Luca Alessandro Longobardi

Luca Alessandro Longobardi[1] (born 1969) is an Italian entrepreneur, a venture capitalist and investment banker. He gained attention for being wrongfully arrested and spending a month in a maximum security prison in Brazil, during which period he became known as "the mafia's banker".[2][3]

Luca Alessandro Longobardi
Born1969 (age 51–52)
NationalityItalian
Occupation
Spouse(s)Maria Joana Parizotto (m. 1999 - div. 2014)

Biography

A native of Naples, Longobardi left home for New York City with $500 at the age of 21 to begin his career.[4][5] He sold shirts in the streets and even spent nights sleeping in Grand Central Station before taking up a job at VTR Capital, a satellite operation of the notorious, now-defunct investment bank Stratton Oakmont, founded by Jordan Belfort. He then worked at Ladenburg Thalmann, another investment bank,[6] before founding his own investment banking group State Capital in 1999, opening offices in Italy, Miami, New York and Brazil.[7]

In August 2010 Longobardi went to the United States consulate in São Paulo to renew his American visa. After the consulate's computer system identified him as a fugitive issued with a Red Notice from Interpol,[8] he was arrested by an FBI agent and a Brazilian policeman, who accused him of laundering money for the Italian mafia;[6][9] he later became known in the press as "the mafia's banker".[10][4][11] While awaiting extradition to Italy, he was placed in a maximum security prison along with notorious criminals such as Colombian drug lord Pablo Rayo Montaño and Italian terrorist Pierluigi Bragaglia. He was cleared of all charges and released in September 2010 after it emerged that he had nothing to do with crime he was accused for, neither with the mafia.[7]

In 2015, Longobardi published a book entitled Branded "The Mafia's Banker" (Italian: Per tutti ero il banchiere dei clan) documenting his experience during his arrest and time in prison.[4] A video promoting the book was released on YouTube on 22 October 2015, reaching over 1 million views and winning the Best Trailer/Promos award for May 2016 at the Los Angeles Independent Film Festival.[12][13] In December 2016, Longobardi's film An Italian Food Story won the Best Inspirational Film award at the Los Angeles Film Awards.[14]

On 17 January 2017 it was announced that Longobardi opened his own restaurant, 108 Garage, in Notting Hill, West London.[5] and becoming one of london's most acclaimed restaurants, receiving positive reviews from food critics.[15][16][17][18] Longobardi was named in the world's 100 coolest people list in food and drink, by Business Insider.[19] In December 2019, Longobardi signed with a media group, to produce "The Mafia's Banker" a TV Series on his life.


Personal life

Longobardi was married to Maria Joana Parizotto, who was voted Miss Brazil in 1996 and Miss Nuestra Beleza International in 1997.[7] They have 2 daughters: Julia and Raffaella.[10]

References
  1. Marco Tullio Martino (26 August 2010). "Nessun riferimento alla camorra nell'ordinanza su Longobardi". Corriere del Mezzogiorno (in Italian). Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  2. https://www.businessinsider.com/ex-wall-street-luca-longobardi-blockchain-members-club-home-noir-2018-12?r=US&IR=T
  3. https://it.businessinsider.com/homeless-broker-a-wall-street-in-galera-come-banchiere-dei-clan-ristoratore-top-a-londra-la-folle-vita-di-luca-longobardi-che-ora-apre-un-blockchain-club/
  4. Fabio Pozzo (5 February 2016). "Per tutti ero il banchiere dei clan, ma non era vero e ora divento un film". La Stampa (in Italian). Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  5. David Ellis (17 January 2017). "Former alleged Mafia conspirator opens Notting Hill restaurant". London Evening Standard. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
  6. Romani, Riccardo (25 November 2015). "Oltre il buio dell'ala bianca". Vanity Fair (in Italian). No. 46. pp. 125–126.
  7. Fabio Pozzo (7 February 2016). "'Ero il banchiere dei clan', la storia diventa un film". Il Secolo XIX (in Italian). Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  8. Humberto Trezzi (26 August 2010). "Italiano preso por vínculo com máfia atuava no RS" (in Portuguese). ZH Notícias. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  9. https://www.standard.co.uk/business/confessions-from-the-city-luca-longobardi-the-mafias-banker-a3598591.html
  10. "Banchiere della mafia. No, sorry – Luca Longobardi, una vita distrutta per colpe inesistenti". Italia Oggi (in Italian) (078). 1 April 2016. p. 11. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  11. Ebrahim Maceria (28 November 2015). "Luca Longobardi: solo un ex banchiere". CDB News (in Italian). Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  12. "BRANDED "THE MAFIA'S BANKER"". Luca Longobardi / YouTube. 22 October 2015. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  13. "May 2016 Winner". Los Angeles Independent Film Festival. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  14. "Winners - December 2016". Los Angeles Film Awards. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  15. Fay Maschler (18 January 2017). "Fay Maschler reviews 108 Garage: Pitch-perfect ingenuity in W10". London Evening Standard. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  16. Giles Coren (21 January 2017). "Giles Coren reviews 108 Garage, London W10". The Times. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
  17. Jay Rayner (29 January 2017). "108 Garage, London: restaurant review". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  18. Tony Turnbull (28 January 2017). "The chef discovered on Gumtree". The Times. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  19. https://www.businessinsider.in/slideshows/miscellaneous/slidelist/69956179.cms
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