Gina Lollobrigida’s Assistant Convicted of Stealing Millions from Hollywood Star Before Her Death

Andrea Piazzolla was reportedly given a three-year sentence in Italy on Monday

Gina Lollobrigida’s personal assistant has reportedly been given a three-year sentence for stealing millions from the Hollywood star before her death in January at the age of 95.

According to U.K. newspaper The Times, a court in Rome ruled Monday that Andrea Piazzolla, 36, must immediately hand over more than €450,000 — approximately $482,000 — to Lollobrigida’s son, Milko Skofic Jr., her only child with ex-husband Milko Skofic.

The court also ruled that a civil judge would assess the total amount Piazzolla stole from Lollobrigida, which her son has valued at €5 million ($5.36 million), per the outlet.

Piazzolla, who has said he will appeal against his sentence, also allegedly bought a Ferrari with Lollobrigida’s money and then sold it and gave the money to his parents, added The Times.

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Piazzolla reportedly started working for Lollobrigida as an assistant in 2009 and eventually moved into her villa on the historic Appian Way in Rome, according to U.K. newspaper The Telegraph.

According to the Italian newspaper La Stampa, he was charged with "circumvention of an incompetent person" for stealing assets from Lollobrigida between 2013 and 2018, and was accused of taking advantage of her mental state and causing her to isolate herself from her family.

Per a translation of the publication, prosecutor Eleonora Fini highlighted Lollobrigida's "state of fragility" and "vulnerability" during the trial. Italian newspaper la Repubblica also reported via translation that forensic expert Massimo Di Genio said Lollobrigida had been the victim of "weakening of the correct perception of reality."

The trial started before Lollobrigida’s death during which she defended her assistant and said he was “like a son,” to her, reported The Times. She also claimed her son Skofic Jr. had “disappeared from my life for years and returned, not to give me affectionate support, but to take my wealth away from me.”

Despite this, Piazzolla was accused of “brainwashing” the award-winning star and a court-appointed expert ruled that she could not handle her own finances, reported The Times.

Speaking after the verdict, Piazzolla said, “I was the only one lovingly taking care of Gina Lollobrigida," per the outlet.

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Lollobrigida’s illustrious Hollywood career saw her work with the likes of Humphrey Bogart, Frank Sinatra, Errol Flynn and Rock Hudson in the 1950s and 1960s.

She appeared in several Italian films before her breakout English-language role in 1954's Beat the Devil. Seven years later Lollobrigida won a Golden Globe Award for her role in the 1961 romantic comedy Come September opposite Hudson. She received three Golden Globes nominations in her lifetime and a BAFTA nomination for her role in 1953’s Italian romantic comedy Bread, Love and Dreams.

She died in Rome on Jan. 16, her agent confirmed to the Associated Press. The previous September she had undergone leg surgery after suffering a fall, the outlet added.

"Farewell to a diva of the silver screen, protagonist of more than half a century of Italian cinema history," Italian Culture minister Gennaro Sangiuliano wrote on Twitter. "Her charm will remain eternal."

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