Benedetto Spera

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Benedetto Spera (Belmonte Mezzagno, July 1, 1934) is a member of the Sicilian Mafia and the boss of the Belmonte Mezzagno Mafia family and the mandamento of Misilmeri in the province of Palermo. He was convicted in absentia for the killing of the two prominent anti-mafia judges Paolo Borsellino and Giovanni Falcone by car bomb, receiving life sentences.

His first conviction in the 1950s was for illegal pasturing his sheep. Later he made a lot of money skimming of contracts for public works. Spera was a member of the Sicilian Mafia Commission as an ally to the Corleonesi and became one of the most trusted advisors of Bernardo Provenzano.

Spera was arrested on January 30, 2001. Police apprehended him at a farmhouse in Mezzojuso, 40 kilometers outside of Palermo, where he was to meet Provenzano and Spera's personal physician. Spera and his physician were taken into custody, however, Provenzano was nowhere to be found.

[edit] Sources

• (Italian) Palermo, arrestato Spera boss di Belmonte, La Repubblica, January 30, 2001
• Sicilian mafia boss arrested, BBC News, January 30, 2001