Friday 22 September 2023

Pat King and 'Unrepentant' harasser Kevin J. Johnston

 
 

Emergencies Act Inquiry: Convoy organizers James Bauder, Tamara Lich, Benjamin Dichter testify|FULL

146,466 views  
Streamed live on Nov 3, 2022 #ottawa #GlobalNews #cdnpoli
Warning: This video contains explicit language not suitable for all viewers. Discretion is advised. 
 
Three of the “Freedom Convoy” organizers testified on Thursday before the committee probing the government’s use of the Emergencies Act to bring an end to the protest that occupied Ottawa for weeks early in 2022. 
 
The commission investigated what happened with roughly $25 million worth of donations made through e-transfers, cryptocurrency and fundraising platforms like GiveSendGo and GoFundMe. 
 
It also investigated whether the money came from foreign sources and found that it varied significantly based on the fundraiser. Benjamin Dichter said he helped promote and co-ordinate a cryptocurrency fundraiser for protesters who descended upon Ottawa to oppose COVID-19 mandates last winter. 
 
 "Freedom Convoy" organizer Tamara Lich testified that she "never had an agenda" and got involved in the protests to help some truckers "drive across Canada and stand in front of Parliament with some signs." 
 
She added that, at the time, she was growing frustrated by the COVID-19 mandates, saying they were tearing families apart. 
 
A report released by the commission showed that about $1 million was actually spent by the convoy’s various organizers. 
 
Approximately $18 million was refunded to donors; the rest was confiscated and put into a third-party fund pending civil court cases. 
 
The inquiry is investigating the events leading up to the federal government’s emergency declaration Feb. 14, weeks into demonstrations that had gridlocked downtown Ottawa and spilled into border blockades elsewhere. 
 
 00:00:00 - Start
 00:49:03 - Benjamin Dichter begins testimony
 02:31:46 - Benjamin Dichter continues testimony after break
 04:59:52 - James Bauder begins testimony 
 07:33:29 - Tamara Lich testifies 
 
 
 
 

Emergencies Act inquiry: "Freedom Convoy" leader Pat King, lawyer testifies | FULL

 
Warning: This video contains explicit language not suitable for all viewers. Discretion is advised. 
"Freedom Convoy" organizer and leader Pat King testified on Wednesday at the public inquiry into the federal government’s use of the Emergencies Act during the trucker protests earlier this year. 
 
 He told the inquiry that the COVID-19 vaccine mandates for truckers were seen as a "direct attack on the Canadian economy" because they are the "backbone" of the economy. 
 
He went on to explain how he got involved in the convoy and said the goal was to "exercise your voice and be heard" about concerns "with the way things are being controlled." 
 
Keith Wilson, a lawyer representing some organizers of the "Freedom Convoy," said police were regularly leaking operational plans and other information to protesters in Ottawa during last winter's demonstration. He added members of the Ottawa police, Ontario Provincial Police and RCMP all leaked information to protesters. 
 
Convoy supporter Tom Marazzo also testified Wednesday about his involvement in the convoy. King, who had a large following, had suggested in a social media video that the prime minister was going to “catch a bullet.” Several participants wanted him to stay home as a result, Barber said. 
 
Several of the protest organizers, including Barber, Tamara Lich, and Pat King are facing criminal charges related to their involvement in the protests. 
 
The inquiry is investigating the events leading up to the federal government’s emergency declaration Feb. 14, weeks into demonstrations that had gridlocked downtown Ottawa and spilled into border blockades elsewhere.  
00:00:00 - Start  
00:10:00 - Keith Wilson testimony  
04:35:00 - Tom Marazzo testimony  
05:17:30 - Pat King testimony
 
 
 
 

Jim Karahalios addresses the infighting among the convoy's leadership

80.4K subscribers
3,458 views Nov 4, 2022  
See our coverage and help fund our independent journalism! Jim Karahalios, the leader of the New Blue Party of Ontario, was serving as legal counsel for Ben Dichter, one of the organizers behind the Freedom Convoy, during the Public Order Emergency Commission. In this interview with William Diaz-Berthiaume, Karahalios addresses the infighting among the convoy's leadership and shares his thoughts on the inquiry.
 
 

Jim Karahalios addresses the infighting among the convoy's leadership

The leader of the New Blue Party of Ontario was serving as legal counsel for one of the Freedom Convoy organizers, Benjamin Dichter, and touches on the disagreements between Dichter and others involved in the protest.

By

In a surprise to some viewers who have been following along with the Public Order Emergency Commission, the co-founder and leader of the New Blue Party of Ontario, Jim Karahalios, appeared at the public inquiry to represent Benjamin Dichter, one of the Freedom Convoy organizers, during his testimony.

The inquiry, which we here at Rebel News are calling the Trucker Commission, is a mandatory investigation into Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's invoking of the Emergencies Act, the never-before-used successor to the former War Measures Act. Trudeau used this extreme legislation this past February in an attempt to crush the peaceful convoy protesters after they'd demonstrated in Ottawa for nearly a month.

In today's report, we'll bring you an interview with Karahalios following his appearance at the commission. As one of the early organizers behind the Freedom Convoy, Dichter was called to the stand to testify.

Karahalios, who studied law at the University of Ottawa before entering politics, spoke to us about why he decided to represnt Dichter during the convoy and his view of Freedom Corp. — a group of other key figures in the convoy which includes Tamara Lich, Chris Barber and Tom Marazzo.

The New Blue leader also touched on Dichter's relationship with Marazzo and a whole lot more. The things Dichter said, and Karahalios told Rebel News, were quite different from what Marazzo and Keith Wilson, a lawyer for the convoy, recalled during their testimonies. This tension between the convoy figures was on full display when another convoy lawyer, Brendan Miller, cross-examined Dichter.

Although the inquiry is set to continue for nearly another three weeks, Dichter and his counsel, Karahalios, were not given standing, which means they will not be allowed to cross-examine any of the other witnesses appearing in front of the commission.

To see our in-depth coverage of the inquiry and to support our 100% viewer-funded journalism, visit TruckerCommission.com.

 
 
 

Leader Of Canadian Freedom Convoy SPEAKS OUT

112,890 views Premiered Sep 27, 2023 TRIGGERnometry - NEW episodes every Sunday and Wednesday 2 pm ET/7 pm UK Benjamin Joseph (BJ) Dichter was a leader in the 2022 Canadian convoy protest. He is a truck driver, author, and podcaster from Toronto, Canada. Dichter was the candidate for Toronto Centre-Rosedale in the 2014 Toronto municipal election, and the 2015 Conservative candidate for Toronto-Danforth. He has been noted for criticisms of partisan divisiveness, and of political tolerance toward extremism. He is also the founder of the LGBTQ conservative group LGBTory. #freedom #usa #politics 


 
 

Freedom Coffee #1 | The Canadian Revival Will Be Televised, Jordan Peterson & Convoy Donations

1.05K subscribers
312 views 1 year ago 
 

 
 

Tense exchange between lawyer, convoy organizer Benjamin Dichter

Brendan Miller, lawyer representing convoy organizers, grills Benjamin Dichter about his timeline and tweets from Tamara Lich's account. 





Benjamin Dichter at media conference for Freedom Convoy truckers slams Jewish community leaders

811 subscribers
11,862 views Jan 30, 2022
Benjamin Dichter, the spokesperson for the Canadian Freedom Convoy2022 protesting vaccine mandates and other COVID restrictions, was asked about sightings of Swastika flags, Confederate flags and other hateful symbols seen at the protest rallies in Ottawa on the weekend. Dichter, who is a Jewish activist and former Conservative Party candidate, chalked it up to "people do stupid things", and instead, blamed The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs for whipping up what he called "hoax hate" that actually -- he claims --makes antisemitism worse for the Canadian Jewish community. Here is a clip of his full answer in an exchange with an unidentified reporter at Sunday's media conference by Freedom Convoy organizers at an undisclosed location. Mainstream media outlets were not invited. The clip is a screen cap from a live Twitter stream of the event Sunday Jan. 30, 2022.


 
 
 

What the Truckers Do and Do Not Want

In this video, Benjamin Dichter, who is integrally involved in the Truckers Freedom Convoy, reads a statement of the movement's demands, who they are, and addresses what they are not asking for that has been presented by the legacy media. Full interview with Mikhaila and BJ available at:    • Interview with Canadian Trucker Convo...  
 
 
 
 

Interview with Canadian Trucker Convoy Leader - MP Podcast #138

In this episode Mikhaila hosts B. J. Dichter, a trucker, spokesperson, and organizer of the freedom convoy protest that has been recently moving around different Canadian cities in response to COVID mandates. These include, but are not limited to, a COVID passport app that can track you (as evidenced by Ditcher’s own experience). The main concern being, then, not anything to do with the vaccines themselves (as certain outlets may suggest) but individual sovereignty and government control. Peterson and Dichter cover the primary questions Canadians and people around the world are posing on the purpose, intent, and institution of the freedom convoy protest—questions about how the blockade limits traffic, the order for local businesses to close, alleged alt-right involvement, violence, tensions with Ottawa police, emergency measure acts, donations, and ways to support the protest.
 
 
 
 

Tonight On The Kevin J. Johnston Show with Stand United & Stefanos

First published at 19:46 UTC on December 24th, 2021. 
 
 

Kevin J. Johnston

Hour 1 Stand united talks about Their big rally coming up

Hour 2 Stefanos WHY WE NEED TO PUSH FOR LARGER PROTESTS

 
 
 
 

Tonight On The Kevin J. Johnston Show about Police Crimes Against Canadians

 
First published at 22:41 UTC on December 28th, 2021. 
 
 

Kevin J. Johnston

Tonight On The Kevin J Johnston Show

We dig into some police crimes against Canadians. Are the cops Intentionally killing Canadians? Find out more and watch Canadian True Crime.

 
 
 
 
 

Tonight On The Kevin J. Johnston Show with guests Vladislav Sobolev and Vito Salvaggio

First published at 18:16 UTC on December 29th, 2021. 
 
 

Kevin J. Johnston

Tonight On The Kevin J Johnston Show From Vancouver To Montreal Special guests Vladislav Sobolev and, Vito Salvaggio has some big plans coming up.

Vito Salvaggio is a lawyer qualified to practice law in Quebec, Canada.
1415 Avenue des Pins, Montréal, Quebec, Canada H3G 1B2
 
 
 
 
First published at 17:40 UTC on December 30th, 2021. 
 
 

Kevin J. Johnston

Tonight On The Kevin J Johnston Show From freedom art to freedom music we have Melanie Switzer writer of Make Calgary Great Again. The song made for Kevin's mayor campaign. Someone has been sculping freedom messages in his home town.

 
 
 
 

Tonight On The Kevin J. Johnston Show with Chris Sky

First published at 17:06 UTC on December 31st, 2021. 
 
 

Kevin J. Johnston

Tonight On The Kevin J Johnston Show

Chris Sky Talks About His Social media Platform and we dig Into The Politics And The FDA Regulations On The Vaccine

 
 
 
 
 

Tonight On The Kevin J. Johnston Show New Year's Eve with Derek, Stefano's and Ed Ed Ed

First published at 17:59 UTC on January 1st, 2022. 
 

Kevin J. Johnston

Tonight On The Kevin J Johnston Show Happy

New Year's everyone, we go back in time reminiscing about earlier in the year of 2021... Memories of Kevin's Campaign, videos, rallies, walk for freedom, peaceful protests, the sad arrests of Derek Stories the Noble Savage and Artur Pawlowski. Artur never forgets helping people and feeding the people in need, his Street Church moments with friends. We all support each other to become stronger.

 
 
 
 
 
First published at 16:18 UTC on January 5th, 2022. 
 
 

Kevin J. Johnston

Tonight On The Kevin J Johnston Show with host Benita Pedersen our guests Sherry Strong & Donald Lee. The topic of building resilience is totally relevant right now. We will pray for him to have resilience in the coming days.

Donald Lee is a spiritual speaker and author.
He had a career in the fertilizer business for almost two decades. Had a career in teaching education and a band director for almost two decades.

"to all who are curious about Kevin J. Johnston, we will be providing an update tomorrow."

https://sherrystrong.org/ 
 
Sherry Pollex Obituary, 1979 – 2023
 
 
 
 

Tonight On The Kevin J. Johnston Show with Jodie and James

First published at 17:25 UTC on January 6th, 2022. 
 
 

Kevin J. Johnston

Tonight On The Kevin J Johnston Show

Coast To Coast Lockdowns
What's going on today we're going to be talking about what's happening on Saturday the 8th to cross the country we've got a whole bunch of guests in here using the people that are going to be organizing the rallies it'll be happening at various let's say lying mainstream media at their locations. We're going to be calling them out on other stuff. We're still waiting clearance with Kevin's lawyer while we can play one of his tapes that he put out there.
Jodie Wood and James Davidson and they're going to tell you guys what's going on.

The media's the virus so Global News is my first station that we're going to serve them with notices of a liability because of their lies we're all being segregated against and it's against crimes against humanity.

 
 
 
 

Tonight On The Kevin J. Johnston Show with Vladislav and Pat King

 
First published at 15:54 UTC on January 7th, 2022. 
 
 

Kevin J. Johnston

Tonight On The Kevin J Johnston Show Latest Arrest update from Kevin J. Johnston

In about 45 minutes approximately Vladislav should be joining us any minute to share some of his thoughts and events coming up. Yesterday Kevin managed to call me and asked me to do a recording and we did that recording. I have to get a clear through his lawyers. Pat King joins us to share his thoughts on Kevin's situation.

 
 
 
 
 

Tonight On The Kevin J. Johnston Show with Dr. Emad Mikhail GurGuis

First published at 17:05 UTC on January 11th, 2022. 
 

Kevin J. Johnston

Tonight On The Kevin J Johnston Show

How To Save 1200 Of Your Friends Lives. Children of the Pandemic and how we can fight for them.
Kevin speaks on the show as a recording

Actually it's not going to be that great we're going to be diving right into what's going on with the Kevin for the first three minutes we got a recording from him we're going to play then we're bringing in a Dr. surgeon Gurguis. There's another book coming up from him. What's really going to be interesting about tonight, he's got his hands on the Pfizer documents that the government has had these, which are the drug trials. I believe that went from December to Summer of last year and to the February of this year. It's only 3 months of data and what you going to be seeing that he's broken it down for us put into layman's English, so we can all understand what's going on. Freedom of information Act request by our other Patriot doctors, in Vancouver decided to come through by a freedom of information request. Your not going to be happy.. So let's get into it.

 
 
 
 
 
 

Tonight On The Kevin J. Johnston Show with April Lajune

First published at 21:15 UTC on January 12th, 2022. 
 
 

Kevin J. Johnston

Right now April is on her way to Phoenix. April's friend, Cindy texted her and told her she's going to be down here as well, so they will in meet up down in Phoenix. They are going to be talking about the asylum on their side, because they messed up. They really messed up so much, it put Kevin's life in danger. April was trying to get a hold of the RCMP, and that's a runaround. April asked them point blank, are you guys going to obstruct him from getting his asylum? It's just to make this life as bad as they possibly can. They're obstructing his ability to even get asylum that he wanted, political asylum and he was asking for political asylum. April told Kevin many many times on the phone. April was talking to them they said okay and when he asked for it, they were supposed to give him papers right then and there. Kevin was supposed to sign those papers immediately and they did not follow protocol.

 
 

BREAKING : Ontario Premier Doug Ford declares state of emergency over trucker blockades

First published at 20:27 UTC on February 11th, 2022. 
 

Kevin J. Johnston

8Ontario Premier Doug Ford has decided to show the whole public that he is positively terrified that the world knows he has made every single incorrect decision that he possibly could have. There is no pandemic and there never was. He is responsible for destroying the lives of 14.5 million people in the province of Ontario and now instead of listening to people who simply want to go back to work and feed their families, he has decided to threaten them with the destruction of their entire careers.

Doug Ford in the province of Ontario is someone who needs to be locked up just like every other leader in this country. There is no excuse for threatening your citizens when all they want to do is eat and keep the heat on. Ontario and Canada in general are very cold places and without an income you do not have heat in that house. Why would this man decided he wants to imprison people who simply want to eat. Look at him, he has no shortage of food available to him if anybody should be starving it is him.

If you all allow this to take place then congratulations Canada, tyranny has won and your freedoms are gone forever.

 
 
 

'Unrepentant' harasser Kevin J. Johnston ordered to pay $650,000 to AHS worker

Judge found that Johnston had defamed AHS inspector

For months, Johnston "spewed misinformation, conspiracy theories and hate" as he executed a "disturbing" and relentless campaign of defamation and harassment, wrote Court of King's Bench Justice Colin Feasby.

The main target of Johnston's harassment was AHS public health inspector Sarah Nunn.

Johnston's harassment became so intense, Calgary police advised Nunn that her children should not take public transit. He also posted photos of her family along with hateful comments. 

'Mr. Johnston is unrepentant'

But in his 40-page decision, Feasby also issued a permanent injunction because he doesn't believe the financial penalty will dissuade Johnston from continuing his harassment.

"Mr. Johnston is unrepentant, and I have no confidence that the damages award will function as any sort of disincentive to him continuing to defame and harass Ms. Nunn," wrote Feasby.

"Accordingly, I conclude that a permanent injunction is a just and appropriate remedy that is required to prevent Mr. Johnston from continuing to defame and harass Ms. Nunn."

Johnston repeatedly called Nunn a "Nazi" and a "terrorist" in his posts and voiced his intent "to make this woman's life miserable."

"I intend to destroy this woman's life," said Johnston in one of his online rants. 

"Mr. Johnston's statements could reasonably be interpreted as inciting his followers to violence against Ms. Nunn and her family," wrote the judge.

'Hate speech'

Feasby's decision is the latest in Johnston's years-long, cross-country involvement in criminal and civil courts. 

In 2019, an Ontario judge issued an injunction against Johnston and ordered him to pay $2.5 million in damages to Toronto restaurateur and philanthropist Mohamad Fakih for what the judge described as "hate speech at its worst."

But Johnston's hateful, racist comments continued in a series of videos and posts, repeatedly calling Fakih a "terrorist" and "baby killer."

Johnston's breach of the injunction resulted in a contempt conviction and an 18-month jail sentence, but he has never returned to Ontario to serve his time behind bars.

'Dangerous and out of control'

Johnston moved from Ontario to Alberta in the fall of 2021 to run for mayor in Calgary.

Angry with public health measures, Johnston threatened to arm himself and show up at the doors of AHS employees during his campaign for mayor. 

In the spring of 2021, Johnston spent the equivalent of seven weeks in jail for the crimes of harassing and threatening Nunn, plus causing a disturbance at a downtown Calgary shopping mall when he berated shop staff who demanded he wear a mask. 

In July of that year, Johnston was convicted on two counts of contempt after spending months inciting his followers to defy Alberta's public health measures.

Fugitive on the run

At the time, the sentencing judge described Johnston's behaviour as "dangerous and out of control."

He received a 40-day sentence to be served on weekends but failed to show up for his final four-day stint in January.

Johnston was arrested in Montana on Jan. 4, 2022, after crossing the border on foot in what he described as an attempt at claiming political asylum. 

At the time of his arrest, Johnston was wanted in Ontario and Alberta after failing to show up for jail sentences in both provinces.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR


Meghan Grant

CBC Calgary crime reporter

Meghan Grant is a justice affairs reporter. She has been covering courts, crime and stories of police accountability in southern Alberta for more than a decade. Send Meghan a story tip at meghan.grant@cbc.ca or follow her on Twitter.

CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices
 
 
 
 

Hit list revealed during murder trial sheds light on Mafia conflict

An informant's testimony provided a glimpse of how far the Scoppa brothers were willing to go to take control of the Montreal Mafia in 2016.

The motive for why two brothers from Montreal were killed on a rural farm five years ago involves a conflict that dates back even further, after Mob boss Vito Rizzuto was extradited to the United States and convicted of racketeering.

After Rizzuto pleaded guilty in 2007 and was incarcerated in the U.S., the organization he controlled for decades was suddenly left without a leader, and the group came under attack in 2010 and 2011. When he was released and returned to Montreal in November 2012, he appeared to regain control of the Montreal Mafia until he died of cancer a year later.

The trial of Marie-Josée Viau and Guy Dion, accused of taking part in the murders of brothers Vincenzo and Giuseppe Falduto, revealed that by 2016, the Rizzuto organization was once again under serious attack. The jury that heard Viau and Dion’s trial began its sequestered deliberation Friday afternoon.

The hit man who shot the Falduto brothers, and who later became an informant for the Sûreté du Québec, was the key witness in the trial. The informant, whose identity is protected by a publication ban, revealed that Salvatore Scoppa and his brother, Andrea, paid him to kill the Falduto brothers as well as Rocco Sollecito, one of the men who remained loyal to Rizzuto in his absence.

For years, the Montreal Mafia was led by men of Sicilian origin. The informant said the Scoppa brothers were of Calabrian origin and, throughout 2016, sought to eliminate as many people on the Sicilian side of the Montreal Mafia as possible. While testifying, he carefully recalled who was on a hit list the Scoppa brothers kept on encrypted Blackberry devices.

His testimony provided a very rare behind-the-scenes glimpse of the conflict and how far the Scoppa brothers were willing to go to take control of the Montreal Mafia. Salvatore Scoppa was later killed in Laval in May 2019, and Andrea, a man who was, according to police sources, once very loyal to Rizzuto, was killed in Pierrefonds five months later.

These are just some of the people the informant claimed were on the Scoppa brothers’ hit list in 2016:

Salvatore Brunetti, 69 — A longtime member of the Hells Angels, who police sources have described for years as someone who meets often with members of the Montreal Mafia. During the 1990s, Brunetti was a member of the Rock Machine, a gang that clashed with the Hells Angels in Quebec for years. But in December 2000, while both gangs were in the middle of a war over drug trafficking turf, Brunetti surprised police when he and seven other men tied to the Rock Machine defected to the Hells Angels. In 2007, Brunetti admitted he used his influence to help cocaine traffickers establish areas where they could deal from in Quebec. He did this while on parole and was sentenced to an overall four-year prison term after he pleaded guilty to gangsterism charges.

Liborio (Pancho) Cuntrera, 53 — The son of Agostino Cuntrera, a known Montreal Mafia leader who remained loyal to the Rizzuto organization while it was under attack in 2010 and 2011. That loyalty likely cost the elder Cuntrera his life. He was killed in June 2010 outside a business he ran in St-Léonard. Six years after his father was killed, Liborio Cuntrera was arrested in Project Clemenza, an RCMP-led investigation into drug trafficking cells tied to the Montreal Mafia. On March 21, 2017, the drug-trafficking charges Cuntrera faced were dropped, reportedly because the RCMP refused to divulge how they intercepted text messages during Project Clemenza.

Francesco Del Balso, 51 — Identified as a young leader in the Rizzuto organization during Project Colisée, the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit investigation that resulted in a roundup of leaders from the Rizzuto organization in 2006. On May 6, 2017, an armed gunman entered Del Balso’s home in Laval and pointed a firearm at his relatives while demanding to know where he was. One of Del Balso’s relatives managed to send a text message warning him of what was going on. On April 25, 2019, the gunman pleaded guilty to several charges related to the home invasion, and he is currently serving a seven-year prison term.

Giuseppe (Joey Gator) Focarazzo, 46 — While Del Balso was under investigation in Project Colisée, investigators took note of how, during the summer of 2006, Focarazzo met with him at a bar in Laval that served as Del Balso’s hangout. They and two other men were secretly recorded as they discussed and handled firearms. In 2004, Focarazzo pleaded guilty to extortion and uttering treats and was fined $2,500. In 2019, he made headlines after a woman in Florida was charged with grand theft and using stolen credit cards to purchase goods. According to reports, the woman met Focarazzo at a hotel in Miami and he suddenly felt dizzy and fell asleep. When he woke up, the woman was gone, along with his $50,000 Rolex watch and credit cards. In January 2020, the charges against the woman were dropped.

Arsène (BM) Mompoint, 47 — Just weeks before the informant began testifying in the Viau/Dion case, Mompoint, a former street gang leader, was killed in Kanesatake on July 1. The day after the shooting, the Sûreté du Québec released a photo of a suspect who wore a bandana over his face, but no arrests have been made in the homicide investigation. The informant said that, during 2016, the Scoppa brothers wanted him to kill Mompoint and an associate nicknamed Jedi, but he chose instead to warn both men because he considered them to be friends.

Antonio (The Florist) Mucci, 67 — Mucci came to notoriety in the 1970s when he was convicted of the attempted murder of then-Le Devoir reporter Jean-Pierre Charbonneau. Mucci was sentenced to an eight-year prison term for shooting the reporter in 1973. Charbonneau was probing organized crime for the newspaper at the time. In 2010, Mucci was arrested as the Montreal police investigated people tied to the Mafia who were believed to be carrying firearms while the Rizzuto organization was under attack. The case was dropped five years later. In September, the informant testified he happened to spot Mucci at an Italian restaurant just hours after he killed the Falduto brothers. He told the jury he was with two other men at the time and that they talked him out of his plans to grab a few guns and kill Mucci on the spot.

Marco Pizzi, 51 — An attempt was made on Pizzi’s life on Aug. 8, 2016, during the period the informant said the Scoppas were eager to have people killed. A BMW rammed into Pizzi’s from behind while he was driving along Grande-Allée Ave. in Montreal. Two gunmen exited the BMW and tried to shoot Pizzi, but he escaped by running through a nearby park. Just weeks before the attempt on his life, Pizzi was released on bail in Project Clemenza. He had been charged in a cocaine trafficking case with Cuntrera and was also alleged to have been tied to $2.3 million used to finance five shipments of cocaine that were to be smuggled into Canada. The charges Pizzi faced in Project Clemenza were also dropped in 2017.

Calogero (Charlie) Renda, 54 — The son of Paolo Renda, another man revealed to be a leader in the Montreal Mafia during Project Colisée. Paolo Renda is believed to have been abducted in May 2010 near his home in northern Montreal. He has not been seen since. The informant said he approached Calogero Renda, near the end of 2016, and informed him that he was on the Scoppa brothers’ hit list. He also alleged that Calogero Renda was willing to pay up to $200,000 to have someone killed because the Sicilians believed the man was involved in the death of Lorenzo Giordano, another Rizzuto organization leader killed in 2016.

Vito Salvaggio — Many years ago, Salvaggio was tied to a series of apartments the Hells Angels used to collect and distribute millions of dollars they were making from the sale of drugs like cocaine. Surveillance on the apartments and computer records revealed he delivered $2 million to the biker gang. In 2002, he was sentenced to a four-year prison term after he pleaded guilty to charges filed against him in the investigation. More recently, police surveillance conducted during Project Magot, a Sûreté du Québec investigation into how the Hells Angels, Montreal Mafia and street gangs were working together, revealed that Salvaggio was often seen with alleged Mafia leaders like Stefano Sollecito.

Frédérick Silva, 41 — While Viau and Dion’s trial progressed before a jury at the Gouin courthouse in northern Montreal, Silva has been on trial before a judge at the Montreal courthouse. He is alleged to have killed three men, including one who had ties to the Hells Angels, between October and December 2018. At one point during the Project Magot investigation, Silva was spotted by police with Stefano Sollecito at the Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport.

Nicola (Nick) Spagnolo, 45 — The informant testified Spagnolo was on the hit list and had been followed by people tied to the Scoppa brothers days before Spagnolo’s father, Vincenzo, a longtime friend of Vito Rizzuto, was killed by mistake in October 2016. The informant was very critical of the people he alleged were behind the error. By coincidence, Andrea Scoppa was secretly recorded as part of a cocaine trafficking investigation shortly after Spagnolo was killed. Scoppa’s driver asked him if he had anything to do with the slaying. Scoppa denied any involvement but appeared to take delight in Spagnolo’s death. He assumed it would put added pressure on Stefano Sollecito to react to the conflict. Scoppa was recorded saying: “The Godfather is up against a wall.”

Stefano Sollecito, 54, and his brother Mario, 50 — The informant testified the Scoppa brothers were not content with how he had killed Rocco Sollecito for them in Laval on May 27, 2016. They wanted two of his sons killed as well. In November 2015, when Sollecito was arrested in Project Magot, the Sûreté du Québec alleged that he and Vito Rizzuto’s son, Leonardo, were the heads of the Montreal Mafia at the time.

Gianpietro (JP) Tiberio, 48 — During the summer of 2015, Stefano Sollecito and Leonardo Rizzuto were secretly recorded while they discussed a problem that had arisen within Montreal’s underworld. Sollecito referred to Tiberio as “a liar” but appeared to be willing to let the man, who was identified during the Charbonneau Commission as an associate of the Rizzuto organization, run drug trafficking turf in Rivière-des-Prairies and Montreal North. Sollecito also said he wanted to see a man he referred to as Sal removed from the area. It appeared he was referring to Salvatore Scoppa.

Antonio Vanelli — In June 2, 2016, Montreal police homicide detectives showed up at Vanelli’s home near midnight to inform him his life was in danger. Hours earlier, someone shot 72-year-old Angelo D’Onofrio at the Hillside Café on Fleury St. in the Ahuntsic-Cartierville borough. The victim was not known to police and, within hours, detectives theorized D’Onofrio was killed by accident and that Vanelli was the intended target. Vanelli frequented the café, but he was attending Rocco Sollecito’s funeral on the day D’Onofrio was killed. On March 27, 2019, a man was convicted of first-degree murder in D’Onofrio’s death.

pcherry@postmedia.com

 
 

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