Friday, January 6, 2017

Montreal Rizzuto Clan rudderless and taking on water

Decimated by internal disputes and police raids, the Montreal mafia has no real leadership three years after the death of Vito Rizzuto. His 20 year legacy died with him and most consider the Rizzuto organization routed.

2016 has been among the worst ever in the last decade in terms of killings in the mafia community. Lorenzo Giordano, Rocco Sollecito and Vincenzo Spagnolo all met their fates. The two main known leaders of the mafia, Leonardo Rizzuto and Stefano Sollecito, are awaiting trial for conspiracy, drug trafficking and gangsterism. Leonardo was denied bail and is in prison. Sollecito was released and is fighting what is said to be cancer.
Francesco Del Balso was supposed to be released from prison in June after serving two thirds of a 15 year sentence, but when Lorenzo (Skunk) Giordano, 52, was fatally shot in Laval on March 1 he was returned to jail for his own safety.

The other still living member is Francesco Arcadi, who remains behind bars.
2017 could give rise to a changing of the guard with the Calabrian in a good position to regain control.

How this could happen between them and the resurgent Hells Angels remains unclear. The Hells Angels will increase their stranglehold in 2017. No criminal organization in Quebec has the ability to stand up to the Hells. The bikers are in a well structured, strong position. They now control virtually 85% of the Quebec market for narcotics and collect a sales tax of 10% (even on the Mafia) on those who operate in their territory.