Italian Police Use Facebook to Nab Mafia Suspect

by Amar Toor on March 18, 2010 at 02:20 PM

What happens when a centuries-old crime network meets a transparent 21st-century social network? Bosses get nabbed, and 'Mafia Wars' gets real.

Pasquale Manfredi, one of Italy's most wanted fugitives at 33-years old, was arrested this week after police used his network of Facebook contacts to track him down. Manfredi, who, according to the BBC, also goes by the nickname 'Scarface,' is believed to be a bigwig in the 'Ndrangheta mafia. Police claim he's also responsible for the 2004 killing of a rival mob member, who was murdered with a rocket launcher(!). Thanks to Facebook, though, Manfredi is now in the trusty hands of the Italian police force, which has charged him with murder, mafia association, drug trafficking, and possession of illegal firearms.

It's stupid enough to call yourself 'Scarface' when you're one of the most wanted mafiosos in a country known as much for its Don Corleones as its cannellonis. But it's perhaps even stupider for a fugitive to join Facebook in the first place. And we'd like to know how, exactly, the police tracked him down. Do mafiosos comment on other mafiosos' walls? Did he RSVP "Maybe" to a Family dinner in Calabria? Or, do real-life Mafia warriors actually play 'Mafia Wars?' Whatever the reason, it's pretty clear that the Italian mafia, for all its clandestine sophistication, still has a lot of learning to do when it comes to covert operations in the digital age. [From: BBC; via: Mashable]

http://xml.channel.aol.com/xmlpublisher/fetch.v2.xml?option=expand_relative_urls&dataUrlNodes=uiConfig,feedConfig,entry&id=554917&pid=554916&uts=1269041183

http://cdn.channel.aol.com/cs_feed_v1_6/csfeedwrapper.swf

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Tags: dumbcriminal, facebook, italy, mafia, mafia wars, MafiaWars, police, socialnetworking, top

Comments

RoboMar 19th 2010 8:48PM

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when calling someone stupid "stupider" is probably a poor word to use. since it isn't actually a word.

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DarrenMar 20th 2010 9:34PM

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I was thinking of the word... Dumb Ass

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Booba20Mar 19th 2010 9:48PM

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I was thinking the same thing. The correct way to say it would be "more stupid" not stupider. People also say "there" for their and they will write ..."people that" instead "people who". "That" is a thing; people are referred to as "who". They often times remark that others are uneducated and dumb while they themselves are using this incorrect grammar. We should expect more from authors of print.

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CathyMar 19th 2010 10:19PM

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stu·pid (stpd, sty-)
adj. stu·pid·er, stu·pid·est
1. Slow to learn or understand; obtuse.
2. Tending to make poor decisions or careless mistakes.
3. Marked by a lack of intelligence or care; foolish or careless: a stupid mistake.
4. Dazed, stunned, or stupefied.
5. Pointless; worthless: a stupid job.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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JesseMar 19th 2010 10:33PM

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I don't care so much for their use of grammer in the english language. I'm suprised because you never hear about the mafia or anything that deals with them.

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KaronMar 20th 2010 12:20AM

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RE: But it's perhaps even stupider for a fugitive to join Facebook in the first place..

I agree that "stupider" should have not been used .. but rather.."But even more "stupidity" for a fugitvie to join Facebook to begin with."

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paramedic14888Mar 20th 2010 12:36AM

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Dont call someone stupid or "stupider" while showing your own ignorance. The point your trying to make looses it's luster. Next time try using "even more stupid" instead. It's kind of like calling someone an idiot, then slipping and falling flat on your face!

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jimbo chiliMar 20th 2010 1:29AM

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dang 'ol cops always gettin' the bad guys , dang NaBBitt

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meMar 20th 2010 1:35AM

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Why do they publish such things? If they didn't tell the press, they could continue the Facebook "sting" and capture more bad guys. Stupid stupid stupid.

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