ROME—The small Italian town of Melito Porto Salvo in the region of Calabria sits on the southernmost tip of the toe of Italy’s boot, with rugged hills rolling down to the unspoiled coastline where the Ionian and Mediterranean seas meet. It is not a tourist destination, per se, despite its Bergamot forests, impressive dwellings built into ancient rocks, and stunning views of Mt. Etna across the Strait of Messina in Sicily. There are simply friendlier places in Italy to visit.

Melito Porto Salvo is known primarily as the foothold of the powerful Iamonte crime family, an ‘ndrina or clan associated with the ‘Ndrangheta, Italy’s most potent organized crime syndicate. “Literally 100 percent of this town is under the control of the Iamonte family,” says Claudio Cordova, a local journalisthe decided to share her sexually with his friends, threatening to distribute them via social media where she would be condemned for her “libertine” behavior, which is particularly frowned upon in small communities of conservative Calabria.

“ The rape is difficult at first, but then she will calm down. ” — Davide Schimizzi, scorned boyfriend

When Maddalena refused to go along with the threats and tried to leave the relationship, which she did for a short time during which she apparently texted another boy, investigators say Schimizzi was jealous, and furious. To avenge her supposed betrayal, he allegedly set up a series of forced sexual encounters with Iamonte and five of their friends: Daniele Benedetto and Lorenzo Tripodi, then 19, and Pasquale Principato, Michele Nucera, Antonio Verduci then 20, which