Raffaello Follieri, the seedy ex-boyfriend of Anne Hathaway, has been arrested for Federal wire fraud, as well as conspiracy and money laundering.

The Italian-American real estate hotshot is due in Manhattan Federal court Tuesday, accused by the FBI of lying to one of his investors and claiming that he had been appointed the Chief Financial Officer of the Vatican!

In the U.S. Government's case against Raffaello Follieri, Anne Hathaway is mentioned - though not by name, but only as his "girlfriend."

Cops say because peeps believed his bogus Vatican connection, he was able to buy real estate owned by the Catholic church in the U.S. at a way cheaper rate than a normal developer could obtain.

Yeah. This guy's loose morals make Diana Bianchi look like a saint.

Raffaello Follieri and Anne Hathaway in happier times (last month).

Anne Hathaway, who dumped him because of his bad reputation and the risk of her own image being tarnished by association, made the right call - she is allegedly the beneficiary of some of ill-gotten profits earned by Raffaello Follieri.

The disreputable dirtball is also under investigation by the N.Y. State Attorney General's Office for failing to file tax-disclosure forms for his charity.

He was arrested back in April for allegedly writing a $215,000 bad check, and was also sued over the matter, though he settled out of court.