This page is dedicated to recognizing mentors, members, supporters or affiliates who have made a significant contribution in one way or another to inspiring and/or supporting the work and missions of MNS.
MNS founder Nick W. Greger aka Nad Nick
MNS co-founder Lonnie Earl Johnson. Lonnie and Mad Nick Greger became pen pals when they were both in prison in 2005, Mad Nick in Germany and Lonnie on death row at Livingston Prison/Pulunsky Unit in Texas. In late 2006 after Mad Nick`s release from prison, he fulfilled a promise and travelled to Texas to visit Lonnie on death row where Lonnie was awaiting execution. It was Lonnie's vision to create a brotherhood dedicated body and soul to the fight for justice and the fight against tyranny when he ended his wish with the following words:
‘I just wish that every responsible and concerned person would step back regardless of race and gender and just take a closer look at what's really going on in the world today, and say enough is enough!’
Eight months after Mad Nick`s visit, Lonnie was strapped to a gurney on death row at Livingston Prison and executed by lethal injection. Another six months later, Lonnie's prosecutor was proven to have falsified evidence and sentenced an innocent man to death.
Mad Nick was on a mission in Uganda when Lonnie, after 16 years on death row, was executed on 24 July 2007. On the same day, with the blessing of Ugandan Bishop Benjamin Ojwang, the brotherhood known today as MNS aka the "League of the extraordinary Gentlemen" was founded and has been fighting for justice and for the downtrodden ever since.
‘I just wish that every responsible and concerned person would step back regardless of race and gender and just take a closer look at what's really going on in the world today, and say enough is enough!’
Eight months after Mad Nick`s visit, Lonnie was strapped to a gurney on death row at Livingston Prison and executed by lethal injection. Another six months later, Lonnie's prosecutor was proven to have falsified evidence and sentenced an innocent man to death.
Mad Nick was on a mission in Uganda when Lonnie, after 16 years on death row, was executed on 24 July 2007. On the same day, with the blessing of Ugandan Bishop Benjamin Ojwang, the brotherhood known today as MNS aka the "League of the extraordinary Gentlemen" was founded and has been fighting for justice and for the downtrodden ever since.
Mad Nick along with the mentor of his youth
Johnny "Mad Dog" Adair, one of Mad Nick's closest friends. Johnny Adair was brigadier of a Northern Irish Protestant militia and Mad Nick's best man at his wedding in Africa. In addition to the paramilitary training by a former officer of the famous and equally infamous and now disbanded 32nd Battalion of the South African Army, with whom Mad Nick has been close friends for nearly 25 years, it was Johnny "Mad Dog" Adair who most shaped Mad Nick's strategic and tactical skills in his earlier years.
For over a decade now, Johnny "Mad Dog" Adair has turned his back on politics. In any way, there isn't enough space on this page to tell his story, so we'd best let one of Mad Nick's longtime friends have his say through his own book:
Sam Childers aka "Machine Gun Preacher", whose life and work has greatly inspired MNS since far over a decade.
Lieutenant-General (ret) Roméo A. Dallaire is a celebrated advocate for global human rights, as well as a highly-respected author, public speaker, leadership consultant, international advisor, former Canadian Senator, and founder of la Fondation Roméo Dallaire and the Dallaire Institute for Children, Peace, and Security. Throughout his distinguished military career, General Dallaire served most notably as Force Commander of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda during the 1994 genocide.
General Dallaire provided the United Nations with information about the planned massacre, which ultimately took more than 800,000 lives in less than 100 days; yet, the UN ordered him not to intervene and demanded his withdrawal. General Dallaire, along with a small contingent, including Canadian, Ghanaian, and Tunisian soldiers and military observers, disobeyed that order. They believed they had a moral obligation to stay, to help where they could, and to—at the very least—bear witness to what the rest of the world chose to turn its back.
Armed only with blue berets, General Dallaire saved 32,000 people from brutal massacre, while negotiating with rebels leaders to stop the killing, and begging UN member states and the international media to intervene. If he had received only a few thousand troops and some ammunition to back up his bluffs, General Dallaire likely could have put an end to the bloodshed. Instead, two million human beings were displaced and upwards of a million slaughtered.
General Dallaire’s courage and leadership during this mission earned him the Order of Canada, the Meritorious Service Cross, the United States Legion of Merit, the Aegis Award on Genocide Prevention, and the affection and admiration of people around the globe.
Whether as military commander, humanitarian, speaker, or author, Roméo Dallaire works tirelessly to bring national and international attention to situations too-often ignored, whether the prevention of mass atrocities and the recruitment and use of children in armed conflict, the impact of post-traumatic stress disorder on veterans and their families, or strategic solutions for lasting peace.
General Dallaire provided the United Nations with information about the planned massacre, which ultimately took more than 800,000 lives in less than 100 days; yet, the UN ordered him not to intervene and demanded his withdrawal. General Dallaire, along with a small contingent, including Canadian, Ghanaian, and Tunisian soldiers and military observers, disobeyed that order. They believed they had a moral obligation to stay, to help where they could, and to—at the very least—bear witness to what the rest of the world chose to turn its back.
Armed only with blue berets, General Dallaire saved 32,000 people from brutal massacre, while negotiating with rebels leaders to stop the killing, and begging UN member states and the international media to intervene. If he had received only a few thousand troops and some ammunition to back up his bluffs, General Dallaire likely could have put an end to the bloodshed. Instead, two million human beings were displaced and upwards of a million slaughtered.
General Dallaire’s courage and leadership during this mission earned him the Order of Canada, the Meritorious Service Cross, the United States Legion of Merit, the Aegis Award on Genocide Prevention, and the affection and admiration of people around the globe.
Whether as military commander, humanitarian, speaker, or author, Roméo Dallaire works tirelessly to bring national and international attention to situations too-often ignored, whether the prevention of mass atrocities and the recruitment and use of children in armed conflict, the impact of post-traumatic stress disorder on veterans and their families, or strategic solutions for lasting peace.
"The Diplomat", an extraordinary lady who had a major impact on Mad Nick's educational progress in the fight against human trafficking.
Michael Franzese, who was born in Brooklyn, New York City, on 27 May 1951, the son of Colombo crime family underboss John Franzese. He later moved to Long Island, and he quit studying at Hofstra University to enter a life of crime, acting against his father's wishes.
In 1975, he was "made" as a soldato of the Colombo family, and he became a caporegime in 1980, leading between 300 and 500 soldati. He developed wide-ranging criminal connections, and he became involved with gasoline bootlegging during the 1980s, selling millions of gasoline in partnership with the Russian Mafia of Brighton Beach.
In 1986, he was sentenced to ten years in federal prison, and he was released in 1994; he retired from the Mafia a year later.
Franzese publicly renounced organized crime, became a devoted Christian, created a foundation for helping youth, and became a motivational speaker. Franzese became also the author of several books:
In 1975, he was "made" as a soldato of the Colombo family, and he became a caporegime in 1980, leading between 300 and 500 soldati. He developed wide-ranging criminal connections, and he became involved with gasoline bootlegging during the 1980s, selling millions of gasoline in partnership with the Russian Mafia of Brighton Beach.
In 1986, he was sentenced to ten years in federal prison, and he was released in 1994; he retired from the Mafia a year later.
Franzese publicly renounced organized crime, became a devoted Christian, created a foundation for helping youth, and became a motivational speaker. Franzese became also the author of several books:
Nicolai Lilin, whose book Siberian Education inspired several aspects of the Mad Nick Society`s code of conduct.
Nicolai Lilin is a Russian writer of Siberian origin. He was born and grew up in Transnistria, which declared its independence in 1990 but has never been recognized as a state.
In 2004 he moved to Italy.
In his first book, Educazione Siberiana (Siberian Education) from 2009, he describes growing up in a criminal organization with a Siberian background and being "trained". Called the Urki, this group engaged in robbery and theft for decades, primarily on the Trans-Siberian railway lines. Under Stalin, their relatives were deported west from Siberia to Transnistria, where they continued their criminal activities. One of the unwritten laws of the now legendary Urki is the ban on having any contact with state institutions.
The book has been translated into 19 languages and distributed in 24 countries, and has reached the interest of cinema. It became a movie directed by Gabriele Salvatores, starring John Malkovic as Grandfather Kuzja.
In April 2010 he released his second novel, "Free Fall" (or "Sniper").
Lilin's second novel Caduta Libera (Free Fall) is a strongly autobiographical narrative of the author's experiences during the Second Chechen War (1999 to 2009). The story is a first-class source on the Second Chechen War.
He currently writes for magazine L'Espresso and he founded Kolima Contemporary Culture, an exhibition space which also hosts cultural events in Milan. Among its activities he is also a tattoo artist, he studied for many years the traditional Siberian criminal tattoos and learned its techniques and complex codes.
Nicolai Lilin is a Russian writer of Siberian origin. He was born and grew up in Transnistria, which declared its independence in 1990 but has never been recognized as a state.
In 2004 he moved to Italy.
In his first book, Educazione Siberiana (Siberian Education) from 2009, he describes growing up in a criminal organization with a Siberian background and being "trained". Called the Urki, this group engaged in robbery and theft for decades, primarily on the Trans-Siberian railway lines. Under Stalin, their relatives were deported west from Siberia to Transnistria, where they continued their criminal activities. One of the unwritten laws of the now legendary Urki is the ban on having any contact with state institutions.
The book has been translated into 19 languages and distributed in 24 countries, and has reached the interest of cinema. It became a movie directed by Gabriele Salvatores, starring John Malkovic as Grandfather Kuzja.
In April 2010 he released his second novel, "Free Fall" (or "Sniper").
Lilin's second novel Caduta Libera (Free Fall) is a strongly autobiographical narrative of the author's experiences during the Second Chechen War (1999 to 2009). The story is a first-class source on the Second Chechen War.
He currently writes for magazine L'Espresso and he founded Kolima Contemporary Culture, an exhibition space which also hosts cultural events in Milan. Among its activities he is also a tattoo artist, he studied for many years the traditional Siberian criminal tattoos and learned its techniques and complex codes.
Paul, who is the creator of Operation Werewolf, a vision and training program for mind and body transformation. Paul also runs a martial arts school in the USA and has published several books.
In particular, his book "No surrender - A field manual for creative work with heart" has helped many members of MNS to realize their projects and to push their work forward.
In particular, his book "No surrender - A field manual for creative work with heart" has helped many members of MNS to realize their projects and to push their work forward.
Louis Ferrante, whose writings and knowledge are highly esteemed by Mad Nick.
As a teenager, Ferrante made his reputation as a gang leader. Ferrante and his crew hijacked delivery trucks and drove them to drop-offs all over New York, reselling the merchandise. Ferrante gained the attention of the infamous Gambino crime family. In the early nineties, Ferrante's growing Mafia connections enabled him to commit some of the most lucrative robberies in US history, all by the age of twenty-one.
When the law caught up with Ferrante, he wrote a rap song defending infamous Gambino Family Boss John Gotti, and hired controversial civil rights attorney William Kunstler to defend him. Indictments came from the Secret Service, the Nassau County Organized Crime Force, and the FBI. By 1994, Ferrante faced a life sentence in prison. He pleaded guilty and served nearly a decade in various maximum security prisons after refusing to cooperate against former associates of the Gambino family.
During his incarceration, Ferrante read his first book. He subsequently immersed himself in the study of history and literature. He also learned the art of writing, and penned an historical novel, Aleesa, set in the antebellum South.
Ferrante successfully appealed his own conviction from his prison cell, a case that is cited in courtrooms across the country.
Ferrante's memoir, "Unlocked: a Journey From Prison to Proust," published by Harper Collins Publishers, tells the story of his meteoric rise in the Mafia, his time in prison, and how he had reinvented himself as a writer.
Furthermore, Ferrante became an award-nominated television host, who also works behind the camera. Ferrante's television series, Inside the Gangsters' Code premiered on February 27, 2013. Each hour-long episode follows Ferrante as he explores different gang cultures around the world. Inside the Gangsters' Code aired on Discovery Channel in over 195 countries and in multiple languages. Ferrante wrote, hosted, narrated, and co-produced the series.
As a teenager, Ferrante made his reputation as a gang leader. Ferrante and his crew hijacked delivery trucks and drove them to drop-offs all over New York, reselling the merchandise. Ferrante gained the attention of the infamous Gambino crime family. In the early nineties, Ferrante's growing Mafia connections enabled him to commit some of the most lucrative robberies in US history, all by the age of twenty-one.
When the law caught up with Ferrante, he wrote a rap song defending infamous Gambino Family Boss John Gotti, and hired controversial civil rights attorney William Kunstler to defend him. Indictments came from the Secret Service, the Nassau County Organized Crime Force, and the FBI. By 1994, Ferrante faced a life sentence in prison. He pleaded guilty and served nearly a decade in various maximum security prisons after refusing to cooperate against former associates of the Gambino family.
During his incarceration, Ferrante read his first book. He subsequently immersed himself in the study of history and literature. He also learned the art of writing, and penned an historical novel, Aleesa, set in the antebellum South.
Ferrante successfully appealed his own conviction from his prison cell, a case that is cited in courtrooms across the country.
Ferrante's memoir, "Unlocked: a Journey From Prison to Proust," published by Harper Collins Publishers, tells the story of his meteoric rise in the Mafia, his time in prison, and how he had reinvented himself as a writer.
Furthermore, Ferrante became an award-nominated television host, who also works behind the camera. Ferrante's television series, Inside the Gangsters' Code premiered on February 27, 2013. Each hour-long episode follows Ferrante as he explores different gang cultures around the world. Inside the Gangsters' Code aired on Discovery Channel in over 195 countries and in multiple languages. Ferrante wrote, hosted, narrated, and co-produced the series.
Captain Brian Steidle, whose work and actions for justice and humanity has had a significant impact and influence on many missions and operations of Mad Nick and the League of the extraordinary Gentlemen since 2007. Therefore, Captain Brian Steidle not only receives a spot on our Wall of Honor, but also a special appreciation page:
A tribute to a man whose legend was first encountered by Mad Nick at a training camp during his first trip to South Africa when Mad Nick was just 22 years old in 1999. Eeben Barlow was one of the men whose counter-insurgency knowledge was invaluable when Mad Nick led Operation Nazarene against ISIS in Iraq from 2014 to 2017.
Lt-Col. Eeben Barlow is a former member of the apartheid-era South African Defence Force and was the second-in-command of its elite special forces 32 Battalion Reconnaissance Wing. He later served in Military Intelligence as an agent handler and later as an operative and region commander in the ultra-secret Civil Cooperation Bureau (CCB), a covert division of Special Forces.
Barlow founded the private military contractor (PMC) Executive Outcomes (EO) in 1989, and was involved in providing counter-insurgency as well as peacekeeping forces in Africa and Asia. Barlow resigned from Executive Outcomes in July 1997 and the company closed its doors on 31 December 1998.
Barlow is also the former chairman of STTEP (Specialised Tasks, Training, Equipment & Protection), but also lectures on military matters at defence colleges and universities. Some consider Eeben Barlow the grandfather of modern private military companies as the founder of Executive Outcomes.
Born in Northern Rhodesia (present-day Zambia), Barlow started his schooling in Francistown, Botswana and moved to South Africa in the mid-1960s. After matriculating in 1972, he joined the SADF. He was commissioned in the SA Corps of Engineers where he served as the Engineer Commander for the 53 and 54 Infantry Battalions in the South West African Operational area. Barlow was recruited to serve with 32 Battalion Special Forces in Angola. Although 32 Battalion operated independently, the SADF was supporting the UNITA rebel movement. Subsequently, he was assigned to SADF's Directorate of Military Intelligence and then to the CCB where he commanded Region 5, an area that encompassed Europe and the Middle East.
In 1989, Barlow established the company Executive Outcomes (EO). Executive Outcomes initially trained SADF Special Forces in covert operations and intelligence gathering. He was also contracted to establish and train a covert group for the De Beers diamond company in Botswana Debswana with the aim of infiltrating and penetrating the illegal diamond-buying and smuggling syndicates.
In 1993, Barlow’s Executive Outcomes was contracted to provide security for Ranger Oil in the northern Angolan town of Soyo where Ranger Oil were trying to recover drilling equipment stored on the harbour. The harbour, in turn, was under UNITA rebel control. To achieve this, Barlow recruited men who had been retrenched from the SADF elite units as well as Koevoet.
Shortly thereafter, Executive Outcomes was awarded the contract to assist the Angolan Armed Forces (FAA) with training, strategic and tactical advice in an effort to end the war with UNITA. Despite a sustained negative campaign against it, Executive Outcomes accomplished its contract and within a year, UNITA had virtually been destroyed on the battlefield. This led to the signing of the Lusaka Protocols.
Executive Outcomes likewise assisted the Sierra Leonean government in destroying the rebel movement RUF in that country.
Barlow and his company also assisted the Indonesian Special Forces in the hostage-release operation in Irian Jaya in 1996.
Barlow was a keynote speaker during the establishment of the British Army’s rapid reaction forces. He also delivered a paper on the role of PMCs to the US Department of Defence in Washington.
Barlow publicly made it known that he supported a bill to regulate PMCs and Executive Outcomes provided several guidelines to the South African government during the formulation of a bill to regulate such companies.
Executive Outcomes was one of the first companies to be awarded a licence by the South African government to operate as a government-approved PMC.
Barlow became the appointed Chairman of STTEP International in 2009. In 2014, former President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria hired STTEP to provide training and tactics to the Nigerian Army for fighting the Boko Harem terrorist organization. The training was showing progressing with the start of taking back land Boko Harem had newly occupied.
Eeben Barlow, resigned as chairman from STTEP on 30 September 2020. Barlow continues to work as consultant and lecturer and his retirement seems very far away.
Shi Heng Yi is a popular Shaolin Master whose teachings have had a major influence on Mad Nick's mindset in recent years. Mad Nick was once quoted as saying, "The teachings of Shi Heng Yi became part of the foundation upon which I carry out my mission to serve freedom and justice."
Shi Heng Yi was born in Germany to Asian parents. While growing up, he was drawn to martial arts. At the young age of 4, Shi was enrolled by his father at the nearby Shaolin Temple in Kaiserslautern. It was here, at the Shaolin Kung Fu School, that he began to practise Kung Fu and fell in love with the art, which also involved mental and physical training and behavioural development. Later, he was also drawn to Qi Gong and Shaolin Rou Quan.
In 2001, Shi became a student of Shaolin masters Da Shi Yanlin, Master Shi Yan Bao, Master Shi Yan Xin, Shi Yan Fei and Shi Ya Hai.
In 2011, after completing his studies, Shi wanted to build a Shaolin temple in Otterberg and found a site where he wanted to build the temple. Although the land was for sale, he could not afford it as he had just finished his studies. Fortunately, a bank granted him a loan and he founded the Shaolin Temple Europe in Otterberg.
Until 2017, Shi struggled financially to make the temple profitable, but thanks to the monastery's growing popularity, he was able to turn the tables.
As of 2023, he serves as the Executive Headmaster of Shaolin Temple Europe in Otterberg, Kaiserslautern, Germany.
Paul Kagame, an extraordinary gentleman whose life and courage have always inspired MNS.
Paul Kagame is the President of the Republic of Rwanda. He served as Chair of the AU from 2018 to 2019 and chaired the East African Community from 2018-2021. President Kagame serves as the AU Champion for Domestic Health Financing.
He also currently Chairs the Commonwealth.
Beginning in 1990, as commander of the forces of the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), he led the struggle to liberate Rwanda.
The RPF halted the Genocide against the Tutsi in 1994, which claimed over a million victims.
The hallmarks of President Kagame’s administration are peace and reconciliation, women’s empowerment, promotion of investment and entrepreneurship, and access to information technology, a cause he also champions as Co-Chair of the Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development.
Paul Kagame is the President of the Republic of Rwanda. He served as Chair of the AU from 2018 to 2019 and chaired the East African Community from 2018-2021. President Kagame serves as the AU Champion for Domestic Health Financing.
He also currently Chairs the Commonwealth.
Beginning in 1990, as commander of the forces of the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), he led the struggle to liberate Rwanda.
The RPF halted the Genocide against the Tutsi in 1994, which claimed over a million victims.
The hallmarks of President Kagame’s administration are peace and reconciliation, women’s empowerment, promotion of investment and entrepreneurship, and access to information technology, a cause he also champions as Co-Chair of the Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development.
Kickboxing world champion Denis Tapu (Moldova)
Roy T. (Australia)
Honorary Member of MNS
Honorary Member of MNS
Gimli M. (Germany)
Mohammad K. (Syria)
Honorary Member of MNS
Honorary Member of MNS
George L. (Romania)
David T. (Bosnia)
Ryan S. (USA)
Honorary Member of MNS.
Honorary Member of MNS.
Aaron P. (Portugal)
Dom W. (Germany)
Maycon M. (Brazil)
Silvio G.S.. (Germany)
Abo A.A. (Gaza)
Honorary Member of MNS
Honorary Member of MNS
Chris J. (South Africa)
Shahria M.M. (Bangladesh)
Ivan K. (Croatia)
Scott A. (United Kingdom)
Ronney R. (Germany)
Dencik C. (Moldovan)
Dencik C., DimaC. and Sedoi S. (Moldova)
Finsh S. (Germany)
Honorary Member of MNS
Honorary Member of MNS
Sven B.C. (Germany)
Indy T. (Spain)
Ibrahim M. (Gambia)
Nino O. (Norway/Morocco)
Heitzer H. (Germany)
Bernd Z. (Germany)
Amadou D. (Guinea Conakry)
Max B. (Germany)
Major I. (Poland)
Mike M. (Romania)
Al-Hadj T. (Gambia)
Honorary Member of MNS
Honorary Member of MNS
Carlo G. (Italy)
P.A. (Senegal)
Stefan F. (Germany)
Emilie R. (Madagascar)
Marlene P. (Germany)
Therese P. (Germany)
Pam S. (Germany)
Honorary Member of MNS
Honorary Member of MNS
Letoya Taylor (Liberia)
Honorary Member of MNS
Honorary Member of MNS
Tina S. (Serbia/Roma)
Mercy M. (Ghana)
Jenny M. (D.R.Congo/Zambia)
Former bodyguard and side-kick of Mad Nick during operations in Central Africa.
Former bodyguard and side-kick of Mad Nick during operations in Central Africa.
Charlotte C. (United Kingdom)
Honorary Member of MNS.
Honorary Member of MNS.
Theresa S. (Sierra Leone)
Pheminise K. (Kenya)
Eli Z. (Nicaragua)
Diana S. (Germany/Russia)
Maria Dobrovolschi (Moldova) is one of the youngest affiliates as well as an honorary member of MNS. At the age of 9, Maria became a European taekwondo champion and a two-time Moldovan champion in kickboxing.
Maria is now 15 years old and has so far won more than 70 medals and numerous certificates in Moldovan and international competitions and championships in kickboxing, taekwondo and swimming.
For her iron sporting discipline and her enormous fighting spirit, Maria was awarded the “MNS Star of Inspiration 2023” trophy and the “MNS Flame of Victory” medal after she won the international kickboxing championship “Legendele Moldovei” in Romania.
In February 2024, Maria won the first place at the European Kickboxing Cup in Croatia and received a gold medal.
In March 2024, Maria won two first places at the Kickboxing World Cup in Italy and received two gold medals.
In autumn 2024, Maria won her third world championship title in the K1 category in Italy.
Maria is now 15 years old and has so far won more than 70 medals and numerous certificates in Moldovan and international competitions and championships in kickboxing, taekwondo and swimming.
For her iron sporting discipline and her enormous fighting spirit, Maria was awarded the “MNS Star of Inspiration 2023” trophy and the “MNS Flame of Victory” medal after she won the international kickboxing championship “Legendele Moldovei” in Romania.
In February 2024, Maria won the first place at the European Kickboxing Cup in Croatia and received a gold medal.
In March 2024, Maria won two first places at the Kickboxing World Cup in Italy and received two gold medals.
In autumn 2024, Maria won her third world championship title in the K1 category in Italy.
Fede and Genny (Naples/Italy)
Honorary Members of MNS
