested for “tax fraud, money laundering and self-laundering, as well as tax and bankruptcy crimes.”

Operation “Paradise World”, an investigation initiated by Italian authorities, resulted in four arrests made earlier this week.

Chogan Group is an Italian personal care MLM company launched in 2013.

As reported by La Gazzetta Del Mezzogiorno on May 30th;

The operation of the Trani Prosecutor’s Office which today 30 May 2024 led to four arrests (three in prison, one under house arrest, plus one ban from commercial activities) on charges of criminal association aimed at tax fraud, money laundering and self-laundering, as well as tax and bankruptcy crimes.

There are nine people under investigation in total, plus the Chogan Group Spa company pursuant to law 231.

Those arrested so far are:

  • Pier Luigi Scricco – cited as Chogan Group’s accountant and “mastermind of the fraudulent scheme”
  • Michelangelo Paradiso, Chogan Group co-founder, CEO

  • Scelzo Liborio, Chogan Group co-founder and President

  • and Arcangela Fumarulo, Chogan Group co-founder (house arrest)

Delfino Kemuel Paradiso wasn’t arrested but has received a six-month ban from participating in “entrepreneurial activities”.

As reported by Puglia Viva, Charges filed against all five Chogan Group defendants are related to “criminal conspiracy aimed at committing tax crimes”.

The fraudulent scheme appears to have been designed to artificially drive up Chogan Group’s costs. This in turn drove down Chogan Group’s payable tax.

As part of the investigation, Italian authorities have seized €355 million euros in assets tied to Chogan Group.

Tracking the Chogan Group criminal cases will likely prove challenging but we’ll keep you posted on any updates.