How Rizzuto Got His Revenge, Mafia-Style

Adrian Humphreys' National Post story is required reading for anyone interested in the Canadian mob war (which included both Cosa Nostra and 'Ndrangheta members) that reached its bloody crescendo under the stewardship of now-deceased Montreal Godfather Vito Rizzuto.

The article focuses on new information regarding how Rizzuto swiftly took charge when he returned home from prison, marshaled his forces and with true Sicilian cunningness, set loose the dogs of war by first testing his own men's loyalty.

Rizzuto was referred to as the Tall Guy.

He seems to have taken a page from John Gotti's playbook by topping his death list with the names of those who blinked when he summoned them.



Gotti famously once said: "He's gonna die because he refused to come in when I called...." Louis DiBono, otherwise, hadn't done anything wrong. And this was not even during a war--though Gotti came close to being a wartime Don following the DeCicco murder.

The source of the new information in Humphreys' story is wiretap recordings of a Canadian mobster living in Sicily who "reveals tantalizing details about the recent Mafia war that killed more than 40 people in Montreal, Toronto, Mexico and Italy," noted Humphreys.

The target of a wide-ranging investigation in Palermo, the mobster offered a blow by blow account of Rizzuto's vendetta from its initial stages, which took place in Cuba and the Dominican Republic, where Rizzuto "summoned top henchmen to secret meetings..." What was discussed? Well, if you were invited and failed to attend, you were "among his first targets."

After his release from a U.S. prison--where he must have mentally murdered Joe Massino a million times for enabling the RMCP to yank him away, prompting the deadly turmoil in Montreal that claimed the lives of both his father and son--Rizzuto knew he had little time because cancer was devouring his lungs. So he got right to work.

A court in Italy heard the details. "It’s like the saying goes — when the cat’s away the mice will play,” veteran mobster Juan Ramon Fernandez said, referring to those who betrayed Rizzuto while he was away, Humphreys wrote.

“But mice can only dance for a while because they’re small,” he added -- "as a warning of Rizzuto’s power," Humphreys added.

While these events occurred, all Fernandez’s phone calls were recorded for presentation at a Palermo murder trial.


Rizzuto’s trips south allowed him to plot privately with his senior men about the attacks on his family, including the murders of his eldest son and father, police said. 
Months before Rizzuto’s scheduled release from prison on Oct. 5, 2012, his friends were already making plans. 
Fernandez frequently spoke with a man identified in court as Frank Campoli, 58, a Toronto businessman who is related by marriage to the Rizzuto family. Mr. Campoli said Rizzuto was planning a trip to Cuba on Nov. 22 and asked Fernandez to come, court heard. 
“Yes, I’ll come, I’ll come,” said Fernandez.
Fernandez then immediately called a friend in Toronto, identified in court as Rosario Staffiere, 55, owner of a limousine rental firm, and told him of his conversation. 
“He wanted to put me to the test,” Fernandez said. “He wanted to know if I still want to see him [Rizzuto], and I said ‘Yes, of course.’” 
Then, he added with a laugh: “Take a shot in the f—ing head? Of course I’m going to see him.” 
On the day of Rizzuto’s release, Fernandez again spoke with Mr. Campoli, court heard. “How is he?” Fernandez asked. 
“I don’t know where the hell he went,” answered Mr. Campoli. “He didn’t want to be seen with anyone right now, know what I mean?”...
On Nov. 5, 2012 — a month after Rizzuto’s release and two weeks before his Cuba trip — Joseph Di Maulo, a veteran Quebec mobster, was gunned down in his driveway, a murder seen as the first volley of Rizzuto’s revenge. 
Fernandez immediately phoned Canada asking about the shooting. He called a Montreal man identified in court as Antonio Carbone, 79, who was close to the mobsters. 
Mr. Carbone said Rizzuto’s opponents were afraid, staying indoors, wearing bulletproof vests or driving armoured cars. 
“The important ones are hiding,” Mr. Carbone said. “A few big names will soon feel…” he said, with his words trailing off....