Sicilian Mafia

A feared hitman of the Corso dei Mille who ran the Room of Death.

The Sicilian Mafia, also known as Cosa Nostra, is a crime syndicate that emerged in Sicily, Italy. The Mafia's leader was Giuseppe Guillano, and the organization kidnapped Emilio Vittorio, demanding a ransom of $500,000 dollars from Agent 47. The Sicilian mob is well organized with contacts in high-ranking places, and their compound in Sicily is well guarded, though it has minor weak spots in the security chain that make infiltration possible.

Quick Facts

Region

Palermo

Type

Sicilian Mafia Family; Hitman Network

Primary activity

Homicide
Acid Disposal of Bodies
Smuggling (implied by context)

Key figure

Filippo Marchese
Vincenzo Sinagra
Salvatore Riina
Pino Greco

Lore & Background

Marchese's criminal career is primarily known through Vincenzo Sinagra, a common criminal turned informant. In 1981, Sinagra stole from a mafioso and was forced to work for the Corleonesi as a gofer alongside Marchese. Arrested on 11 August 1982 while attempting a contract killing, Sinagra became an informant after a year in custody, testifying at the 1986–87 Maxi Trial. He revealed that his specific job was holding victims' feet while Marchese strangled them with rope. The "Room of Death" served as a slaughterhouse for those blocking the Commission bosses. This violence defined the Second Mafia War until Marchese himself became a threat to Riina and Greco due to his violent nature.

Reader's Guide

Specific figures and fates within the Marchese network. Marchese received an in absentia life sentence at the 1987 Maxi Trial despite being dead. His nephew Giuseppe Marchese became a pentito in September 1992 after realizing Riina had betrayed him; both he and his brother Antonino had killed Vincenzo Puccio in 1989 on Riina's orders, though Riina later destroyed their alibi. Giuseppe Lucchese succeeded Puccio as boss of the Brancaccio-Ciaculli mandamento after Puccio was killed by Marchese's nephew in 1989 while Puccio was imprisoned. Gambino committed suicide in prison in 1996. Vincenza Marchese, niece of Filippo and wife of Leoluca Bagarella, disappeared; sources claim she either committed suicide due to shame over her brother's collaboration or died from clinical depression after miscarriages.

Did You Know?

As many as 100 people were killed in the Room of Death during the Second Mafia War (1981–82).
Filippo Marchese was sentenced to life in absentia at the Maxi Trial in 1987, even though he had been dead since September 1982.
Pino Greco, one of Marchese's killers, was executed by his own underboss Vincenzo Puccio and lieutenant Giuseppe Lucchese on Riina's orders in 1985.