Former
UFC signee Pietro
Menga on Tuesday was jailed for 15 and five months years after
pleading guilty to conspiracy to sell or transfer prohibited
weapons and conspiracy to supply cocaine.
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According to a statement from the Greater Manchester Police, Menga had a
“lucrative job as a middleman for an organized crime group, where
he was directly involved in sourcing large quantities of cocaine
for customers across the region, all of which he made commission
on.”
Over time, authorities were able to identify Menga through a
messaging platform service called Encrochat. Through a series of
anonymous messages, it was determined that Menga used the handle
“wirelessshark” to have conversations with other criminals “openly
discussing the sale and purchase of wholesale amounts of drugs and
firearms.” Based on the messages on his phone, a drug expert
estimated Menga had been involved in the the sale of drugs with a
street value well over $500,000.
Other messages indicated that Menga was part of an organized crime
group “responsible for a record-breaking firearm trafficking
conspiracy.” Menga was arrested at his home in Swinton, England, on
Jan. 15, 2024. According to the statement from the Greater
Manchester Police, “he showed no indication of slowing down or
stepping away from the world of crime.”
Known as “The Italian Stallion” in the MMA world, the 37-year-old
Menga compiled a 14-4 record over the course of a career that began
in 2011. Menga was slated for his Octagon debut against Tim Elliott
at UFC on Fox 26 in December 2017. However, the bout was canceled
after he missed weight and he was cut from the promotion’s roster.
Menga last appeared at a regional event in England in April 2023,
when he defeated Sam
Halliday via first-round submission. He was scheduled to fight
at Oktagon 52 in January 2024 a few days prior to his arrest.