Michele Zagaria is a powerful Italian Camorrista

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:...

 and one of the bosses of the Casalesi clan

Casalesi clan

The Casalesi clan is a clan within the Camorra, an Italian criminal organization, operating from Casal di Principe in the province of Caserta between Naples and Salerno.Formed by Antonio Bardellino, it is a confederation of clans in the Caserta area...

 from Casal di Principe

Casal di Principe

Casal di Principe is a comune in the Province of Caserta in the Italian region Campania, located about 25 km northwest of Naples and about 20 km southwest of Caserta....

 in the province of Caserta

Province of Caserta

The Province of Caserta is a province in the Campania region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Caserta. The former royal palace of Caserta is located near to the city.It has an area of 2,639 km², and a total population of 879,342...

 northwest of Naples

Naples

Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...

. He is on the "most wanted list" of the Italian ministry of the Interior since 1995, for Camorra association, murder, extortion, robbery and other crimes. On February 8, 2000, an international warrant was issued against him, to be arrested for extradition.

Zagaria is an a-typical Casalesi boss. According to informants, he doesn't refuse a few lines of cocaine, a strict taboo within the clan. He insists on being treated like a priest: 'You should do what I say and not what I do.' He knows how to build his image. Employees are received in extravagant villas and greeted with a tiger on a leash. Together with his brother Pasquale he has become the “king of tendering” in construction, getting public contracts for the high-speed train Tav

Treno Alta Velocità

Treno Alta Velocità SpA is special purpose entity owned by RFI for the planning and construction of a high-speed network in Italy.-Purpose:...

, a new prison, the local rail line and a NATO radar base.

He was sentenced to life on June 19, 2008, after 10-year trial – named the Spartacus Trial

Spartacus Trial

The Spartacus Maxi-Trial was a series of criminal trials that were specifically directed against the activities of the powerful Casalesi clan of the Camorra. The trial was opened at the Corte d'Assise of Santa Maria Capua Vetere in Caserta...

– against 36 members of the Casalesi clan charged with a string of murders and other crimes.