The efforts by enemies of the Rizzuto crime family to wrestle away control of Montreal mafia in a bloody Montreal Mafia war while mob boss Vito Rizzuto was imprisoned seem to have failed according to crime experts.
Since Vito Rizzuto was released from prison in the U.S. after a ten-year term and returned to Canada in October violence has escalated as many expected. There have been seven murders which have been linked to organized crime in Montreal and many if not all of them according to authorities seem to be tied to groups that sided against the Rizzuto family. Authorities believe that the guy pulling the strings in the effort to take down the Rizzuto family was Joeseph Di Maulo who was killed outside his home in November of last year and is one of the key murders since Vito returned and began his effort to regain control.
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Many believe that some of the recent murders in Montreal may also be tied to Vito Rizzuto looking for revenge for the murders of his son Nick Rizzuto Jr and his father Nicolo Rizzuto among other family members. Many believe a coalition was formed that was led by Di Maulo but problems developed between two other top figure Raynald Desjardins and Salvatore Montagna which led to the murder of Montagna. Desjardins is Di Maulo’s brother in law and Montagna was once acting boss of the New York based Bonanno crime family. Desjardins along with four other men are charged with the murder of Montagna. Another part of this coalition was Vittorio Mirarchi who authorities believe was a link for the group to other mafia groups in Ontario who were in support of their efforts but is now also charged in the Montagna murder.
The factions attempting to take control of the Montreal underworld seem to have underestimated Vito Rizzuto and the power and support he maintained while he was away. The Rizzuto family had seemingly lost its long held control over Montreal and had been brought to its knees losing many of its key leaders up until Rizzuto’s return. Now it seems the power is swinging back to the side of Vito Rizzuto and the Rizzuto family. A police source said that while Vito was in jail he maintained a large army of loyal followers. He also added that family ally Agostino Cuntrera who was murdered in 2010 had an army of his own which for most part has also stayed loyal to the Rizzuto family adding to their power base.
Vito Rizzuto’s strength comes from knowing everything , who likes him and how doesn’t, the underworld rumors and more said Andre Cedilot author of the book Mafia Inc said. He has maintained his network and knows everything. There is still instability in the Montreal underworld and only time will tell of Vito Rizzuto does indeed take back full control and can rebuild the Rizzuto family with the loss of so many key members.
