The identification between mafiosi and gabelloti generates the syllogism which underlies this view: given that gabelloti are mafiosi and that gabelloti are notorious exploiters of peasants, therefore mafiosi must be the same. Only the second of the two premises is empirically warranted, however.

DEFINE: Distinguishes gabelloti (land managers who exploited peasants) from mafiosi, clarifying they are separate groups conflated in a common syllogism.

Diego Gambetta, The Sicilian Mafia The Busi…, loc. 854