Felice Maniero | |
|---|---|
 Felice Maniero in Italy in '80. | |
| Born | Felice Maniero September 2, 1954 Campolongo Maggiore, Italy |
| Criminal charge(s) | Bank robbery, murder, assault, assault of an officer, grand theft auto |
| Criminal penalty | Imprisonment from 1995 to 2010 |
| Spouse | Agostina Rigato (divorced) |
| Children | Elena Maniero (deceased), Alessandro Biselli |
Felice Maniero (born September 2, 1954) is a former Italian crime boss who was the head of the Mala del Brenta, a criminal organisation based in the region of Veneto throughout the 1980s and 1990s. His nickname is Faccia d'Angelo ("Angel Face"),[1] which he shares with the Milanese mobster Francis Turatello and Camorra boss Edoardo Contini. He was born in Campolongo Maggiore, in the province of Venice. Originally the leader of a small band of thieves, through connections with Sicilian mafiosi in exile in Veneto he was able to expand and enlarge his organization and modeled it after the mafia. He was a prolific drug trafficker and was particularly notorious for taking part in many armed robberies, some with extremely high loots.
In February, 1995, Maniero became a pentito (collaborator with Italian Justice), and subsequently helped in dismantling his organization. However, Maniero allegedly continued a number of criminal activities while many of his former henchmen re-organised the Mala del Brenta in order to ensure its survival.
On 23 August 2010, Maniero was set free.[2][3]
- ^ Adrian Butler (10 October 2010). "X Factor hopeful Nicolo Festa in link to Mafia boss". Daily Mirror.
- ^ "MALA DEL BRENTA / Felice Maniero, torna in libertà. Il ricordo di Michele Festa, poliziotto che lo arrestò". Diretta News (in Italian). 22 August 2010.
- ^ Marino Smiderle (23 August 2010). "Altro che boss del Brenta Da oggi Felice Maniero è tornato un uomo libero". il Giornate (in Italian).