Criminal Figure and Writer. He spent his childhood in the Milanese area, under the guidance of his parents who wanted to make him a violinist. But he soon shows his rebellious nature and his love for women and the "good life." Attracted by the underworld, he bought his first gun from an acquaintance, a Smith & Wesson of the Canadian police, and from that moment he acquired the nickname of 'L'Americano.' His attitude as a gentleman thief, combined with the famous phrases in Milanese dialect pronounced on the places of misdeeds and his habit of hiding weapons in a violin case contributes to making him a popular character. Defined, both in Italy and in France, as public enemy number one, he managed for years to evade the European police. On September 1, 1965 he was wounded and arrested in Paris, served 12 years in prison (the initial sentence was 22 years), during which he began to write and paint. He even corresponded with the then president of the Italian Chamber Sandro Pertini. In France he published 'Lo Zingaro,' his autobiography, from which a film would be made, in which he was played by Alain Delon. In 1966, directed by Carlo Lizzani, the film based on his story was released, entitled 'Svegliati e uccidi,' starring Robert Hoffmann, Lisa Gastoni and Gian Maria Volontè. In 1977, from a relationship with Dora Internicola, his son Mirko was born, who died in a tragic accident on January 17, 1991. In the meantime, in 1985, he married Flora D'Amato, with whom he had twin daughters, Natasha and Katiusha, from which he separated in 1997. Among his works, 'Il solista del mitra' and 'l'Assassino non sciopera' (published by Longanesi), 'Una storia da dimenticare,' 'Catene spezzate,' 'Come due gocce d'acqua,' and 'L'amore che uccide,' all published by Acar. He was the only criminal to obtain two pardons from two presidents of the Republic, the French Georges Pompidou and the Italian Giovanni Leone.