Vincenzo Sinagra
Encyclopedia
Vincenzo Sinagra was an associate of the Sicilian Mafia
who later became a significant informant
.
Sinagra was not actually a member of the Mafia but just a petty criminal, one of fourteen children to a fisherman
from Palermo
. In 1981 he made the mistake of robbing a member of the Mafia and although this would normally have meant instant death, because he had a cousin in the Mafia (see below) he was given a choice of leaving Sicily, being killed or becoming a gofer
for the Mafia. He chose the third option.
During the Mafia War of the early 1980s, Sinagra worked for Filippo Marchese
, a ruthless killer who employed Sinagra for various menial tasks, like holding the feet of Marchese's victims whilst Marchese strangled them, and helping dispose of bodies. Sinagra used to take home $250 a month in his grisly job, waiting around on street corners for his next assignment.
He was sent to carry out a contract killing on August 11, 1982, but he bungled it badly. First of all his gun jammed and so his accomplice, his cousin, had to shoot the victim dead. Then Sinagra left his weapon in the getaway car. He and his cousin were arrested later that day.
In prison, Sinagra feigned insanity
but eventually suffered something of a nervous breakdown
, apparently wracked with guilt for taking part in many murders. He eventually became an informant and provided anti-Mafia judge Paolo Borsellino
with a great deal of information. Borsellino had been after Marchese for years. Sinagra even led the police on a tour of his clan's torture chamber. There he showed them bloodstained ropes, brickbats and a vat in which bodies were dumped into acid.
By the end of 1982 Marchese was dead, killed on the orders of Salvatore Riina
who decided Marchese was of no further use. However, Sinagra did eventually testify at the Maxi Trial
of 1986-1987, along with other informants like Tommaso Buscetta
, and helped convict many Mafiosi.
Despite his cooperation, at the conclusion of the Maxi Trial Sinagra was handed a twenty-one-year sentence for his part in multiple murders. He is due for release in 2008.
Vincenzo Sinagra was also the name of the above individual's cousin. This Vincenzo, who was a fully fledged member of the Mafia, was nicknamed "Tempest" due to his violent temper and strength. At the Maxi Trial, "Tempest'", partly on the testimony of his cousin, was convicted of murder and imprisoned for life.
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
who later became a significant informant
Informant
An informant is a person who provides privileged information about a person or organization to an agency. The term is usually used within the law enforcement world, where they are officially known as confidential or criminal informants , and can often refer pejoratively to the supply of information...
.
Sinagra was not actually a member of the Mafia but just a petty criminal, one of fourteen children to a fisherman
Fisherman
A fisherman or fisher is someone who captures fish and other animals from a body of water, or gathers shellfish. Worldwide, there are about 38 million commercial and subsistence fishermen and fish farmers. The term can also be applied to recreational fishermen and may be used to describe both men...
from Palermo
Palermo
Palermo is a city in Southern Italy, the capital of both the autonomous region of Sicily and the Province of Palermo. The city is noted for its history, culture, architecture and gastronomy, playing an important role throughout much of its existence; it is over 2,700 years old...
. In 1981 he made the mistake of robbing a member of the Mafia and although this would normally have meant instant death, because he had a cousin in the Mafia (see below) he was given a choice of leaving Sicily, being killed or becoming a gofer
Gofer
A gofer or go-fer is an employee who is often sent on errands. "Gofer" reflects the likelihood of instructions to go for coffee, dry cleaning, or stamps, or to make other straightforward or familiar procurements. The term gofer originated in North America...
for the Mafia. He chose the third option.
During the Mafia War of the early 1980s, Sinagra worked for Filippo Marchese
Filippo Marchese
Filippo Marchese was a leading figure in the Sicilian Mafia and a hitman suspected of dozens of homicides. He was the boss of the Mafia family in the Corso Dei Mille neighbourhood in Palermo....
, a ruthless killer who employed Sinagra for various menial tasks, like holding the feet of Marchese's victims whilst Marchese strangled them, and helping dispose of bodies. Sinagra used to take home $250 a month in his grisly job, waiting around on street corners for his next assignment.
He was sent to carry out a contract killing on August 11, 1982, but he bungled it badly. First of all his gun jammed and so his accomplice, his cousin, had to shoot the victim dead. Then Sinagra left his weapon in the getaway car. He and his cousin were arrested later that day.
In prison, Sinagra feigned insanity
Insanity
Insanity, craziness or madness is a spectrum of behaviors characterized by certain abnormal mental or behavioral patterns. Insanity may manifest as violations of societal norms, including becoming a danger to themselves and others, though not all such acts are considered insanity...
but eventually suffered something of a nervous breakdown
Nervous breakdown
Mental breakdown is a non-medical term used to describe an acute, time-limited phase of a specific disorder that presents primarily with features of depression or anxiety.-Definition:...
, apparently wracked with guilt for taking part in many murders. He eventually became an informant and provided anti-Mafia judge Paolo Borsellino
Paolo Borsellino
Paolo Borsellino was an Italian anti-Mafia magistrate who was killed by a Mafia car bomb in Palermo, less than two months after his fellow anti-Mafia magistrate Giovanni Falcone had been assassinated....
with a great deal of information. Borsellino had been after Marchese for years. Sinagra even led the police on a tour of his clan's torture chamber. There he showed them bloodstained ropes, brickbats and a vat in which bodies were dumped into acid.
By the end of 1982 Marchese was dead, killed on the orders of Salvatore Riina
Salvatore Riina
Salvatore "Totò" Riina is a member of the Sicilian Mafia who became the most powerful member of the criminal organization in the early 1980s. Fellow mobsters nicknamed him The Beast due to his violent nature, or sometimes The Short One due to his diminutive stature...
who decided Marchese was of no further use. However, Sinagra did eventually testify at the Maxi Trial
Maxi Trial
The Maxi Trial was a criminal trial that took place in Sicily during the mid-1980s that saw hundreds of defendants on trial convicted for a multitude of crimes relating to Mafia activities, based primarily on testimony given in as evidence from a former boss turned informant...
of 1986-1987, along with other informants like Tommaso Buscetta
Tommaso Buscetta
Tommaso Buscetta was a Sicilian mafioso. Although he was not the first pentito in the Italian witness protection program, he is widely recognized as the first important one breaking omertà...
, and helped convict many Mafiosi.
Despite his cooperation, at the conclusion of the Maxi Trial Sinagra was handed a twenty-one-year sentence for his part in multiple murders. He is due for release in 2008.
Vincenzo Sinagra was also the name of the above individual's cousin. This Vincenzo, who was a fully fledged member of the Mafia, was nicknamed "Tempest" due to his violent temper and strength. At the Maxi Trial, "Tempest'", partly on the testimony of his cousin, was convicted of murder and imprisoned for life.