Danny De Gregorio an alleged lieutenant in the Montreal mafia was sentenced to 32 months behind bars for possession of a prohibited and loaded firearm without a permit.
He was shot three times coming out of a gym in St-Leonard which authorities believed was a failed mafia hit back in 2009. An investigation by Montreal police in February of 2011 led to his arrest on weapons charges although De Gregorio claimed to be carrying it only for protection. A search of his vehicle produced a loaded 9mm handgun which had the serial numbers removed, ammo, and a bulletproof vest. His 2011 arrest came just months after the murders of Nick Rizzuto the son of former Rizzuto crime family boss Vito Rizzuto and Agostino Contrera one of Vito’s closest associates.
“Danny De Gregorio”
The murders of Nick Rizzuto and Contrera was the beginning of what has become a long and bloody Montreal mafia war. According to authorities, De Gregorio had ties to now-deceased Rizzuto family leader Giuseppe De Vito. De Vito was believed to be part of the rival group challenging the Rizzuto clan’s leadership of the Montreal mob. Police in Montreal began tapping into it sources for information about anyone possibly tied to the mafia who may have been carrying firearms in an early effort to stop the violence. According to reports, a police informant told authorities that De Gregorio was carrying a loaded firearm in the glove compartment of his vehicle because of the attempt on his life and that he learned that a contract had been put on his life for being part of the conflict.
De Gregorio opted for a guilty plea back in 2014 instead of taking his chances at trial. Prosecutors were pushing for a sentence of between 42 and 48 months while the 48-year-old mobsters defense hoped for a sentence of 12-18 months. Quebec court judge Nathalie Fafard settled in the middle with the two years and eight-month sentence. This was the first time De Gregorio has been sentenced to prison despite his links to organized crime. Considering the current climate in the Montreal underworld and the continued bloodshed prison may end up being safer than the streets.
At least of late it doesn’t seem like what is left of the Rizzuto family is hitting back so not sure he was still in all that much danger but ya never know. The montreal mafia war has seemingly become almost one sided now and it seem inevitable that the Rizzuto’s are on the way out and new leaders are going to be in place sooner rather then later.
I’ve seen several instances where someone is described as a lieutenant, isn’t that just a soldier? Associate, soldier, captain, consigliere, underboss, street boss, acting bosses are only titles I know of.
Yea for most part being described especially in the “media” as a lieutenant doesn’t actually mean he was actually a ranking capo etc it seems more like a generic term for anyone who seemed to wield at least some influence.
it is crazy that no authorities have an idea who is it, I read a piece about the montreal war, this person said the professional sniper shot on rizzuto senior that killed him in the kitchen is a big clue that the Calabrian mob is behind the hits, it just shows us people what a don vito rizzuto was.
Rizzutto had deep NYC connections. He participated in infamous three captain murder, or helped carry it out. So he must have been close to Rastelli and Massino, Bonnano’s have always had strong Canadian ties. He flourished for years. This new mafia is blood thirsty in Canada.
Yes it seems like it is becoming increasingly clear that the Calabrians have been behind this move on the Rizzuto’s in some fashion from the start. It is still unclear if they were at first just backing a play made by an internal faction within the Rizzuto family itself or were more closely involved the whole way. Either way it seems like the Sicilian dominance over Montreal is coming to an end and the next leaders to step in will likely Ndrangheta.