{"id":161017,"date":"2021-01-12T13:31:08","date_gmt":"2021-01-12T21:31:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/?p=161017"},"modified":"2021-01-14T11:16:29","modified_gmt":"2021-01-14T19:16:29","slug":"mafia-trial-targets-deadly-italian-syndicate-with-history-in-illegal-gambling-vice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/mafia-trial-targets-deadly-italian-syndicate-with-history-in-illegal-gambling-vice\/","title":{"rendered":"Mafia Trial Targets Deadly Italian Syndicate With History in Illegal Gambling, Vice"},"content":{"rendered":"

The biggest Mafia trial in 30 years is set to begin this week in Italy. On trial are 355 suspected members and accomplices of the ‘Ndrangheta crime syndicate. This organization’s reported criminal history includes murder, illegal gambling, and more.<\/p>\n

\"Nicola
Public prosecutor Nicola Gratteri, center, speaks with reporters in December outside a courtroom in Italy. The anti-Mafia prosecutor requires a constant security detail. (Image: The Local Italy<\/em>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The trial is scheduled to begin Wednesday in a large call center converted into a courtroom in Calabria. This region is in the toe of Italy\u2019s boot, near Sicily. Calabria is considered the ‘Ndrangheta\u2019s home territory.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Security at the trial location is tight. The defendants will be locked in cages. In addition to the suspected crime syndicate members, other defendants include politicians and police officials. The \u201cmaxi-trial\u201d is expected to last two years.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The public prosecutor seeking to keep the defendants behind bars is Nicola Gratteri. The 62-year-old Gratteri has spent the last 30 years under constant police protection.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

The anti-Mafia prosecutor has vowed to take down\u00a0\u201cthis asphyxiating ‘Ndrangheta, which truly takes the breath and the heartbeat from the people,\u201d according to the Daily Mail<\/em> website.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The defendants are accused of murder, drug trafficking, loan sharking, and additional crimes.<\/p>\n

Emanuele Mancuso, a crime boss\u2019 son, is assisting the prosecution team. He has received police protection for cooperating with the government, according to media accounts.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The trial is focusing on the Calabrian province of Vibo Valentia, home of the Mancusos, the Sun<\/em> newspaper reported.<\/p>\n

“A leaf doesn’t move in Vibo Valentia without the say-so of the Mancusos,\u201d Mafia expert Antonio Nisaco said.<\/em><\/p>\n

Online Gambling Sites<\/h2>\n

A recent pre-trial hearing lasted almost three hours as the defendants’ names were read. The colorful nicknames included alleged boss Luigi Mancuso\u2019s \u201cThe Uncle.\u201d Others were \u201cThe Wolf,\u201d \u201cFatty,\u201d \u201cSweetie,\u201d \u201cBlondie,\u201d \u201cLittle Goat,\u201d and \u201cThe Wringer.\u201d<\/p>\n

These are some of the reputed ‘Ndrangheta members in an organization with an estimated 6,000 members, according to the FBI. The syndicate\u2019s name originated with the Greek word \u201candragathia.\u201d The word means courage or loyalty.<\/p>\n

\n

The ‘Ndrangheta is considered more powerful than Cosa Nostra in Sicily and the Naples-based Camorra. The ‘Ndrangheta controls 80 percent of the European cocaine supply, according to news reports. The ‘Ndrangheta\u2019s reach extends into North America<\/a> and other parts of the globe.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The syndicate’s involvement in vice rackets is thought to be extensive. In 2015, authorities conducted a sting targeting 1,500 \u2018<\/span>Ndrangheta betting shops and 82 online gambling sites, the Daily Mail<\/em> reported.<\/p>\n

A previous ‘maxi-trial’ was held in Palermo in 1986-87, targeting Sicily’s Cosa Nostra. It resulted in 338 people being convicted. The Mafia later assassinated prosecutors Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino.<\/p>\n

\u2018Tony Meatballs\u2019 Faces Trial\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Italy is not the only site of an upcoming trial involved suspected Mafia members. In Philadelphia, federal prosecutors late last year accused 15 reputed mafioso and associates<\/a> of illegal gambling and more.<\/p>\n

The defendants include Joseph \u201c<\/span>Joey Electric\u201d Servidio, 60, Anthony \u201c<\/span>Tony Meatballs\u201d Gifoli, 73, and Louis \u201c<\/span>Louie Sheep\u201d Barretta, 56, according to news accounts.<\/p>\n

\n

We will not rest until the Mob is nothing but a bad memory,”<\/strong> US Attorney William McSwain said.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Prosecutors recently asked the judge to delay the trial beyond a 90-day speedy trial rule, according to Philadelphia Mafia expert Dave Schratwieser. Coronavirus restrictions limit public gatherings and could impact jury availability and selection, prosecutors said.<\/p>\n

Criminal trials in this district already had been pushed back to Jan. 15.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The biggest Mafia trial in 30 years is set to begin this week in Italy. On trial are 355 suspected members and accomplices of the ‘Ndrangheta crime syndicate. This organization’s reported criminal history includes murder, illegal gambling, and more. The trial is scheduled to begin Wednesday in a large call center converted into a courtroom […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":55,"featured_media":161018,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[62],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nMafia Trial Targets Deadly Italian Syndicate With History in Illegal Gambling, Vice<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The biggest Mafia trial in 30 years is set to begin this week in Italy. 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