Italian Man Impersonating George Clooney Arrested in Thailand

Thai authorities working with Interpol agents recently arrested an Italian “George Clooney” impostor who, along with his accomplice, had evaded Italian authorities for years.

Identified as 58-year-old Francesco Galdelli and 45-year-old partner Vanja Goffi, the pair of scam artists have been dubbed the “Italian Bonnie and Clyde.”

Galdelli, who has been accused of posing as George Clooney online to sell clothing, was apprehended on Saturday in a luxury villa in Pattaya, reports Agence France-Presse.

“During interrogation, Francesco confessed to claiming to be George Clooney and opening a clothing business to trick people into sending money,” Thailand’s Crime Suppression Division said in a statement.

It was also revealed that the fugitives have been wanted in Italy for years in relation to other scams, such as selling fake Rolex watches online and then sending packets of salt to their victims.

In 2010, Clooney himself testified against the pair at a court in Milan back in 2010 saying he never approved any affiliation with them. He accused the couple and another accomplice of using his name to sell a fashion line via a fake brand “GC Exclusive by George Clooney.”

Having conned investors out of over $128,000 in Italy, the scammers were sentenced to eight years and four months in jail for fraud. The couple reportedly fled and have since been wanted oIn an Interpol red notice since 2013. Based on the police report, they have been in Thailand since 2014.

Before their extradition proceedings can start, Galdelli and Goffi must first face the charges of overstaying their visas in Thailand.

Featured image via YouTube / Daily Mail (left) and Getty (right)

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