Four investigated for stalking and defamation campaign against Italian journalist

The Prosecutor's Office of Torre Annunziata has concluded an investigation into four individuals accused of criminal association aimed at defamation and stalking. The targets include Vincenzo Iurillo, a journalist for Il Fatto Quotidiano, and other figures involved in the institutional, administrative, and professional life of the Sorrento Peninsula.

According to prosecutors, the group, allegedly led by Michelangelo Scannapieco, coordinated organized campaigns to discredit and silence individuals, particularly those conducting investigations into local corruption or building abuses. The group reportedly used social media posts, reels, photomontages, and banners to carry out these attacks. The investigation notes that the website 'Lo Strillo della Penisola' operated as a deceptive publication without proper court registration.

The pressure from this campaign reportedly forced Iurillo to alter his lifestyle and social habits due to fear of retaliation. He also resigned from his position as artistic director of the International Festival of Journalism and Investigative Books.