Mafia Author's Insights Bring Him, Fame, Fortune, and Bodyguards

The first people Roberto Saviano sees every morning are his bodyguards – the three Italian policemen who pick him up in a bulletproof sedan, drive him to the gym, or take him on errands. They haven't left him alone since "Gomorrah" – his fierce critique of the Neapolitan mafia, the Camorra – hit best-seller lists in October 2006, bringing fame, fortune, and some powerful and ruthless enemies. But today, because of international and British laws that don't permit him the usual retinue of government bodyguards here in London, he's been entrusted to me – 135 pounds of journalistic muscle. Mr. Saviano doesn't speak English, and I – a native Neapolitan, myself – do; so his agent thinks I'm some sort of protection for him, and I laugh half-heartedly when the agent jokes about me being his bodyguard for a day.

I accept the task as coolly as I can, but in the back of my mind I'm wondering if I might end up between him and a hit man. I'm hardly relieved when, cautious but confident, Saviano walks out of his hotel wearing a dark coat, unmissable Italian sunglasses, and a dark scarf pulled up to his wool coppola cap. Nor am I comforted when the taxi driver, who seems to have been instructed not to breathe the name Saviano, calls out "Car for Mr. Roberto."

But as he cheerfully sidles into the back with me, it's his sunny disposition in spite of it all that cuts the tension. He peels off his hat and glasses and jokes about how conspicuous he looks wearing them in London.

This is our second day together, and maybe having a fellow Neapolitan interviewing him puts him at ease, but he chats freely as if we were old schoolmates with catching-up to do.

Saviano seems refreshingly laid back and down-to-earth for a 28-year-old who's sold over a million copies of his book in Italy alone, has been published in 33 other countries, is the only Italian on the New York Times and Economist Best of 2007 book lists, and, more important, for someone whose life is under constant threat. And he isn't scared, either.

"They'd never kill me here in the UK," he says. Also, he's in the spotlight now and it wouldn't be the right moment for the Camorra to kill him, he seems to think.

It turns out I was more worried than he ever was.

Despite the publicity shots that always portray him as serious and pensive, Saviano actually laughs a lot, especially about himself and his Mafioso looks: "If I didn't look like a proper Camorrista, the book would have never done this well."

He's right, at least about his appearance. He has the dark Mediterranean look, is short (just 5' 5"), slim but moderately well-built. He doesn't have much hair, but his huge brown eyes sparkle. With the coppola cap and the sunglasses, he looks like any dodgy guy back home. And he can talk like one too, though mostly he speaks a clear and clean Italian with a Neapolitan twang. But it's not only the looks and vocabulary that Saviano shares with the subjects of "Gomorrah." Raised in Casal di Principe, a town of 20,000 north of Naples, home to a powerful Camorra clan, Saviano stumbled across his first murdered body as a teen on his way to school. It's in the same town that he learned about the power of affiliation and belonging – when he'd ride his bike to nearby towns with his friends and scare other kids away by simply saying, "I'm from Casale."

"Corleone for people in my town is like Disneyland," he says, comparing the Sicilian Cosa Nostra town of "The Godfather" with the less publicized but more thriving towns of southern Italy's Camorra. "I grew up in a cutthroat reality."

Saviano's personal accounts, police reports, and trial evidence make "Gomorrah" an unprecedented description of that reality. It tells how the System (the name Camorristi use to refer to themselves) profits from drug trafficking, clothes manufacture, waste disposal, and public work contracts and feeds off the endemic problems of Naples – youth unemployment (40 percent), waste management crises, and political corruption.

Until the book came out in 2006, Camorra stories had only been the subject of local news reports, not international bestsellers. Saviano never trained as a journalist – he thinks of himself more as a writer. He graduated in philosophy and then did some work for national newspapers. But how did he go from the boy on the bike proud of Casale's reputation to the young writer confined to a bulletproof sedan?

"I often say that fortunately, or unfortunately, I am made of the same clay as the people I write about. I don't feel a difference in our formation, but in our choices," he says.

His father was a local doctor who was always a bit envious of the Camorra's power and money and taught Saviano how to shoot a gun when he was young. But when he saved the young target of a shooting – instead of leaving him to die as mafia doctors are supposed to do – he was beaten up for it. Saviano's mother, on the other hand, was a teacher from northern Italy, who gave him the cultural instruments to distance himself from his surroundings.

Above all, however, it was his desire to understand how the System worked that pushed him to go down a different path. "I didn't choose a different path because I thought that what they do is morally revolting," he says. "What I'm trying to do is to understand where their world begins and the legal world ends, and I've understood that they often coincide."

He uses the example of a neighbor, a boss who'd invited Saviano to his daughter's wedding and who'd paid for another neighbor's studies abroad. "It's hard to think that that same clever, generous, and kind man could one day kill a guy ... by making him swallow sand just because he'd been flirting with his niece."

Saviano is a traditionalist in many ways, like many in our corner of southern Italy. In the custom of Casal di Principe, his town, he wears three simple rings on three separate fingers – they look like wedding rings and signify the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. He is not a churchgoer, but he is not an atheist either. In fact one of the people who most inspired him was Father Peppino Diana, the antimafia parish priest of Casal di Principe who was murdered in his own church in 1994. (Father Diana compared Casale and its surroundings to the biblical cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, destroyed by God for the sins of their citizens. That's where the wordplay used in the book title comes from.) But ultimately it is Saviano's questioning of what drives people's decisions and what makes people tick that sets him apart from the rest.

"Understanding was my real vaccination, not rebelling against their violence," he says. "My fascination with that world remains, and I know it's dangerous, but I have written a book to try to take it apart."

And that book has cost him a lot. When it came out, even his friends and family left him alone. People in Casale thought he was a betrayer trying to profit from his experiences, and his family simply couldn't understand why he'd write about something as awful as the Camorra. And then came the threats – that he believes are from the bosses he named in the book and who are suing him for libel. (He says he still can't forgive himself for putting his family in danger, too.) But worst of all, he says, was the police protection.

"Since I started living under escort, I've been feeling like a half man," he says. "People in Casale say that [the Camorra has] built me a coffin without having to shoot me in the head."

We'd spent our first day together at Oxford University, where a bunch of Italian students who came to hear him talk were fascinated by him. He relaxed and joked with them about how bad English food is and how hard it must be to live away from home.

Seeing what a following he had here – and all over the world (his recently formed Facebook group has 1,200 members and there are over 6,000 on his MySpace profile) – it was hard to believe how lonely he must be at times. (His family has given him full support since he started receiving threats, but he's not in touch anymore with most of his old friends.)

So, wouldn't he rather leave and go somewhere where he didn't need constant police protection?

"Of course," he says. "But I can't do it yet. I've become a symbol and if I left I'd be giving in to their power. I need to keep going for now, and then we'll see."

Thanks to Irene Caselli

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Wiretap at Ballfield Leads to Conviction of Reputed Mobsters

You can now rule out the baseball field at Glen Cove High School as a place where it is safe for organized-crime figures to plot their racketeering activities.

Two reputed members of the Colombo organized-family were convicted Thursday of racketeering and extortion after a trial in which testimony centered around FBI wiretap's made with bugs planted at the school's ballfield, according to officials.

The two reputed crime figures -- Frank Leto, 76, of Glen Cove, and Louis Fenza, 56, of Jericho -- had been accused of shaking down the management of the then-Huntington Townhouse for between $200- to $400-a-week between 1997 and 1999. Leto was identified during the trial as a longtime soldier in the Colombo family and Fenza an associate.

According to testimony at the trial in U.S. District Court in Central Islip, FBI agents had been surveilling Leto, but he apparently thought he could avoid their overhearing his discussions by meeting with associates at the ballfield around midnight, sometimes when it was pitch black. But agents planted bugs around the field, picking up Leto discussing various schemes, said sources familiar with the case.

When Leto and Fenza were arrested in August 2003, federal prosecutor James Mikiewicz said, "This is a classic textbook case of organized crime extorting honest businessmen."

The Huntington Townhouse, once one of Long Island's major catering halls, was sold to the Lowe's home-improvement chain in June.

The jury returned a verdict after two days of deliberation following a trial that began in mid-February. The trial was halted for several days after Leto appeared to have fallen asleep, but was eventually hospitalized with some type of breakdown. Fenza's lawyer, Louis Fasulo of Manhattan, said of the verdict, "It's a shock," and that his client planned an appeal. Fasulo said that his client and Leto were involved with a limousine service that was used by the catering hall and the money owed was a legitimate debt.

Eastern District Assistant U.S. attorneys Allan Bode and Nicole Boeckmann declined to comment. Leto's attorney could not immediately be reached for comment.

Leto and Fenza face up to 20 years in prison when they are sentenced by U.S. District Judge Arthur Spatt.

Thanks to Robert E. Kessler

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Gangster World : Australian Hitman For Hire: Cost: $380.00!

By Clarence Walker, Investigative Journalist, Houston Texas

If you was a cold-blood criminal how much you willing to pay a hitman to kill someone? Well maybe that depends on the amount of money you have and how much the assassin will charge to carry out a contract.

Throughout existence of mankind people have hired killers to murder others in exchange for sex, money, relationships, promise of marriage, favoritism, gold, pearls, diamonds, cars, and even high-tech video games. But if you had none of the above to offer and you are practially broke with less than $500 in your pocket and desperately needed someone murdered for whatever reason--- where in the U.S. or anywhere on foreign land can you find a professional hitman to execute a bloody job for a pitiless fee?

Thats a tough question, isn't it? Since you don't know here is the answer. According to a recent crime study if you need someone murdered in Australia you can find an assassin for as low as $380!

What a bargain. Life must really come cheap for contract killers in Australia. Assassins must be insane to snuff lives for such a pittance amount. Sounds too ridiculous to be true? Isn't it? Keep reading.

A recent study of 163 attempted and actual murders conducted between 1989-2002 by The Australian Institute of Criminology and South Australian's major crime investigation branch showed the average price for a 'hit' is $12,700, but, again, if your budget is tight as a drum a person can have a contract murder carried out for $300-$400.

This research is the first national study of the typology of contract killings in Australia.

The study further showed the majority of contract killings in Australia is usually done by angry spouses and jilted lovers. But evidence is clear the professional criminals involved with organized crime order the most successful 'hits'.

"The most common motive or reason for hiring the services of a hit man was in relation to the dissolution of an intimate relationship", Toni Makkai, acting director of the Australian Institute of Criminology, said in a statement to foreign news reporters.

Makkai pointed out the fact the most common motives ranged from preventing a person from pursuing another relationship, revenge for another having affair, eliminating a partner to shack up with a lover or gain custody of children.

Other motives were money, silencing a witness, revenge, drugs and organized crime rivalry.

The average pay of 'blood money' to a 'hitman' for a contract in Australia was $12,700, the lowest amount documented $380, the highest $76,000.

Based on the research evidence documented from crime cases indicated powerful weapons was used for the contract murders. In fact guns were five times more likely to be used in contract killings than in domestic type murders.

"If you want the job done you are going to use the most deadly weapon avaliable", Makkai said.

Among several types of homicides to go down in Australia contract killings make up only a small percentage of all murders. During the four-year study period 'hits' accounted for only two percent of murders. But the number of 'hits' is slowly rising with an average now of seven attempted murders and five carried out each year. In earlier studies of contract murders by Australian organized crime group it showed the OC groups were more sophisticated and willing to pay large amount of money for a 'hitman'.

The amount for a organized crime-type murder contract often varys based on the following factors:

Who is the hitman, his reputation for success and not being caught, fees, how many victims he'd eliminated in the past, availablitiy for future assignments. These kind of hitmen are in demand and they charge a hefty fee.

A professional hitman will take the following into consideration prior to accepting an assignment:

(1) Identity of the person to be killed, his/her background, where they are, their daily habits and routines, and,

(2) Any police or security available, news media attention, including whether the client wants the target killed in a specified manner(for example, to make the killing appear as robbery, accident or suicide).

(3) The difficulty and danger of successfully carrying out the 'hit'.

Other factors in carrying out a contract killing varys from one person to another whose desire to have a 'hit' done.

Australian Institute Criminology researcher Jenny Mouzos and South Australian police Detective Inspector John Venditto reported their findings out of 163 cases that 69 victims were killed(34 unsolved) and 94 where the attempt failed due to an informant.

Aside from organized crime contracts Mouzos and Venditto's investigation cited failed relationships between current or former spouses as motivation to find a contract killer. In this group, "63 percent of males were the instigators", says Venditto.

Both Venditto and Mouzos agreed the organized crime-related contract murders succeeded because of more money the groups have to spend to find professional hitmen which allows them to avoid the critical pitfalls that trap others with less money into most likely being caught early in the scheme by putting the word out among freinds, associates and total strangers.

When criminals operate through low-level channels to find a hitman on the streets they run the risk of having an informant contact police for reward money or gain favors in the criminal justice system.

Venditto and Mouzos exclusive study identifed three class of hitmen (1) amateurs (2) semi-pros (3) professionals

"The amateurs, Venditto says, typically are hired to kill a spouse or intimate partner". He characterised amateurs as "impulsive and disorganized and frequently caught".

Professional 'hits' were carefully planned and the assassins left few clues behind. But some were caught. Many victims of drug-related 'hits' may simply disappear without trace thereby this type of crime could be significantly higher than statistics indicated, the study concluded.

In closing as a veteran crime journalist I've written many stories about contract murders. The lowest amount was a October 1981 case in Houston Texas at the La Quinta Inn Motel involving Tommy Dunn. Dunn needed a hitman to kill his father named A.D. Dunn over a relationship the elder was having with his son's ex-girlfreind.

Famous Texas death row inmate Thomas Miller EL now awaiting a new trial in Dallas Texas had introduced Tommy to a desperate guy who can only be characterized as an amateur 'hitman'.

When Dunn asked the 'hitman' how much he charged to kill his father, the 'hitman', paused for seconds, then said, "$800.00" Dunn looked puzzled. This guy fee was dirt cheap.He thought...."something fishy".

He asked him again. Are you sure thats your price? The 'hitman' said, "yes". Dunn was stunned. He looked at the 'hitman' and said, "Hell, $800, isn't bad, even if you missed him! He didn't missed. He killed A.D. Dunn and multiple errors befelled him. He was soon captured. While in jail the 'hitman' committed suicide and Tommy Dunn was sentenced to 99 years in Texas prison.

The irony in the Dunn 'hitman' case and the amateur 'hitmen' in Australia who is desperate and willing to charge $380 to do a hit-- this is for those who needs a 'hit' done You get what you pay for.... A bumbling criminal who may not shoot straight and hard prison time.

Any comments: Journalist Clarence Walker can be contacted at Mafia101@myway.com or 713-616-0385.

Source: Australian Institute of Criminology & South Australian Major Criminal Investigation

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