Franco ('Franchino', 'Er Criminale') Nicolini had grown a little too big for his britches. A keen gambler, he controlled the illegal betting market at one Roman racecourse. When the Banda della Magliana decided to move into the betting market, 'Er Negro' ('The Black', a dyed-in-the-wool Fascist) and another Magliana leader (who was upset that Franchino had bitch-slapped him in front of other prison inmates) agreed that Franchino's death would be a good start.