Giorgio De Stefano
Encyclopedia
Giorgio De Stefano is an Italian
criminal and a member of the 'Ndrangheta in Calabria
. He belongs to the De Stefano 'ndrina
, based in the Archi neighbourhood in the city of Reggio Calabria
, and is a cousin of the historical boss Paolo De Stefano
. He has a degree in criminal law and is often referred to as "the lawyer".
, the old boss (capobastone) of Reggio Calabria, who had acquired considerable financial resources through tobacco smuggling. Within two years (as a result of the First 'Ndrangheta war in 1974-1976) they moved from being simple 'Ndranghetisti to being the new "lords" of Reggio Calabria.
The De Stefanos extended their reach beyond the criminal world and entered in a Masonic lodge
in order to better take care of business and political interests. Giorgio De Stefano was elected for the Christian Democrat
party (DC - Democrazia Cristiana) in the city council of Reggio Calabria for many years.
, Imerti
, Serraino and Rosmini clans on one side, and the De Stefano 'ndrina, Tegano
, Libri
and Latella clans on the other. The boss of the clan, Paolo De Stefano, was killed on October 13, 1985.
Paolo’s brother Orazio De Stefano and Giorgio De Stefano took over the leadership of the clan. Both were seen as the main mentors of the "pax mafiosa" that ended the Second 'Ndrangheta war in September 1991. A deal had to be brokered between the main adversaries Pasquale Condello
(the Condellos had killed Paolo De Stefano) and Giorgio De Stefano, who wanted the killers of his cousin. Another 'Ndrangheta boss, Domenico Alvaro
, had to be called in to mediate.
as "the true ominous shadow behind all bloody events." Rather than a man of action he was the example of the behind-the-scene power broker of one the most powerful 'Ndrangheta clans.
While his close ally Giovanni Tegano
became a member of La Provincia, a provincial commission of the 'Ndrangheta, formed at the end of the war to avoid further internal conflicts, he was in the care of Giorgio De Stefano. He was allied with bosses of the other Italian crime organizations, such as Leoluca Bagarella
and Nitto Santapaola from the Sicilian Mafia
, and Raffaele Cutolo
from the Camorra
.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
criminal and a member of the 'Ndrangheta in Calabria
Calabria
Calabria , in antiquity known as Bruttium, is a region in southern Italy, south of Naples, located at the "toe" of the Italian Peninsula. The capital city of Calabria is Catanzaro....
. He belongs to the De Stefano 'ndrina
De Stefano 'ndrina
The De Stefano 'ndrina is one of the most powerful clans of the 'Ndrangheta, a criminal and mafia-type organisation in Calabria, Italy. The 'ndrina hailed from the Archi neighbourhood in Reggio Calabria. Several of its members were included in the list of most wanted fugitives in Italy...
, based in the Archi neighbourhood in the city of Reggio Calabria
Reggio Calabria
Reggio di Calabria , commonly known as Reggio Calabria or Reggio, is the biggest city and the most populated comune of Calabria, southern Italy, and is the capital of the Province of Reggio Calabria and seat of the Council of Calabrian government.Reggio is located on the "toe" of the Italian...
, and is a cousin of the historical boss Paolo De Stefano
Paolo De Stefano
Paolo De Stefano was a member of the 'Ndrangheta who became the undisputed boss of Reggio Calabria. Together with his brothers Giovanni, Giorgio and Orazio he headed the De Stefano 'ndrina.-Early years:...
. He has a degree in criminal law and is often referred to as "the lawyer".
'Ndrangheta heritage
The De Stefanos would come to prominence as members of the 'Ndrangheta clan of Domenico TripodoDomenico Tripodo
Domenico Tripodo was an Italian criminal and a historical and charismatic boss of the 'Ndrangheta dominating the city of Reggio Calabria and the surrounding areas...
, the old boss (capobastone) of Reggio Calabria, who had acquired considerable financial resources through tobacco smuggling. Within two years (as a result of the First 'Ndrangheta war in 1974-1976) they moved from being simple 'Ndranghetisti to being the new "lords" of Reggio Calabria.
The De Stefanos extended their reach beyond the criminal world and entered in a Masonic lodge
Masonic Lodge
This article is about the Masonic term for a membership group. For buildings named Masonic Lodge, see Masonic Lodge A Masonic Lodge, often termed a Private Lodge or Constituent Lodge, is the basic organisation of Freemasonry...
in order to better take care of business and political interests. Giorgio De Stefano was elected for the Christian Democrat
Christian Democracy (Italy)
Christian Democracy was a Christian democratic party in Italy. It was founded in 1943 as the ideological successor of the historical Italian People's Party, which had the same symbol, a crossed shield ....
party (DC - Democrazia Cristiana) in the city council of Reggio Calabria for many years.
Second 'Ndrangheta war
The De Stefano clan was a protagonist in the Second 'Ndrangheta war, which grouped all the 'ndrine in the city of Reggio Calabria into either one of two opposing factions: the CondelloPasquale Condello
Pasquale Condello is an Italian criminal known as a member of the 'Ndrangheta. He is also known as "Il supremo" for his role at the top of the crime syndicate. He was a fugitive since 1990 and included in the list of most wanted fugitives in Italy until his capture in February 2008...
, Imerti
Antonio Imerti
Antonio Imerti , also known as "Nanu feroce" , is an Italian criminal and a member of the 'Ndrangheta, the Calabrian mafia...
, Serraino and Rosmini clans on one side, and the De Stefano 'ndrina, Tegano
Giovanni Tegano
Giovanni Tegano is an Italian criminal and a member of the 'Ndrangheta, the Calabrian mafia. He was a fugitive since 1993 and included in the list of most wanted fugitives in Italy, until his arrest in April 2010...
, Libri
Domenico Libri
Domenico Libri , also known as Don Mico, was an Italian criminal and a member of the 'Ndrangheta in Calabria. He was a fugitive since June 1989 and included in the list of most wanted fugitives in Italy until his capture in September 1992...
and Latella clans on the other. The boss of the clan, Paolo De Stefano, was killed on October 13, 1985.
Paolo’s brother Orazio De Stefano and Giorgio De Stefano took over the leadership of the clan. Both were seen as the main mentors of the "pax mafiosa" that ended the Second 'Ndrangheta war in September 1991. A deal had to be brokered between the main adversaries Pasquale Condello
Pasquale Condello
Pasquale Condello is an Italian criminal known as a member of the 'Ndrangheta. He is also known as "Il supremo" for his role at the top of the crime syndicate. He was a fugitive since 1990 and included in the list of most wanted fugitives in Italy until his capture in February 2008...
(the Condellos had killed Paolo De Stefano) and Giorgio De Stefano, who wanted the killers of his cousin. Another 'Ndrangheta boss, Domenico Alvaro
Domenico Alvaro
Domenico Alvaro , also known as 'don Micu o Giannuzzu', is an Italian criminal and a member of the 'Ndrangheta, a Mafia-type organisation in Calabria....
, had to be called in to mediate.
Power broker
A sharp-witted individual with a diabolic shrewdness, he was described by a pentitoPentito
Pentito designates people in Italy who, formerly part of criminal or terrorist organizations, following their arrests decide to "repent" and collaborate with the judicial system to help investigations...
as "the true ominous shadow behind all bloody events." Rather than a man of action he was the example of the behind-the-scene power broker of one the most powerful 'Ndrangheta clans.
While his close ally Giovanni Tegano
Giovanni Tegano
Giovanni Tegano is an Italian criminal and a member of the 'Ndrangheta, the Calabrian mafia. He was a fugitive since 1993 and included in the list of most wanted fugitives in Italy, until his arrest in April 2010...
became a member of La Provincia, a provincial commission of the 'Ndrangheta, formed at the end of the war to avoid further internal conflicts, he was in the care of Giorgio De Stefano. He was allied with bosses of the other Italian crime organizations, such as Leoluca Bagarella
Leoluca Bagarella
Leoluca Bagarella is an Italian criminal and member of the Sicilian Mafia. He is from the town of Corleone and was a member of the Corleonesi.-Biography:...
and Nitto Santapaola from the Sicilian Mafia
Mafia
The Mafia is a criminal syndicate that emerged in the mid-nineteenth century in Sicily, Italy. It is a loose association of criminal groups that share a common organizational structure and code of conduct, and whose common enterprise is protection racketeering...
, and Raffaele Cutolo
Raffaele Cutolo
Raffaele Cutolo is an Italian crime boss and the charismatic leader of the Nuova Camorra Organizzata , an organisation he built to renew the Camorra. Cutolo has a variety of nicknames including "'o Vangelo" , "'o Principe" , "'o Professore" and "'o Monaco"...
from the Camorra
Camorra
The Camorra is a Mafia-type criminal organization, or secret society, originating in the region of Campania and its capital Naples in Italy. It is one of the oldest and largest criminal organizations in Italy, dating to the 18th century.-Background:...
.