The Mafia's sons choose betrayal
Young Mafia Members Don't Want to Spend Their Lives in Prison Like the Old Bosses
"I am a Mafioso by birth," Emanuele Mancuso told the prosecutors. The 36-year-old is the son of one of the most important 'Ndrangheta bosses. "My childhood was dramatic. My father was arrested frequently and our house was dismantled a thousand times. I was there, I understood what was happening, but I couldn't do anything. I was just a kid."
He wanted to spare his daughter the same fate. That's why he decided to cooperate with the justice system in 2018, just before her birth, and reveal everything he knew about the Mancuso clan and its businesses.
Mancuso is a repentant Mafioso, or "pentito," as they are called here. Their numbers have been growing in recent times and they come from various Mafia organizations: the Sicilian Cosa Nostra, the Neapolitan Camorra, and the Calabrian 'Ndrangheta. The increasing number of "Calabresi" in the group is somewhat surprising, as they were the ones who held the oath of silence, the legendary Omertà, most rigidly.
"The Mafiosi of the Past No Longer Exist"
It is primarily the sons, if not even the grandchildren, who are distancing themselves from the family dealings, as Arcangelo Badolati relates in his book "Betrayal Sons" (Figli traditori, Ed. Luigi Pellegrini). The quote at the beginning of this text is from this book. The daily newspaper La Stampa gives this phenomenon a positive and future-oriented tone and speaks of a "rebellion" that is currently taking place among the young bosses. Antonio Talia, journalist and author of several books on the 'Ndrangheta, is more cautious in his description of these penitents. "I would rather speak of a promising career path," he says to ntv.de.
Among the latest "betrayers," or "rebels," is the 27-year-old Salvatore Privitera from the Sicilian city of Catania. He decided to cooperate with the prosecution after being sentenced to life in prison for a murder he had committed at the age of 24.
However, the youth no longer seems to want to spend their lives in prison like their fathers. La Stampa quotes the protocol of an interrogation in which an old Mafia boss almost resignedly says: "The Mafiosi of the past no longer exist." The reason for this is mainly that the young people, who have grown up in prosperity unlike the old ones, have no interest in suffering in prison. Cooperating with the justice system at least offers some form of leniency.
The term "pentito," or penitent, sounds too Catholic to Talia. "Repentance is a concept related to morality. The prosecutor doesn't care if someone regrets their actions or not; they want information that will help in the investigations in the Mafia world." The Mafioso has six months to say everything he knows. If his statements lead to new discoveries, he can expect leniency. At least a quarter of his sentence must be served in any case.
However, it seems that some are not cooperating out of repentance but out of a desire for revenge. According to the Italian news agency ANSA, there have been several cases of mafiosi who have turned state's witness only to later renege on their deals and resume their criminal activities. The motive behind this is often a desire for revenge against those who betrayed them or their families. This is a dangerous game, as the mafiosi who break their deals can face even harsher sentences than before.
Antonio Zagari, a native of Kalabria, confirmed that it's not always a matter of conscience that leads to cooperation with investigators. In Badolati's book, you can find his statement: "It would be lying to claim that I had pangs of conscience because of the people I killed. I'm still searching, but I can't find them in myself." Instead, it was an act of revenge against the family that had left him behind. "We can enjoy a life in prison while they continue to grow richer and fatter," was his bitter realization. His statements led to more than 150 defendants appearing in court.
Mancuso, on the other hand, is a case of true change of heart. Unlike what was supposed to be, his daughter should not grow up in an 'Ndrangheta environment. When he decided to cooperate with the authorities, he thought Sally, his girlfriend and the mother of his daughter, would be with him and his decision. She did not. Nevertheless, he managed to obtain custody of his daughter. He now lives with her under a new identity at a secret location.
The penultimate Mafia defector is Vincenzo Pasquino, who is 24 years old and was born and raised in the northern Italian community of Volpiano. However, his family roots run deep in the Calabrian community of Plati, which is known far beyond regional and national borders as a stronghold of the 'Ndrangheta. His wife had warned him against his clan, telling him they would only use him. In a conversation recorded by investigators, he is very loyal to the clan: "Don't ask me to choose between you and them. I'll kick you out if you do. They raised me. When I didn't have five euros for cigarettes, they were there for me." Why he eventually decided to cooperate with the investigators is unknown.
The family, which includes both blood relatives and the clan, is a death sentence to betray. Aware of this, Pino Scriva, the first Pentito of the 'Ndrangheta, made himself known to the prosecutor in 1983 with these words: "I come from the land of the dead." Scriva was lucky and died of natural causes in 2021.
For years, the number of "Plentiti" (repentants) has been growing. According to Talia, this is also due to the fact that the mentality of the sons is different from that of the fathers, as the "work" is different. "The drug trade remains the core business, but the younger generation is mainly involved in money laundering. And that means getting involved in cleaner environments." And so they realize what a normal life is, free from constant flight risks and prison dangers. They are aware that their birthright makes them a mafioso, but they also know there are alternatives.
- Despite growing up with a father deeply involved in the Italian Mafia, specifically the 'Ndrangheta, young individuals like Salvatore Privitera are choosing to distance themselves from the family business.
- The International community is observing an increasing number of "pentiti," or repentant Mafiosi, from various Italian Mafia organizations, such as the Calabrian 'Ndrangheta, even though they were traditionally known for strictly adhering to the oath of silence, Omertà.
- In the context of the Italian Mafia, the term "pentito" may carry religious connotations, but Antonio Talia, an author on the 'Ndrangheta, argues that the prosecutors are less concerned about the mafiosi's repentance and more interested in the information they can provide for investigations.
