An unexpected figure at the center of a disturbing Investigation. Sister Anna Donelli, known also for her television appearances, has been placed under house arrest on charges of mafia association. According to the Anti-Mafia District Directorate (DDA) of Brescia, the nun was “at the service” of the ‘ndrangheta’s operating in the Lombardy province and acted as an intermediary between members of the Tripodi clan and incarcerated individuals.
Taking advantage of her role as a spiritual assistant in the prisons of Milan and Brescia, in Italy, the nun is alleged to have relayed orders and directives for the gang, using the unrestricted access to inmates her position allowed. Interceptions included in the court order leave little room for doubt. One member of the gang, referring to the nun, stated: “She is one of ours,” adding that “if you need something inside, she’s available.”
According to investigators, the nun’s involvement extended beyond spiritual support; she acted as a true intermediary. The indictment describes her transmitting messages, material assistance, and directives, helping to resolve internal disputes and plan strategies against law enforcement.
The preliminary investigation judge believes that Sister Anna was well aware of the Tripodi group’s criminal influence. This is corroborated by an intercepted conversation in which the nun told the head of the Brescia that she reassured a niece involved in a car accident, explaining that “the friends” would handle the matter.
The investigation, which began in September 2020, shed light on the clan’s operations, closely tied to the Calabrian ‘ndrangheta from Sant’Eufemia d’Aspromonte and the powerful Alvaro gang, dominant in the Aspromonte region.
According to wiretaps, there was a “pact” between the nun and the Tripodi clan that went beyond apparent spiritual assistance. The nun is alleged to have played a pivotal role in the clan’s operations, facilitating the exchange of vital information and streamlining internal coordination.
The arrest of Sister Anna casts a dark shadow on the possible use of unsuspected figures by criminal organizations. As the investigation continues, the question remains open as to how a religious figure could become entangled in such a pervasive and ruthless system.
