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Time of India
06-07-2025
- Time of India
Mafia prince turned lawyer Leonardo Rizzuto arrested in massive Quebec crime raid, bar suspends licence
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel The Barreau du Québec has provisionally suspended the law license of prominent lawyer Leonardo Rizzuto , effective July 2, following his arrest in a sweeping police operation targeting organized 56, was licensed in 1999 and practiced in Montreal and Laval. He is the youngest son of the late Vito Rizzuto, once Montreal's most powerful Mafia boss, and is believed to currently lead the infamous Rizzuto crime family About 150 officers from the Montreal Police (SPVM) and the Sûreté du Québec executed coordinated raids in cities across Quebec as part of "Project Alliance," a three-year investigation into organized crime. The operation led to 11 arrests of men aged 27–57 with alleged ties to the Italian Mafia, the Hells Angels, and street and six others were charged with first-degree murder in the 2011 killing of alleged Montreal Mafia member Lorenzo Lopresti . All 11 suspects are accused of involvement in multiple murders or attempted murders between 2011 and 2021, either as perpetrators or Article 122.0.1 of Quebec's Code of Professions, any lawyer charged with offenses carrying sentences of five years or more must face licence suspension to protect public trust. The Barreau's disciplinary council acted swiftly after Rizzuto was charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder. While the suspension is temporary, it bars him from practicing law or using the title "lawyer" during criminal carries a heavy name; his father, Vito 'Teflon Don' Rizzuto, once led Canada's most powerful Mafia network until he died in 2013. The Rizzuto lineage dates back to Nicolo Rizzuto, who in the 1970s seized Montreal's Sicilian Mafia leadership amid violent turf a press conference, SQ Chief Insp. Marc Charbonneau called the arrests a 'major blow… one of the most significant operations in recent decades'. Deputy director Benoit Dubé emphasized how the probe provided closure for victims' families:'Every act of violence … police joined together … to give some answers back to the families.'Retired detective André Gélinas described Rizzuto's arrest as symbolic, effectively decapitating the Rizzuto family's leadership.
CTV News
05-07-2025
- CTV News
Quebec bar suspends law licence of alleged Mafia leader Leonardo Rizzuto
MONTREAL — MONTREAL — Quebec's bar association has suspended the lawyer's licence of Leonardo Rizzuto, who was one of 11 people arrested last month in a police operation targeting organized crime. The Barreau du Québec announced this week that it had provisionally suspended Rizzuto's licence as of July 2. The 56-year-old is the son of the late crime boss Vito Rizzuto and the presumed head of one of Canada's most notorious crime families. He and six other men have been charged with first-degree murder in the 2011 killing of alleged Montreal Mafia member Lorenzo Lopresti. The joint police operation last month by Montreal and Quebec provincial police led to the arrest of 11 men between 27 and 57 years old, who police allege are associated with the Mafia, the Hells Angels and street gangs. The suspects allegedly participated in several murders and attempted murders between 2011 and 2021. The suspension said Rizzuto, who obtained his licence in 1999, had practised law in Montreal and Laval. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 5, 2025.
Global News
05-07-2025
- Global News
Quebec bar suspends law licence of alleged Mafia leader Leonardo Rizzuto
Quebec's bar association has suspended the lawyer's licence of Leonardo Rizzuto, who was one of 11 people arrested last month in a police operation targeting organized crime. The Barreau du Québec announced this week that it had provisionally suspended Rizzuto's licence as of July 2. The 56-year-old is the son of the late crime boss Vito Rizzuto and the presumed head of one of Canada's most notorious crime families. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy He and six other men have been charged with first-degree murder in the 2011 killing of alleged Montreal Mafia member Lorenzo Lopresti. The joint police operation last month by Montreal and Quebec provincial police led to the arrest of 11 men between 27 and 57 years old, who police allege are associated with the Mafia, the Hells Angels and street gangs. Story continues below advertisement The suspects allegedly participated in several murders and attempted murders between 2011 and 2021. The suspension said Rizzuto, who obtained his licence in 1999, had practised law in Montreal and Laval.
Montreal Gazette
04-07-2025
- Montreal Gazette
Alleged Montreal Mafia leader Leonardo Rizzuto's law license suspended by Quebec bar
By Weeks after the Rizzuto organization was hit by a major police investigation, the alleged leader of the Montreal Mafia has been suspended from practicing law. On July 2, the Barreau du Québec, the regulatory body for Quebec lawyers, ordered the immediate suspension of Rizzuto's legal license. He is accused of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder, which are grounds for suspension under the Professional Code of Quebec. Under Article 122.0.1, if a professional is accused of a crime that could lead to five years or more in prison, and it is believed the charges are linked to their professional work, authorities can request the disciplinary council to suspend their license while the case is being reviewed.
