Falcone vs. The Italian Mafia
Giovanni Falcone, an Italian judge, dedicated his life to fighting the mafia, fully aware that his relentless crusade against organized crime would eventually lead to his death. On May 23, 1992, that grim prediction came true when Falcone, one of Italy's most prominent prosecutors, was assassinated in broad daylight by the Sicilian Mafia.
The mafia used a car bomb filled with over half a ton of explosives to kill Falcone. This attack came after Falcone had led a historic trial against the mafia, a trial that made him a symbol of justice and a target for the mob. Despite the constant threat of death, Falcone never wavered in his mission to dismantle the criminal empire of the mafia.
Early Life and Career
Giovanni Falcone was born in a poor neighborhood in Palermo, Sicily. His childhood was marked by the brutalities committed by the mafia, which fueled his determination to fight these criminals as an adult. Falcone studied law at the University of Palermo, graduating in 1961. He practiced law for only three years before becoming a judge in 1964.
His early work as a judge involved investigating cases of bankruptcy, but it wasn't long before he uncovered widespread corruption that led him to the doors of the mafia. His initial trials against mafia members resulted in the assassination of another senior judge as a form of mafia retribution. By 1980, Falcone had firmly established himself in the world of anti-mafia law, working in the investigation branch of the prosecution office in Palermo, the capital of Sicily.
Falcone joined this office during a particularly tumultuous time in Palermo. Just before his arrival, the Sicilian Mafia, known as Cosa Nostra, had assassinated Judge Cesare Terranova and Police Chief Boris Giuliano, both of whom were leading prosecutors in mafia-related drug trafficking cases. Falcone had barely begun his work when he realized he might have signed his own death warrant by taking on the mafia.
But Falcone’s passion for justice proved stronger than his fear of death. "Death is not more important to me than a button on my jacket," Falcone once said. "I belong to the real Sicily, not the mafia's Sicily."
Living in Secrecy
Giovanni Falcone conducted all his work in a bunker-like office in the General Prosecutor’s Office in Palermo, a location fortified to withstand even bazooka attacks. His workplace was surrounded by security cameras and heavily guarded. His home was similarly protected, and wherever he went, he was accompanied by a convoy of armored vehicles.
This level of secrecy and security permeated every aspect of Falcone's life. Even his marriage was conducted in isolation, with no family or friends present. Only the mayor was there to ensure the safety of Falcone and those closest to him. Despite these precautions, Falcone remained determined to fight the mafia, leading to his involvement in an informal group known as the Antimafia Pool.
The Antimafia Pool was composed of a select group of investigators who shared information to develop prosecution strategies against the mafia. Members of the group, including judges Paolo Borsellino, Giuseppe Di Lello, and Leonardo Guarnotta, signed an undisclosed pact to protect their investigations and themselves from Cosa Nostra. The work of the Antimafia Pool was one of the most significant blows dealt to the mafia in its centuries-old history.
The Maxi Trial
The Maxi Trial, led by Giovanni Falcone, was the most important and effective trial ever held against the Sicilian Mafia. It is widely regarded as one of the largest trials in history. This trial marked the first time the existence of Cosa Nostra was legally confirmed. The significance of this recognition was beyond dispute, as 474 mafia members were charged with a wide range of crimes, and 360 of them were convicted.
The defendants received a total of 2,665 years in prison, including 19 life sentences handed down to prominent mafia leaders. The Maxi Trial began on February 10, 1986, and ended on December 16, 1987. It was the pinnacle of Falcone’s career, and his leadership in this trial was instrumental in securing the convictions of such a large number of Cosa Nostra members.
One of the key witnesses in the trial was Tommaso Buscetta, who warned Falcone that his investigations would make him famous but also prepare him for death. Falcone, undeterred, continued his work, even collaborating with Rudy Giuliani, who was then the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. Together, they investigated operations against the Gambino and Inzerillo crime families. Their efforts played a crucial role in dismantling the mafia's drug trafficking network, a case known as the "Pizza Connection."
The Assassination of Giovanni Falcone
Falcone's work in Sicily and beyond to thwart the mafia was beginning to bear fruit by June 1989. That month, police discovered a bag filled with dynamite near a seaside house rented by Falcone. For some reason, the bomb failed to detonate. After this assassination attempt, Falcone remarked to a colleague, “My life is mapped out: it is my destiny to take a bullet from the mafia one day. The only thing I don’t know is when.”
That day came after the Italian Supreme Court upheld the Maxi Trial convictions in January 1992, a severe blow to Cosa Nostra's authority. Seeking revenge, Salvatore Riina, the head of Cosa Nostra, tasked Giovanni Brusca with assassinating Falcone. Brusca, known as "The Pig," carried out the attack on May 23, 1992, on the highway leading to Palermo International Airport from the city, the route Falcone took to reach his home during his weekly visits to Sicily.
Brusca detonated the bomb-laden cars using a remote control, blowing up a section of the highway and killing Falcone, his wife, and three of his security guards. It was reported that Riina celebrated Falcone’s death with a champagne toast. Today, the airport from which Giovanni Falcone departed is named in his honor. He was posthumously awarded the Courage Award in recognition of his heroic actions that led to his death, leaving a historical legacy and setting an example for justice.