Ponticelli, record sentences for the De Luca Bossa–Minichini superclan: nearly 300 years in prison.

The ruling handed down yesterday by the preliminary hearing judge of the Naples Court is destined to leave a profound mark on the criminal history of East Naples, dealing a veritable judicial blow to the De Luca Bossa–Minichini–Casella–Reale superclan, for years the undisputed masters of the Ponticelli neighborhood.

Twenty-seven defendants were sentenced to a total of nearly three centuries in prison, putting an end—at least on a judicial level—to what investigators have defined as a widespread mafia system, based on drug trafficking, extortion, violent management of public housing, and systematic intimidation of residents.

The investigation, coordinated by the Naples District Anti-Mafia Directorate, reached its climax with last year's raid, when 31 precautionary measures were taken against 55 suspects, dismantling the operational framework of the Camorra cartel. This operation revealed a multi-faceted criminal structure, with clearly defined roles among top brass, local bosses, pushers, insiders, and supporters.

For years, Ponticelli was held hostage by the clan. The drug dealing hubs of Piazza De Gasperi, Piazza Comunale Miranda, and Piazza Cozzolino (lot 10) guaranteed rivers of money, while the population lived under constant oppression. One of the bases was run by Gabriella Onesto, partner of the mafia boss Michele Minichini.

The system of control of public housing was particularly odious: the clan demanded thousands of euros to allow tenants to enter or remain in the apartments, also imposing a sort of "maintenance fee".

In more than one case, those who couldn't pay were beaten and forced to leave their homes, even if they were minors or living in extreme poverty. The investigation was sparked by a beating in June 2020.

Among the well-known faces involved are Giuseppe and Emanuel De Luca Bossa, Michele Minichini, his sister Martina, Giuseppe Righetto known as “Peppe 'o blob”, and Maria D'Amico, sister of the historic boss Nunzia known as “'a passilona”.

The case of the repentant woman

Among the most significant sentences is the 19-year prison sentence handed down to Luisa De Stefano, known as "'a pazzignana," who just two weeks ago decided to cooperate with the justice system in court, confessing to her role as a conspirator in several murders. Her cooperation came late, but it was deemed insufficient to avoid a very heavy sentence.

It is also worth noting that Vincenzo Barbato was sentenced to 9 years and 6 months. In the first instance, he had been sentenced to 8 years (the lowest sentence among clan members), and the Court of Appeal granted him a continuation with a 'stesa' on July 2, 2022, for which Domenico Di Pierno, a clan member, was also sentenced to 7 years and 4 months. His sentence was then revised from 10 years to 7 months and 6 years (both defended by Giuseppe Milazzo and Immacolata Romano). Pasquale Damiano, who had been acquitted in the first instance, was also sentenced to 8 years.

The defendants were charged, to varying degrees, with criminal association for the purpose of drug trafficking, illicit possession of drugs, and other crimes, all aggravated by mafia methods.

General overview of convictions

• 27 convicted

• Total sentences: approximately 295 years in prison

• Crimes aggravated by mafia methods

• The existence of a unitary superclan has been confirmed

The sentences

• Louise DeStefano – 19 years

• Alfredo Minichini – 15 years

• Gennaro Aprea – 15 years

• Luigi Austero – 14 years and 6 months

• Francis Audino – 14 years and 4 months

• Umberto De Luca Bossa – 13 years

• Roberto Boccardi – 13 years

• Joseph Casella – 12 years and 6 months

• Eduardo Casella – 12 years

• Giuseppe De Luca Bossa – 11 years

• Antonio Acanfora – 11 years and 4 months

• Emanuel De Luca Bossa – 10 years

• John De Turris – 10 years and 2 months

• Julius Ceglie – 10 years

• Gabriella Onesto – 10 years and 8 months

• Vincent Barbato – 9 years and 6 months

• Luigi Crisai – 9 years and 6 months

• Domenico Amitrano – 9 years and 8 months

• Joseph Damiano – 9 years and 4 months

• Domenico Gianniello – 9 years and 4 months

• Luigi Aulisio – 8 years and 8 months

• Vincenzo Casella – 8 years and 8 months

• Cyrus Empress – 8 years and 8 months

• Nicholas Aulisio – 8 years and 6 months

• Anna De Luca Bossa – 8 years

• Giovanni Esposito – 8 years

• Tommaso Schisa (collaborator) – 8 years

• Pasquale Damiano – 8 years
• Francesco Clienti – 7 years and 6 months

• Nicholas Honorius – 7 years and 6 months

• Cyrus Ricci – 7 years and 6 months

• Cyrus Esposito – 5 years

• Vincenza De Stefano – 2 years

• Mariarca Gala – 1 year and 4 months

• Martina Minichini – 1 year and 4 months

The overall calculation of the penalties

The total sentences imposed by the preliminary hearing judge amount to approximately 295 years of imprisonment, one of the heaviest ever inflicted on a Ponticelli clan in a single proceeding.

• (in the photo above from the left Michele Minichini, Luigi Austero, Gabriella Onesto Maria D'Amico, Luisa De Stefano and Vincenza Maione; below, always from the left Mariarca Gala, Nicola Aulisio, Emanuel De Luca Bossa, Ciro Cotugno, Giuseppe Righetto and Alessandro Ferletti)

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