Erminia Giuliano

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Erminia Giuliano (December 31, 1955), was a member of the Giuliano clan of the Camorra, based in the district of Forcella, Naples. Her nickname was "Celeste" – heavenly – on account of her bright, blue eyes.[1][2]

Taking over the Giuliano clan

She took over the Giuliano clan crime business after the arrest of her brother Luigi Giuliano in early 2000. He was the last of the five male family members to be arrested. Luigi would eventually become a pentito in September 2002 and testify against various Camorra figures, including members of his own clan.[3] She became the boss because the only direct male heir to the family business still unimprisoned, Giuliano's nephew Pio Vittorio Giuliano, was deemed inept.[4]

She was ranked as one of Italy's 30 most dangerous criminals, and eventually arrested on December 23, 2000, after being a fugitive for over 10 months.[3][5] Her speciality within the clan was counterfeiting banknotes.[1]

Personality

She had a violent streak, if bored as a young woman she would say: "I have to shoot someone." She allegedly stabbed a rival female gang leader in 1997, and drove a car into the shop window of another enemy in 1999. One high-profile friend included the football star Diego Maradona when he played for Napoli. The Giuliano clan’s interests included drugs and illegal betting on football matches. Carmine, one of Erminia's brothers, said later that Maradona would do anything for cocaine, even if Napoli lost the Italian championship.[1]

Arrest

Police raided her daughter's house in the Forcella quarter of Naples shortly after midnight and found her in a secret room concealed behind a kitchen cupboard and a sliding wall panel.[5] "She was a true leader, with all the qualities usually associated with crime godfathers," according to the Naples police chief, Carlo Gualdi.[1][6]

She insisted on a shower and visit from her hairdresser, before she donned high heels, a fake leopard-skin coat and handcuffs, and told her daughters: "I'm counting on you now. I am relaxed. I have taught you all the true values in life."[6]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Caught after 20 years, Mafia queen in need of haircut, The Independent, December 26, 2000
  2. ↑ Deadlier than the male, The Scotsman, May 29, 2002
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 (Italian) Arrestata lady camorra: «Prima devo pettinarmi», Corriere della Sera, December 24, 2000
  4. ↑ Where Hit Men Better Mean It When They 'Yes, Ma'am' the Boss, New York Times, January 11, 2001
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 'Mob queen' found in cupboard, BBC News, December 24, 2000
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Deadly rise of girl power with guns, The Guardian, January 6, 2001
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