https://montrealgazette.com/news/cr...ms-of-cocaine-arrest-ile-bizard-resident

Montreal police seize 38 kilograms of cocaine, arrest Île-Bizard resident

I think that the article to which I've linked above is on the same subject as the article to which I've linked below.

La fille de Raynald Desjardins visée dans une enquête de la GRC
https://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/...ins-visee-dans-une-enquete-de-la-grc.php

well thats some intriguing intell anti good find. a cocaine import network with a link to raynald through his daughter.

^^^^
Google alerts and Twitter notifications are what help me navigate. Currently I can't find the running shoes I was wearing a couple of hours ago when I went out to run an errand.

Mafia101, I never mentioned that Del Balso had the book. I was referring to Del Balso apparent expertise in online gambling as mentioned in the following:

La Presse June 22, 2023

"Since then, Hells Angels from the Montreal section have sought to seize the "book" of illegal sports betting and loan sharking, historically controlled by the Rizzuto clan. The group of bikers has teamed up with two specialists in online games: Francesco Del Balso, himself a former member of the Rizzuto clan, and Rob Barletta, a former biker from Ontario who joined the ranks of the Hells Angels of Montreal."

Vanessa Desjardins wedding reception was a who's who of Montreal gangsters

https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/wedding-reception-was-a-whos-who-of-montreal-gangsters

I know you didn't. I was speaking to you and cabrinigreen in my comment.

https://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/...fer-pour-le-livre-des-paris-sportifs.php

Montreal mafia: arm wrestling for the "book" of sports betting

Found more info. on the book. La Presse updated Sep 15, 2016

"In the heyday of Sicilian rule in the early 2000s, Colosseum investigators conservatively estimated that mafia sports betting, then run by Lorenzo Giordano and Francesco Del Balso, had generated profits of $26. 8 million over a period of just under a year.

According to our information, the "book", in which all sports betting activities and accounting are recorded, has lost a lot of value due to the conflicts that have plagued the mafia for years, and even more since the natural death of the godfather Vito. Rizzuto, in December 2013."

Business or Blood page p220

" Gallo didn't seem nervous about trying to come back to Montreal. Did he think Vito hadn't detected the depth of his betrayal ? He was too smart and experienced a man to truly believe that. De he feel he might somehow be forgiven for transferring Vito's sports book to the Toronto area to the Calabrians during his absence ? Other sport books operations had been turned over to Montagna. In Vito's world betrayed accounts were closed with bullets. Gallo knew all this, and yet he agreed to the meeting in the Dominican."

So now we know there are several books.

Online betting has become so hugh around the world.



Hell’s Angels-Operated and Mafia-Linked Online Sports Book Techie Fined $400,000
Posted on: September 13, 2016, 03:00h. Last updated on: October 12, 2016, 03:25h.

Casino.org Staff Writer
Platinum Sports Book
The London, Ontario Hell’s Angels, were in court this week for links to Platinum Sports Book. (Image: Toronto Star)
The tech guy for an online sports book operated by the Hell’s Angels and with links to the Canadian Mafia has been fined CA$400,000 by a Toronto court.

Gordon Baird, 59, pled guilty to being the web administrator of Platinum Sports Book, a credit betting operation with servers based in Costa Rica. Police say Platinum used members of the London, Ontario Hell’s Angels Chapter and the Mafia as bookmaking agents and enforcers.

The sports book was shut down in 2013 following a police raid on a Super Bowl party spread for the site’s VIPs in Toronto. With 2,700 guests and an open bar, the court heard that it cost $100,000 to put on.

Police arrested 31 people at the party and later confiscated $4.6 million in illegal betting proceeds, as well as seizing the PlatinumSB.com domain.

But within hours the gambling ring loaded an identical website using a .tk domain, which signifies registration in Tokelau, a tiny island in the South Pacific.

One Hundred Million in Revenues
Baird, who was not one of the site’s owners, was spared a lengthy prison sentence because he pled guilty and has no previous convictions. He has one year to pay the fine and will receive three years in prison if he fails to do so.

“He was not a controlling mind of the criminal organization but through his actions he contributed to the criminal organization,” said Justice John McMahon, sentencing.

“This was an extremely well-organized, professional criminal organization making millions of dollars,” he added. “It could not have functioned without his technical expertise.”

Police wiretaps revealed that Platinum employed several hundred bookies who catered to thousands of customers within the Toronto area. Company records seized by police show that between 2009 and 2013 the outfit generated over $103 million in revenues.

Sophisticated Pyramid
“The operation is best viewed as a highly sophisticated and organized pyramid-type structure,” court documents read. “The pyramid structure involved a number of ‘cells’ consisting of bookies and their sub-agents signing up bettors/clients. These cells in turn are all connected to the top of the pyramid structure by those managing the organization.”

Meanwhile, in the same courthouse, Rob Bartella, a former president of the London Hell’s Angels, and co-accomplice Andrew Bielli, pleaded not guilty to charges that included bookmaking for the benefit of a criminal organization and possession of the proceeds of crime.

Bartella walked over to watch Baird’s plea after his own case had adjourned.

Barletta, founder of the London Hells Angels chapter, narrowly escaped an attempted shooting on March 30, 2020 in Toronto.

Sergio Piccirilli is def someone to watch he was recorded on wiretaps referring to leaders in the Montreal Mafia as “idiots.” LOL.

But it's a fascinating thing. Like you said, Gallo was accustomed to working with the Bonnanos, yet he gives control of this book to Ndrangheta, Toronto, not New York.

You bring up an excellent point Cabrini.
My guess is that he was trying to appease both the Ndrangheta and the Bonanno's and gain favor from both should they succeed to overthrow the Rizzuto's.

Cabrini maybe this may enlighten us.

I forgot to mention that the police intercepted a message days before Montagna got killed and it states that Gallo was helping Montagna by providing documents and weapons.
These documents may include other books.

November 16, 2011

“Clo [Colapelle] read me other messages. These guys are getting dangerous. Mickey told Turkey [Moreno Gallo, a Montreal mafioso who will be murdered in Mexico, in an Acapulco restaurant, November 10, 2013] that everything is fine between you and him. Turkey gave him other documents and weapons. Mickey says he's bringing some guys from New York here to help him." – Mirarchi

https://montrealgazette.com/news/lo...hen-a-vehicle-in-a-t-m-r-residential-lot

Arsonists hit used-car dealership in Roxboro, vehicle in a T.M.R. residential lot

The arsonists did not get the memo. Peace treaty ????

https://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/...incendies-criminels-en-cinq-semaines.php


100 arson attacks in five weeks

So somebody appears to still be unhappy with Pizzi and Barberio. But who? Could it be that they took the side of HA and Del Balso after all?

I am just as confused right now. I am wondering if these Montreal clans are playing the game of :

"The enemy of my enemy is my friend. The friend of my enemy is my enemy." or “Keep your friends close; keep your enemies closer.”

There is a lot of unanswered questions at the moment. Like what happened to Scoppa's crew ? Did they disband or are they still together under a new leader and continue to cause havoc ?
Did some switch sides ? Barberio used to work for Devito and later switched. Do some of his old crew still want him dead ?
Did others like Del Balso and Pietrantonio switch to the Hells ?
What about Mirarchi, his influence seemed to have grown ?
What about the Violi brothers or the Ndrangheta they most likely would want a piece of the action in Montreal ?
Are the Hells playing divide and conquer with the Italians ?

I can't see the Rizzuto clan agreeing to any long term agreement. Most of their top members lost their fathers and still have vendetta's against their enemies.

I find there are too many moving parts at the moment.

Maybe Vito Cahill can look in his crystal ball and help clarify ? Both Vito and Mafia 101 came up with good opposing arguments about Pizzi and Barberio last week.

I got the answer to one of my questions .

La Presse article states:

"Barberio, alias Baldy, is also considered by the police to be part of the group of new decision makers in organized crime in Montreal.

According to our sources, he inherited several activities and territories from clan leader Andrew Scoppa following the latter's assassination in October 2019."

I'll try to answer or comment on those questions but of course we don't know what we don't know.

1. I don't think Andrew Scoppa really had a crew. There was Fazio Malatesta who was said to be his connection to cocaine suppliers and I haven't heard anything since his arrest a few years ago. Nicola Valiante was his driver and haven't heard anything with him either. Then there was the other brother Roberto Scoppa and he's involved in illegal dumping with the Gabriel brothers in Kanesatake and Mirabel. More recently in January 2019 he was seen at the same hotel as Hells Angels Martin Robert in Colombia and he denies being there with him. If he did have a larger crew they haven't made a noise since his death and probably joined up with others or are trying to do their own thing. You already posted it but yes Davide Barberio took over Andrew Scoppa's territory in Rivière-des-Prairies after his murder.

2. From what I've come across about the old Joe De Vito group is it was pretty large. After Joe De Vito's arrest and death guys of this crew started branching out on their own or joined up with others. I'm not sure if Davide Barberio is viewed as a successor or a break away but he took over many of Joe De Vito's interests after his death. I haven't seen any tensions or hostilities between any of these guys for moving on.

3. Over the last few years the Hells Angels have provided protection for many of these Mafia outcasts. After Sal Montagna's faction was decimated in 2011/2012 Tony Pietrantonio was basically alone with many enemies. It's possible he had previously established relationships with the Hells Angels that got him his protection or what in my opinion seems more likely is he used his connections to cocaone suppliers as currency and bought his protection. Francesco Del Balso was a bit in the same boat after his release from prison after his arrest in Project Colisée. Many people were upset with the attention he brought on himself and others and wanted nothing to do with him. Not sure what he had to offer the Hells Angels but many it was just his money making abilities. We know he was involved in drug trafficking with them prior to his death.

4. I'm just waiting for something to drop on Vittorio Mirarchi. He has some sort of peace treat with Leonardo Rizzuto and Stefano Sollecito that has held up so far. A article from few years ago said Davide Barberio had contacts with the Mirarchi clan and I believe that still to be the case maybe even more so today based on other things I've come across.

5. I know you didn't say this but the Ndrangheta and Violi involvement in the chaos in Montreal has been greatly exaggerated. There's been very little of anything linking them do any of it. Cooperation is the way with these groups and any activity they have there is not in competition with others. Dom Violi was recorded in 2016 saying they all get along.

6. I think the Hells Angels respect the boundaries between the Mafia and themselves. If it's true about them making a play for the book I've already said I don't think it was some coordinated plan but was a opportunity that Francesco Del Balso offered to them for their blessing to take out Leonardo Rizzuto.

Hopefully we learn why Marco Pizzi and Davide Barberio are being targeted right now.
- Could be because of possible involvement with Francesco Del Balso or their association with him
- Could be unrelated criminal dispute.
- Could it be Marco Pizzi and Davide Barberio are targeting eachother?
Whatever it is it hasn't reached any actual violence on either one yet. My last point is because there doesn't appear to be anyone else targeted in these arsons and shootings. I still find it odd the attacks started near the end of March after Leonardo Rizzuto was shot.

I don't know about this. I think they mean Sal Scoppas territories. Andrew Scoppa had to relinquish his drug territory to a Hells Angel named Yves Leduc, or something like that. From the Scoppa book, he greatly coveted possession of the sportsbook ledger, so I don't think he had gambling territories either.

Good insight Mafia 101. Thanks for sharing.

[Thanks for sharing Cabrini !

Vito Cahill hasn't answered yet. Which is unusual. He is probably still typing .

That was over 15 years ago in 2003. A lot had changed by then in the mid to late 2010s.

So..... what exactly changed, if you DONT think Andrew Scoppa had a crew? Do you think Andrew and his brothers operations were more conjoined than they led on?

as far as scoppa bros go i have always thought they worked closer together than they let on. the territories they were alleged to control overlapped. the ethnic groups they worked with overlapped and both were deeply entrenched in drug trafficking at a high level. i have an older brother we do not always get along but if push came to shove i'm lining up with my brother against anyone no matter what. so to think that these 2 major criminals were in no way connected and on differing sides from november 2015 on is impossible.

onto remnants of the scoppa brothers cells, both bros had small cells working for them and allies amongst different OC groups in mtl. lebanese mafia and red aligned black street gangs...arsene mompoint et al being one. some names from the proj estacade feb 2017 were nicola valiente, fazio malatesta, marco colella and dany iaconetti. i got no info on colella and iaconetti. malatesta has been non existent since and has not been mentioned at all. valiente pretty much the same except for the fact his wife enza esposito was arrested along with 3 others for gun trafficking in jan 2020. guns were being smuggled from u.s. into qc. so could be that valiente is still active, whether valiente operates his own independent cell or now works for someone else is not known.

i think both scoppas had cells but very small and used there links to street level drug dealers to move narcotics.

onto the old devito crew.
alessandro sucapane was the last leader of this crew,cell,network of drug dealers. not much has been heard from sucapane since his release. sucapane had switched his alliance to the rizzuto side upon vito's release allegedly. as far as whom he lines up with now??? the only other major names from the past are danny degregorio, the padula bros and the paparelli bros. all of the mentioned have been quiet for awhile. however to answer a question about the ongoing arsons and crimes against pizzi/barberio, the possibility exists that these remnants of devito/sucapanes network are attempting to regain there lost territory. all of the above mentioned are out of jail and had controlled drug dealing in cafes and bars in the mtl north/ r.d.p area.

agree with mafia 101 on his point about mirarchi and i have nothing left to add.

the violi bros/buffalo connection appears to have been either a working agreement or the colapelle/albanese/valvano cell was paying street tax to the violi group as has been reported. this info is the only proof of any involvement by an ontario based mafia group directly involved with a mtl based mafia cell. could be true then that most mafia groups are getting along now and trying to work together?

In the book it says in 2011 and 2012, police informants identified Scoppa as
the trafficker who “controlled” the drug trade in Laval and Montreal’s Park Extension, Villeray, Saint-Michel and Saint Laurent neighbourhoods. By the mid to late 2010s this probably had changed due to all the instability in Montreal.

Maybe saying Andrew Scoppa didn't have a crew is improper because obviously someone who has as much as he did going on had guys working for him. What I meant was I don't think he had a close circle of guys around him except for Nicola Valiante and Fazio Malatesta. There's Steve Ovadia who was described as Andrew Scoppa's right hand man but he's dead so not worth bringing up and you have Joseph Chamai who has come up in police reports of a boss of Lebanese organized crime in Laval and Saint Laurent. Joseph Chamai might have been close to Andrew Scoppa and maybe worked for him but I don't know if I'd say he was part of his crew or close circle. Andrew Scoppa was said to be close with the Lebanese most likely referring to Joseph Chamai and the Greeks in Parc extension that I don't know who that refers to.

Not sure how conjoined Sal and Andrew Scoppa were and the book didn't help shine any light on this. They both did their own but Andrew Scoppa looked more like a leader while Sal Scoppa was more like an enforcer doing hits for Stefano Sollecito throughout the 2010s until he decided he wanted to take over. That police informant who was the hitman for Sal Scoppa kept saying Andrew and Vittorio Mirarchi were involved but nothing linked them to it but there are photos of Jonathan Massari and Andrew Scoppa in the summer of 2016. It sounded like Jonathan Massari started working for Vittorio Mirarchi after Sal Scoppa screwed him out of his pay for hits. Could be they were aligned more than people thought. Maybe Andrew felt he had to because at the end of the day that's still his brother and he was the one with the real clout.