Cotronei Mayor sent to trial over Steven Tyler museum project

The Mayor of Cotronei, Antonio Ammirati, and 13 other individuals have been sent to trial following an investigation into the ‘Borgo della musica rock’ project. The initiative, intended to honor Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler due to his family roots in the region, was funded by approximately 1.3 million euros in regional funds.

The investigation centers on the decision to relocate the proposed museum from the historic building where Tyler’s grandfather lived to a different site. This change was contested by Tyler, who stated in 2022 that the project should not bear his name if it was not held in the original location.

Charges against the defendants include ideological and material falsehood, aggravated fraud regarding public funds, electoral corruption, and embezzlement. The trial is scheduled to begin on January 15, 2027. If convicted, Ammirati faces losing his position as mayor and president of the Province of Crotone.