jurisprudence

Anne Hathaway's Dirtbag Ex Is in Cuffs

by celebuzz on Jun. 24, 2008 12:22 PM / 6 Comments

This just isn't Raffaello Folliere's month.

First, the Italian businessman was ditched by Anne Hathaway, after the Get Smart star became worried that his unsavory stink might taint her reputation.

Today, the shady financier was arrested in New York and booked on 12 counts, including conspiracy, wire fraud and money laundering, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Riff-Raff—as he will surely be nicknamed in prison—is accused of hatching a real-estate scheme that raked in "millions of dollars in investment money."

Investors claim that Follieri told them he had been officially appointed by the Vatican to handle its financial affairs, and could offer property owned by the Roman Catholic Church at below-market values.

Using the Pope to bilk investors; stay classy, Raffy!

Prosecutors allege that Folliere used the ill-gotten cash to fund an elaborate lifestyle that included Anne Hathaway and an "opulent apartment overlooking Rockefeller Center with views of Central Park."

If convicted, Folliere's digs will become significantly less fabulous. As will his wheelings and dealings.

But hey, he can keep his business chops sharp by trading cigarettes in exchange for an intact colon.

Quotables /

“GET STUPID!

Italian businessman Raffaello Follieri, aka Anne Hathaway’s ex-boyfriend, was arrested on Tuesday on charges of conspiracy, wire fraud and money laundering.

According to a federal criminal complaint, Follieri, 29, is accused of operating a fraudulent real estate scheme in which he led investors to believe that his New York firm, the Follieri Group LLC, was an investment company that helped the Catholic Church to divest its unwanted U.S. real estate properties. He also told investors that he had been appointed as the chief financial officer of the Vatican.

Follieri and others reportedly used the investors’ money for lavish lifestyles for themselves–private jet travel, custom-made clothes and restaurant meals, dog-walking services and other personal expenditures.

Hathaway, 25, supposedly broke up with Follieri last week after four years together.”

Just Jared

“Just a week ago it was announced that Anne Hathaway had split from boyfriend of four years, Italian businessman Raffaelo Follieri. Raffaelo had previously been in trouble for passing bad checks and now has just been arrested in NYC for wire fraud and money laundering! And get this, he is being accused for falsely representing himself as the chief financial officer of the Vatican and attempting to sell properties of the Catholic church at a below market price. See ya in hell in Raffie!”

“Anne Hathaway dumped her pretend boyfriend Raffaello Follieri last week, but not because she’s gay as rumored, but because he’d been arrested twice and his constant legal troubles were smearing her good name. Oh hey guess what happened today?

Manhattan prosecutors say an Italian businessman who has been romantically linked to movie star Anne Hathaway has been arrested on wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering charges.
Raffaello Follieri is due in Manhattan federal court on Tuesday.
He is accused of falsely telling an investor that he had been appointed as the chief financial officer of the Vatican.
Authorities say he claimed that, as a result of that connection, he and others could obtain properties of the Catholic church in the United States at a substantial discount to fair market value.

Well no shit this dude is a fraud. "Raffaello Follieri"? There’s no way that’s a real name. It’s too Italian. It’s the name you would give someone in a skit if you were making fun of Italians, right beside a black guy named Bochevious Midnight and a gay named Dick Sucker. This mother fucker is from Iowa City I bet, and he learned Italian sounding English from watching old spaghetti sauce commercials. But actors are idiots and Anne is an actor so there you go. She came over and he wore a speedo with some gold chains and threw pizza dough in the air, and said, “why you no eata you pasta? You beautiful girl but you skin and bones, YOU BREAKA MY MAMAS HEART!” After that she was hooked.”

“Anne Hathaway dumped her totally shady boyfriend Raffaello Follieri just in time. The Italian dirty rotten scoundrel just got busted for federal wire fraud, conspiracy and money laundering charges. Oh, and this dude also lied to investors that he had the Pope backing him. Jesus is going to get this bitch!

Anne might not have escaped entirely unscathed as of yet. Court papers list her as the "girlfriend" and reports that she might have benefited from his illegal gain. Oh oh. Is she going to jail. She'll probably do ok seeing as she's supposedly a lesbian.

Shady is due in Manhattan Federal court on Tuesday, and the Feds say that he lied to an investor that he was CFO for the Vatican. HAH! People fell for that line and he was able to buy Catholic-owned properties in the US at a lower rate.

I'm totally going to get people to buy Mary Kay by saying I'm the Virgin Mary. I'll be driving that pink Cadillac in no time.”

Socialite Life

“In "Holy Sh*t" news, Anne Hathaway's ex-boyfriend Raffaello Follieri, who was arrested today for wire fraud and money laundering, was granted bail to the tune of $21 million dollars. Even if he can come up with that kind of scratch he will need five other people willing to put their name on the line as co-signers.

Mr. shady with the too cool Italian name is accused of operating a scheme in which he led investors to believe that he had close connections with the Vatican that enabled him to buy the Catholic Church's unwanted U.S. real estate properties at a discount. Follieri and others used the investors' money for expensive clothes and restaurant meals, a $37,000-a-month Manhattan apartment, dog-walking services and other personal expenditures including medical expenses for his girlfriend at the time, according to the complaint.

He is also accused of using the allegedly swindled funds in question for a trip to the Dominican Republic at New Year, between 2005 and 2006 with his "then girlfriend" and another couple. The complaint also charges that he kept clergy robes in his office and once asked a monsignor to change into the uniform of a more senior clergyman in order to "beef up" his alleged Vatican connections.

If Follieri manages to make bail he will be under house arrest, have to wear an electronic monitoring ankle bracelet, and the movies "The Princess Diaries," "Ella Enchanted," and "The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement," will be on constant repeat in his apartment for the foreseeable future.”

Splash News Online

Next Story / Michelle Williams Wants a Piece of Heath Pie

Also In Jurisprudence /

Comments / 1-6 of 6

Sort Oldest First

gorillasayz 1 yr 5 mos ago
Reply

What a douche bag.
rforrumor 1 yr 5 mos ago
Reply

thank goodness she left him!!
neverneverland 1 yr 5 mos ago
Reply

whoo hoo anne got smart!
cameronkitty 1 yr 5 mos ago
Reply

perfect timing for the break up.

what an idiot he is
hwoodgrrl 1 yr 5 mos ago
Reply

this is like out of a movie
mraniston 1 yr 5 mos ago
Reply

Investors claim that Follieri told them he had been officially appointed by the Vatican to handle its financial affairs, and could offer property owned by the Roman Catholic Church at below-market values.

hahahah, what the hell