 The affair became a scandal in July 1989 when anonymous letters signed by "il corvo" (literally "raven", but meaning "provocateur") claimed that prosecuting judge Giovanni Falcone and his close collaborator, police inspector Gianni De Gennaro, had organised Contorno's secret return from protective custody in the US to Sicily to start a state sponsored vendetta against the Corleonesi.The allegations against Falcone and De Gennaro proved to be a hoax, but further weakened Falcone's already difficult position in the prosecuting office in Palermo.Contorno was in contact with De Gennaro prior to his arrest, who tried to monitor his movements.