According to reports Ontario police have arrested 27-year-old Jarbril Abdullah of Hamilton for his role in the murders of mobster Angelo Musitano and Mila Barberi.
The 27-year-old is now facing two counts of first-degree murder. Authorities have also issued arrest warrants for 37-year-old Michael Cudmore, the alleged triggerman, and 27-year-old Daniel Mario Tomassetti. Both suspects are suspected of fleeing to Mexico before they could be arrested according to police. All three suspects are facing two first-degree murder charges, three conspiracy to commit murder charges and one attempted murder charge.
“Angelo Musitano and Pat Musitano”
Angelo Musitano and Pat Musitano are sons of former Hamilton crime boss Domenic Musitano. Both brothers served almost 10 years behind bars for the 1997 murder for Hamilton mafia leader Johnny Papalia and one of his lieutenants Carmen Barillaro. The murder of Papalia was allegedly ordered by Montreal mafia godfather Vito Rizzuto. Their ties to the Rizzuto family allowed the Musitano’s to keep control the local underworld for years. But the ongoing Montreal mafia war and the death of godfather Vito Rizzuto has significantly weakened the Rizzuto families power and influence leaving the Musitano crime family also weakened.
So authorities believe the murder of Angelo may have been retaliation for the killing of Papalia and the start of an internal mafia power struggle. Just weeks after Angelo was shot and killed in the driveway of his home in Waterdown several bullets were fired into Pat’s home. He escaped unharmed but it seemed clear that the Musitano’s were being targeted by a rival faction in this developing power grab. Investigators believe that Barberi was killed by mistake and the real target of the hit is still unknown.
In January authorities announced they believed several characteristics linked the Musitano and Barberi shootings. Multiple suspects were believed to have been involved in both cases. Witnesses had also described a similar looking gunman in both shootings along with a black Honda Civic Coupe. Another murder took place in Sept of a real estate agent named Albert Iavarone with links to organized crime and possibly these previous murders. A recent report of a mob hitman from Toronto named Daniele “Dani” Ranieri found dead in Mexico may also be linked to the potential power struggle. There has yet to be an arrest for the shooting of Pat Musitano’s home or the Iavarone and Ranieri murders.
The recent unrest and violence has left many unanswered questions which in turn have lead to plenty of theories. The potential players could include the Luppino crime family, Papalia crime family, and the Buffalo mafia family now referred to by some as the Todaro crime family from the America Mafia among others. Years ago the Buffalo Mafia family controlled much of the territory and mob activity in Southern Ontario. This has made them a key piece in many of the current discussions as to who may be behind the attacks on the Musitano’s.
Could the Todaro family once considered nearly defunct be more active and influential today than previously known? Are they still calling the shots in Southern Ontario and have given the green light to move out the Musitano family? Or is it just an internal Ontario mafia war between the local mafia families including the Papalia family and Luppino family just settling old accounts. There have also been reports of other New York Mafia families having new links in the area including the Bonanno crime family. Could they somehow still be involved up north? As of now, we have few facts but it will definitely be interesting to see how this plays out and if and when some of these questions get answered.
