Mafia Boss Arrested While Playing ‘Godfather’ on Xbox

Italian Mafia boss Gerlandino Messina was playing the Godfather video game on Xbox when police arrested him in Italy last weekend, Life in Italy reported.

Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi said in a translated statement that the arrest was a confirmation of the “government’s unprecedented success in its battle against organized crime.” Messina was among Italy’s top 30 most dangerous fugitives, 28 of whom have already been arrested, according to a statement from the Italian government.

Messina, 38, apparently had an interest in the Godfather video game, which is based on the popular Godfather movie trilogy. Police noted that while tracking Messina for 11 years they had found the game, among many others, in his various hide-outs, according to Life in Italy.

Messina was on the run from police since 1999 for “mafia-type association and several murders,” according to a translation of an Italian Ministry of Interior document. He is Sicily’s No.2 mafia boss, next to top boss Matteo Messina Denaro, according to Reuters.

Denaro, however, is still at large. He has been on the run since 1993 for crimes including “mafia-type association, murder, massacre, destruction, detention and the port of explosive materials, theft and more,” according to the Ministry of Interior.

Source: theepochtimes.com

Well that is a nice way to get arrested, i must say he has an average taste. The Godfather game wasnt that great
thanks for sharing Sonny Black

"Game Over."

That's hysterical. It also tells you everything you need to know about the mental acumen of today's Mafia.

LMAO

I second that.

Funny how wanted mafia guys in Italy seem to stay at large for so long

the society there seems to ignore/accept it as part of the culture and history. In the USA its a much more different story.

I don't think so Mukremin, Italians in general really hate the mafia.

Not really. Not anymore, anyway.

I've had the good fortune of spending several extended periods in Calabria throughout my lifetime, Mukremin. Back in the '80s I was there for a full 18 months at one time. And I'm here to tell you that those people have had it. Who would want to live a life filled with fear, forever being extorted, all in the name of "culture and history," as you put it?

Most people in this world are decent. The thing is, they also want to be treated decently. The Mafia----whether American or its Italian older brother----prospers by preying on the fears of the weak. No one wants to live under their threat.

I hope they let him save his level before they clamped the old leg irons on him

Haha "Wait! Wait! I'm just about finished this level!"

You are right there, but Italy has still a long way to go in the fight against the mafia. Of course it must be a different experience spending some time right between them.

Messina was found in Favara, and that is in the province of Agrigento. He is from Porto Empedocle. This goes along with what I was saying in another thread, about how they are very territorial. While he was only in this particular apt complex for the past 5 months, he was always in the area...for the past 11 years!! He was boss of Agrigento since Giuseppe Falsone's arrest back in May. Or June, maybe.

In Italy, they are standing up to the mafia much more than ever, that's true. But, you have to understand, the mob is so entrenched in Italy, it IS almost accepted....not ignored, but accepted.

As was found on Gerlandino's body was 4 type-written papers. 2 were intended for the boss of bosses (as he is being called) Messina-Denaro and were about dividing territory, or something. The other 2 were intended for family. There was evidence that he had contact with his son and some relatives in all this time. So, they do maintain some contact, even while on the lam.

It was funny to hear about the xbox, I admit, but they have to pass the time somehow, I guess. lol

Anyway, I don't know how much discussion there is on this board about Italy, but...that's all I know about.

One year ago today, Oct 23, 2010, Messina was captured. He's serving the rest of his life under article 41-bis, on lockdown for 23 hours a day. He has a wife and 13-year old son that he can see thru a thick glass for one hour a month. He follows the code he swore by because it's what he believes in...dignita, onore, e rispetto. Rimanere forte, Gerlandino.

Great article Sonny







Many of the fugitive bosses over the years used that 'hiding in plain sight' tactic. Hiding out in the home turf.

^^^^ It's not a "tactic". In Italy, for a boss to leave his territory is considered weak and ones who have left, have lost control of their families.

For those that are laughing about playing a game, on xbox live, such as he was, it's another way for a fugitive to (allegedly) be able to communicate with the outside.

.
Yeah, I think most of us are just laughing at the irony. If he were playing Tiger Woods 2012, no one would really give a fuck

At least he wasnt playing mafia 2 that game sucked.
I hope they recorded his xbox headset chat probably gettin pwned by some 7 year old.

Assuming they mean the second Godfather game, as I don't think the first had any live components, it wasn't anything special either.

Fair enough, tactic is probably the wrong word. But its a fact that a number of famous Sicilian mafia 'fugitives' were apprehended in said territories. They had to hide where they had the support networks to make it possible.



Ah, come on Carm. Its still pretty funny. He could have played any game with a live component to communicate (maybe one less obvious if its what he was indeed using it for), but he chose Godfather. Thats worth a chuckle isn't it? Escpecially considering Scorsese's mental image of a mafia boss' enraged screaming as he keeps getting his head blown off by some kid in Halo 3.

Well, you're absolutely right about this here. People ask how can someone stay in hiding for so many years, and if you're familiar with the size of Sicily, you know it just seems impossible. But it's ALL about your network around you. It's all about this. If Messina had stayed in his hometown of Porto Empedocle like he did for all those years, instead of moving to Favarra, like he did, he'd still be in hiding today. It's draining on them, though, too. After so long...not that they want to get caught, but their mentality changes, to where they're like, "if it happens, it happens." Messina didn't even draw his gun, which he had on him (he would've been blasted a million deaths if he had, but that's besides the point).

Yeah yeah, I know nobody is interested but me, but anywho... the other day Messina got 9 1/2 years for the 2 weapons and hundred rounds of ammo found in his apt when captured. Prosecutor wanted 15 years but they couldn't prove the weapons were mafia related, so it was reduced. Doesn't really matter cause he's already serving 2 life sentences convicted in absentia.

In Italy such situations are common. For example, Totò Riina has already uncountable life sentences, but they prosecute him again and again, instead of concentrating on the mafiosi who are still free. I really don't see the point of giving another life sentence to somebody who has already dozens of them.

totò riina is a case apart, the government hates him, he's currently very very sick but hell die in prison i bet... another boss would get house arrests, but riina is riina and he cant be released since the news would shock the whole italy

The point has to do with parole. If you are serving multiple life sentences and they just keep adding onto it, it lessens your chance of any kind of parole.
Also, with the case of Messina, here, he has refused to talk (and he will continue to refuse) and is under article 41-bis. Now, if by chance he did talk, he will face a different sentence and then all this comes into play as to when he would be eligible for parole. That's not relevant here,though, because he won't ever talk. Fact.

True. And he is a true man of honor, because they have told him time and time again if he would cooperate, he would get the help he needs immediately and be moved out of there. But he will never talk.