The repentant Giovanni Braccia recounted the last years of the Camorra activities of the De Martino clan, the infamous “Xx” of Ponticelli.
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The statements of the 55-year-old collaborator of justice, released starting last October, are now part of the trial records against the gang led by the boss Francesco De Martino, known as “'o pazzo”.
The man shortly after the blitz with 60 arrests among the Ponticelli clans began to make statements to the prosecutors Simona Rossi and Sergio Raimondi of the Naples DDA. The files contain over 150 pages of reports, many omitted, in which Giovanni Braccia identified over 50 members of the De Martino and De Micco clans of Ponticelli, indicating roles and duties. He spoke of ambushes, drug trafficking and all the illicit business of the Fiat district clan.
The role of Lina Ricci wife of the boss Francesco De Martino o' pazzo
And about the De Martino clan he said: “… Lina Ricci, Francesco De Martino's wife, is part of the clan and is a terrible person. She commands more than her husband. At the time of the ambush on Ciro “'o mellone”, the latter had been designated as regent of the “De Micco” by Marco De Micco.
When I said I was dealing with De Martino Salvatore during the time when Francesco De Martino was arrested a few years ago - so I'm not referring to the last arrest that took place in July of this year - I meant to say that, at the time, the only free members of the family were Salvatore and his mother Lina. I took them to Salvatore D'Amico, known as "'o pirata", to ask for protection.
D'Amico told me that, if the request came from the "Bodo" - economically strong at the time - he would send about twenty affiliates from San Giovanni to Ponticelli to guarantee their safety, but only in exchange for a payment of 200.000 euros and a bag of weapons. He also added that he would warn all the clans in Naples: anyone who touched the De Martino would have problems with him directly. However, the agreement did not materialize because, at that time, the "Bodo" did not have contacts capable of immediately collecting that sum.
The request for help to the D'Amico clan for the “protection” of the De Martinos
After a week, his mother Lina was arrested and, subsequently, there was an “invasion” of other clans, including the “De Luca Bossa”, who sided with Audino Francesco. Left alone, I took care of Salvatore De Martino and took him to Audino Francesco, who assured him protection on the condition that, if he continued to commit crimes, he did so in a personal capacity and not in the name of the “Bodo” or the “Xx”.
I belong to the De Martino clan and I am a childhood friend of Francesco De Martino. When he and his family were arrested years ago, I took care of his son Salvatore, who was still a boy at the time. I will tell you how I became affiliated with the “De Martino” precisely following Francesco's arrest.
It should be noted that my family was already respected in Ponticelli, even before my affiliation, thanks to the ties with several prominent figures of the Camorra. I am related to the D'Amico "Gennarella" of San Giovanni: my mother, Maria D'Amico, is the sister of the late Umberto D'Amico, father of Luigi, Gennaro and Salvatore "'o pirata".
Furthermore, I am related to the D'Amico “Fraulella” of the Conocal of Ponticelli: my maternal grandfather, Alfonso D'Amico, was the brother of the father of Antonio D'Amico, known as “Tonino 'e fraulella”, currently detained in the prison of Saluzzo. I am also related to the Ricci, historically linked to the D'Amico “Fraulella” of the Spanish Quarters.
My family enjoyed respect also because, with the above-mentioned individuals, I actively operated in the criminal field. Incidentally, between 2008 and 2014 I was detained for usury and extortion aggravated by the mafia method, on behalf of the Sarno-Veneruso clan. I was arrested together with Antonio Sarno, Ciro's son, Tonino Veneruso and my brother Vincenzo.
The repentant's relationship with Ciro Mazzarrella
During that period I met Ciro Mazzarella, when I ran a flower shop in Piazza del Carmine. Initially, Mazzarella bought flowers for the decoration of his nephew's baptism, the occasion on which he also celebrated his wedding. Through Umberto Luongo, a member of the D'Amico "Gennarella" family, who offered to pay for the decoration, I came into contact with Mazzarella.
Subsequently, Mazzarella began to supply me with cocaine, delivering 1 kg per month for a prolonged period. The first supply occurred a few weeks after the baptism of his nephew, Mazzarella's son Anna. These supplies continued until Umberto D'Amico, my cousin's son, decided to collaborate with justice.
At a certain point, the relationship with Ciro Mazzarella deteriorated due to an attack with explosives in the so-called “vicariello”, where the D'Amico “Gennarella” lived. I remember that it was summer and that Umberto D'Amico had just repented.
Returning to my involvement with the “De Martino”, I was affiliated with the clan from 2017 until my arrest, which occurred a few days ago. I received orders from Francesco De Martino, who communicated with me from prison by telephone”.
(pictured from top left: Francesco De Martino, his wife Carmela Ricci and their sons Antonio De Martino and Salvatore De Martino)
Article published on March 15, 2025 - 09pm
This article is very interesting and provides details about the Ponticelli clans. However, I wonder how it is possible that there are still so many ties between the families and clans. Justice does not seem to work as it should.