Those who break omertà are termed infame (disgraceful) or pentiti (informers). The code is enforced through intimidation, fear, and the threat of dishonor, and violation is punishable by death. Even victims of crime or wrongly convicted individuals are expected to remain silent rather than cooperate with authorities. Renegade members who divulge information to law enforcement face inevitable retaliation, as seen in cases such as Lea Garofalo’s, who was tortured and murdered by the ’Ndrangheta after testifying and her body dissolved in acid. Although some pentiti, such as Joseph Valachi and Tommaso Buscetta, survived under protection and provided major testimony, the penalty for breaking the code is typically lethal.
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