Mafia Godfather Nicolo Rizzuto Dies In Montreal Mansion
Montreal, Quebec, Canada (AHN) – Mafia godfather Nicolo Rizzuto was killed in his own Montreal mansion Wednesday. Reports said the 86-year old patriarch was shot 5:45 p.m. at his residence on Antoine-Berthelet Avenue. Two women were said to be present when Rizzuto was gunned down.
Rizzuto, an immigrant from Sicily, Italy, arrived in Montreal in the 1950s, but fled to Caracas, Venezuela in the early 1970s to escape a murder attempt on him by rival Italian Mafia boss Paolo Violi. When Violi and his two brothers were assassinated in the late 1970s, Rizzuto became the leader of the clan, known for its drug trafficking activities.
His heir apparent, 64-year old son Vito Rizzuto, is in a New York prison for a 1982 triple murder and is slated for release in 2012. Because of Vito’s jail term, Nicolo had to reassume leading the clan, which earlier this year lost another member when grandson Nick Rizzuto was shot dead while standing beside his car.
Rizzuto has previously been jailed for racketeering and tax evasion.
Mafia experts said that while Vito may stage a comeback after his release from prison, the clan has been decimated and is no longer considered an influential one in the Mafia world. The experts believe criminal groups who had previously clashed with the Rizzuto clan are behind the death of the godfather.
These groups want to seize control of the illegal drug trade, construction industry and extortion business once held firmly by the Rizzutos.
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