23 Facts About Michele Greco

Michele Greco's nickname was Il Papa due to his ability to mediate between different Mafia families.

Michele Greco was part of the powerful Greco Mafia clan that ruled both in his native Ciaculli and in Croceverde Giardini, two suburbs close to Palermo.

Michele Greco took over the mandamento of Croceverde Giardini after his father Giuseppe Greco, "Piddu u tinenti", died.

Michele Greco was a cousin of Salvatore "Ciaschiteddu" Greco, the first "secretary" of the first Sicilian Mafia Commission that was formed sometime in 1958.

Michele Greco was the kingmaker of Christian Democrat politicians such as Giovanni Gioia, Vito Ciancimino and Giuseppe Insalaco.

Michele Greco was financing the digging of his wells with government money.

Michele Greco was nominated the head of the Sicilian Mafia Commission in 1978, after Gaetano Badalamenti was expelled.

Michele Greco gave the commission a facade of neutrality behind which the Corleonesi effectively hid their expansion.

Not long after, Michele Greco invited a number of Bontade's allies for a meeting at his country estate.

One of the men who did not attend the fateful meeting at Michele Greco's estate was Salvatore Contorno.

Michele Greco sensed trouble and soon went into hiding when the Mafia War broke out.

Michele Greco narrowly escaped death during an ambush by a Corleonesi hit squad led by Pino Greco "Scarpuzzedda" and Giuseppe Lucchese.

Michele Greco was a powerful mafia boss, descended from a long line of mafiosi, but in the latter part of his criminal career he could be best described as little more than Riina's "puppet boss".

On 9 July 1983, Michele Greco was indicted by judge Giovanni Falcone, along with 14 others among which his brother Salvatore Michele Greco, Toto Riina, Bernardo Provenzano and Nitto Santapaola for the murder on the prefect of Palermo, General Carlo Alberto Dalla Chiesa on 3 September 1982.

Michele Greco was arrested on 20 February 1986, and he joined the hundreds of defendants at the Maxi Trial, which had started just ten days previously.

Michele Greco was charged with ordering 78 murders, including those of the anti-Mafia magistrate Rocco Chinnici, Chinnici's two bodyguards and an innocent bystander, the four of whom had been killed by a car bomb in 1983.

Michele Greco gave testimony at the trial where, like his co-defendants, he insisted he was innocent and knew nothing about any Mafia.

Michele Greco admitted that Stefano Bontade had often hunted on his estate.

Michele Greco was released on appeal on 27 February 1991, but Giovanni Falcone, who had become head of the Penal Affairs section of the Italian Ministry of Justice, issued a decree that ordered the re-incarceration of Michele Greco and other mafiosi.

Michele Greco was quickly rearrested in February 1992, and put back behind bars to serve his freshly reinstated life-sentence.

In 1995, in the trial for the murder of Lieutenant Colonel Giuseppe Russo, Michele Greco was sentenced to life imprisonment together with Bernardo Provenzano, Salvatore Riina, and Leoluca Bagarella.

In 1997, in the trial for the murder of Judge Cesare Terranova, Michele Greco received another life sentence along with Bernardo Provenzano, Bernardo Brusca, Giuseppe Calo, Nene Geraci, Francesco Madonia and Salvatore Riina.

Michele Greco never admitted his crimes nor his position in Cosa Nostra.