Trial of the Gela and Niscemi clans, 20 sentences for 140 years imposed
One year and 8 months for former mayor Rizzo, believed to be the instigator of an arson attack. The criminal group was ready to kill an entrepreneur

by Vincenzo Falci

May 13, 2025

Rain of convictions for the Niscemi mafia. Twenty in all for a total of just under 140 years of prison, passing through partial verdicts of not guilty. Only one total acquittal. Thus ended the trial with abbreviated procedure linked to the maxi investigation of the carabinieri "Mondo Opposto", which in December two years ago triggered twenty-nine precautionary measures. The most severe sentence, with 20 years of continuous imprisonment, was inflicted on Alberto Musto, believed to be the head of the Gela district. He is followed by his brother, Sergio Musto, who according to the prosecutors is Alberto's "long arm", with 12 years and 4 months, Andrea Abaco 9 years and 8 months, Francesco Amato 3 years in continuation with sentences issued in Catania, Giuseppe Auteri 10 years and 8 months in addition to a 13,333 euro fine, Luigi and Vincenzo Cannizzaro, 3 years, 4 months and a 4,000 euro fine each, Francesco Cantaro 6 years and 8 months, Mariantonietta Caruso, Alberto Musto's partner, 3 years, 4 months and a 667 euro fine, Francesco Cona 9 years and 4 months, Davide Cusa 2 years and 9 months, Renè Salvatore Di Stefano 9 years and a 9,000 euro fine, Gianni Ferranti one year and 10 months, Giovanni Ferranti 9 years, Giuseppe Manduca 8 years, Francesco Piazza 6 years and a 4,000 euro fine, Carmelo Raniolo 4 years and 8 months. thousand euros in fines, Francesco Alessio Torre 8 years and 4 months, Carlo Zanti 6 years and 8 months and, finally, one year and 8 months for the former mayor of Niscemi, the doctor Paolo Rizzo, believed to be the instigator of an arson attack in a country house.
The only total acquittal was for Viviana Caruso – 4 years and 9 months had been requested for her – sister of the boss's wife.

Gela and Niscemi families were always a bit underrated IMO.

Misilmeri anotherone of those underrated towns of cosa nostra.


Misilmeri Extortion: Three Convictions on Appeal
by Editorial Staff

May 16, 2025

The Court of Appeal of Palermo sentenced Cosimo Sciarabba, son of the boss of Misilmeri Salvatore, to 13 years and 4 months, Alessandro Ravesi, his faithful collaborator, to 17 years, and Salvatore Baiamonte to 10 years and 4 months. A fourth defendant, Benedetto Badalamenti, died during the trial.

The three defendants allegedly asked for protection money from several entrepreneurs - some of whom, accompanied by the anti-racketeering association Addiopizzo to file a complaint, have joined the civil action - and also attempted to take control of several funeral services.

The traditional investigations of the Carabinieri were therefore joined by the reports of the five designated victims of extortion. The investigation that led to the arrest of the accused was also developed thanks to the footage taken with a cell phone by one of the oppressed entrepreneurs. After being approached for the request of "messa a posto" - the payment of the extortion to the clan of the area where some work was to be done -, one of the entrepreneurs managed to immortalize some moments of the negotiation with the request for the payment of the protection money. And the video ended up in the prosecution's records, which also relied on the statements of collaborators of justice, searches and seizures, images from the surveillance cameras of the area, environmental and telephone interceptions, checks on the movements of the suspects thanks to telephone records and position cells.