born in rionero in vulture, a town in the basilicata region, he began the criminal activity after killing a comrade in a brawl during the military service and joined the garibaldi's expedition of the thousand in 1860 hoping for a pardon. however, his offence wasn't cleared and crocco was arrested. he escaped from prison with the help of the fortunato, a bourgeois family linked to the bourbon dynasty and became the leader of the peasants rebellion in basilicata, who didn't get any benefit with the political change.