Benedetto Spera (Italian pronunciation:[beneˈdettoˈspɛːra]; born 1 July 1934) is a member of the Sicilian Mafia and the boss of the Belmonte Mezzagno Mafia family and the mandamento of Belmonte Mezzagno in the province of Palermo, Sicily, southern Italy. He was convicted in absentia for the killing of the two prominent anti-mafia judges Paolo Borsellino and Giovanni Falcone, receiving life sentences.
Spera was born in Belmonte Mezzagno, near Palermo. His first conviction in the 1950s was for illegally pasturing his sheep. Later, he made a lot of money from the skimming of public works contracts.[1] Spera was a member of the Sicilian Mafia Commission as an ally to the Corleonesi and became one of the most trusted advisers of Bernardo Provenzano.
Spera became part of a "directorate" that ruled Cosa Nostra after 1995 when it was established by Provenzano. This group "of about four to seven people met very infrequently, only when necessary, when there were strategic decisions to make".[2] Among the other members of the directorate were Salvatore Lo Piccolo from Palermo; Andrea Manciaracina from Mazara del Vallo; Salvatore Rinella from Trabia; Giuseppe Balsano from Monreale; Matteo Messina Denaro from Castelvetrano; Vincenzo Virga from Trapani; and Antonino Giuffrè from Caccamo.[3]
Spera was arrested on 20 January 2001.[4] Police apprehended him at a farmhouse in Mezzojuso, 40 kilometres outside of Palermo, where he was to meet Provenzano and Spera's personal physician. Spera and his physician were taken into custody, however, Provenzano was nowhere to be found.
^(in Italian) Palermo, arrestato Spera boss di Belmonte, La Repubblica, January 30, 2001
^The Mafia after Provenzano-peace or all-out war? by Philip Pullella, Reuters, April 12, 2006.
^(in Italian) Oliva & Palazzolo, L’altra mafia Archived 2008-01-12 at the Wayback Machine
^Sicilian mafia boss arrested, BBC News, January 30, 2001
BenedettoSpera (Italian pronunciation: [beneˈdettoˈspɛːra]; born 1 July 1934) is a member of the Sicilian Mafia and the boss of the Belmonte Mezzagno...
Matteo Motisi, Pietro Rampulla, Bernardo Provenzano, BenedettoSpera, Antonino Troia, Benedetto Santapaola and Giuseppe Madonia while Mariano Agate, Giuseppe...
magistrate, and teacher Benedetto Pistrucci (1783–1855), Italian engraver Benedetto Santapaola (born 1938), Italian mafioso BenedettoSpera (born 1934), Italian...
for the Caccamo mandamento Nenè Geraci for the Partinico mandamento BenedettoSpera for the Belmonte Mezzagno mandamento Provenzano proposed a new less...
Nicodemo "Little Nicky" Scarfo (1929–2017), natural causes in prison BenedettoSpera (born 1934), serving life sentence in prison Anthony "Tony the Ant"...
1954) Gioacchino La Barbera (born 1959) Domenico Raccuglia (born 1964) BenedettoSpera (born 1934) Vito Cascio Ferro (1862–1943) Antonino Giuffrè (born 1945)...
Belmonte Mezzagno is famous for its olive oil and goat's milk cheese. BenedettoSpera, member of the Sicilian Mafia convicted in absentia of the killings...
members were Salvatore Lo Piccolo; Antonino Giuffrè from Caccamo; BenedettoSpera from Belmonte Mezzagno; Salvatore Rinella from Trabia; Giuseppe Balsano...
of Luigi Giuliano wanted since 2000, arrested on 24 December 2000. BenedettoSpera (Cosa Nostra), wanted since 1971, arrested on 30 January 2001. Vincenzo...
members of the directorate were Salvatore Lo Piccolo from Palermo; BenedettoSpera from Belmonte Mezzagno; Salvatore Rinella from Trabia; Giuseppe Balsano...
award winner Jan Cox Speas (1995) – short story author and novelist Gabriel Spera (MFA) – poet Julia Montgomery Street (1923) – poet, playwright and author...
del Disinganno June 1707 Rome Benedetto Pamphili 46b Il trionfo del Tempo e della Verità 23 March 1737 London Benedetto Pamphili 47 La resurrezione 8...
1600) Ferrante Pallavicino, Italian satirist (March 5, 1644) Girolama Spera, daughter and accomplice of Giulia Tofana (5 July 1659) Assistants and clients...
e martire Maria romana. Milan: Francesco Vigone. 1712. Spera 2012, p. 263. Cirilli 2006. Spera 2012, p. 264. Pastres 2016, p. 71. Toppi 1678, p. 29. Brand...
Corriere della Sera Retrieved 28 August 2013. Il centro lancia la sfida. E spera in Monti. Archiviostorico.corriere.it. Retrieved 24 August 2013. La sorpresa...
19. Guido Coppini (29 April 1986). "Triste addio della Samp, il Genoa spera ancora". La Stampa. p. 21. Luca Argentieri (15 June 1986). "La Roma si consola...
Region Sicily Metropolitan city Palermo (PA) Government • Mayor Leonardo Spera Area • Total 136.48 km2 (52.70 sq mi) Elevation 571 m (1,873 ft) Population...
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