Latest news with #CorrectionalServiceCanada
Montreal Gazette
2 days ago
- Montreal Gazette
Alleged Montreal Mafia member qualifies for release, but remains detained as a murder suspect
Montreal Crime By An alleged member of the Montreal Mafia has automatically qualified for a release on the sentence he received for stabbing a man in Old Montreal, but he will remain behind bars because of his recent arrest as a suspect in one of the murder investigations that produced the arrests earlier this month of several organized crime figures. In a decision this week, the Parole Board of Canada decided to impose several conditions on the statutory released of Nicola Spagnolo, 50, including a requirement that he reside at a halfway house and that he respect a curfew. Spagnolo was denied parole in November, but an offender serving time in a federal penitentiary automatically qualifies for a release after they reach the two-thirds mark of their sentence if they haven't been previously granted parole. Spagnolo is serving a three-year sentence for the stabbing that left the victim badly injured. On Aug. 1, 2020, he was outside a bar in Old Montreal when the man, who was drunk, began making comments about Spagnolo to a woman who was nearby. The conditions imposed by the board appear to be moot as Spagnolo was arrested on June 12, along with alleged Montreal Mafia leaders like Leonardo Rizzuto, 56, and Stefano Sollecito, 57, in Project Alliance, an investigation into six Mob-tied homicides and conspiracies to commit murder based on information supplied by Frédérick Silva, a former hit man who decided to become a prosecution witness. Following his arrest while inside a federal penitentiary two weeks ago, Spagnolo appeared by video conference at the Montreal courthouse where he was charged with the first-degree murder of Lorenzo LoPresti, who was killed in the St-Laurent borough on Oct. 24, 2011. At the time, a coalition had formed in an effort to take control of the Montreal Mafia from the Rizzuto organization. According to police sources, LoPresti appeared to be acting as a righthand man to one of the leaders of the coalition. Six other men, including Rizzuto and Sollecito, are also charged with the murder. All seven men are also charged with conspiring with Silva to kill LoPresti and seven other men with alleged ties to the Mafia between 2011 and 2019. Included on that list of targets are men who were killed, like Moreno Gallo, and some who survived the underworld conflict, like Raynald Desjardins. Two men accused of LoPresti's murder and with taking part in the conspiracy — Sasha Krolik, 56, of Montreal, and Sollecito's brother Mario, 54, of Laval — have yet to be arrested. The next court date for the charges filed in Project Alliance is set for Sept. 9. 'According to Correctional Service Canada (CSC), you are an active member of a security threat group or organized crime, and your environment exposes you to criminality. You have denied your affiliation, but the CSC indicates you have such official affiliation,' the parole board noted in a written summary of its recent decision on Spagnolo's statutory release. 'The board finds that the exposure to negative associates in your community is a factor which increases your risk of violent recidivism. Notably, according to the CSC you are an active member of a security threat group, which makes you vulnerable to criminal associations who endorse use of violence and weapons. You have not stayed away from negative associates while incarcerated, either, which is a poor predictor of your ability to stay away from criminal associates outside of the prison.'
CTV News
2 days ago
- CTV News
Lockdown, search ended at Dorchester Penitentiary
A multi-week lockdown put in place at a federal correctional facility in New Brunswick has ended. Correctional Service Canada (CSC) says the medium security unit at Dorchester Penitentiary was locked down on June 9 to allow staff members to conduct a search of the prison. 'The institution has resumed its normal operations and visits have resumed,' reads a news release from CSC. 'During the exceptional search, contraband and unauthorized items were found.' The lockdown came after officers seized more than half a million dollars of contraband at the penitentiary on June 2. CSC said officers found a package containing the contraband on the perimeter of the prison. Officials said the items seized included methamphetamine, marijuana, shatter, nicotine patches and tobacco, with an estimated institutional value of $534,100. They suspect the contraband was dropped by a drone. CSC says it is strengthening measures to prevent the entry of contraband into its institutions and is working with police to take action against those who attempt to have contraband brought into correctional institutions. For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
CTV News
5 days ago
- CTV News
Convicted killer, 62, escapes from Archambault Institution in Quebec
Richard Plourde, 62, as seen in a handout. (CSC) Correctional Service Canada says a convicted killer has escaped from a prison in Quebec's Laurentians region. Staff discovered Richard Plourde was missing from his minimum security unit at about 11 p.m. Sunday. The 62-year-old was serving a life sentence for second-degree murder at Archambault Institution. He has a fair complexion, brown eyes and grey hair. He also has a tattoo of a skull bone and a hand on his right shoulder, a rose on his abdomen and the letters R.P. on his right arm. The federal agency says it has contacted Quebec provincial police who have issued a warrant for Plourde's arrest. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 23, 2025.
Vancouver Sun
5 days ago
- Vancouver Sun
Convicted killer, 62, escapes from minimum security prison in Quebec
Correctional Service Canada says a convicted killer has escaped from a prison in Quebec's Laurentians region. Staff discovered Richard Plourde was missing from his minimum security unit at about 11 p.m. Sunday. The 62-year-old was serving a life sentence for second-degree murder at Archambault Institution. He has a fair complexion, brown eyes and grey hair. He also has a tattoo of a skull bone and a hand on his right shoulder, a rose on his abdomen and the letters R.P. on his right arm. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. The federal agency says it has contacted Quebec provincial police who have issued a warrant for Plourde's arrest. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 23, 2025. Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here .
Toronto Sun
5 days ago
- Toronto Sun
Convicted killer, 62, escapes from Archambault Institution in Quebec
Richard Plourde is serving a life sentence for second-degree murder Published Jun 23, 2025 • Last updated 4 minutes ago • < 1 minute read Convicted killer Richard Plourde, 62, is serving time at Archambault Institution in Ste-Anne-des-Plaines. Photo by Correctional Service of Canada MONTREAL — Correctional Service Canada says a convicted killer has escaped from a prison in Quebec's Laurentians region. Staff discovered Richard Plourde was missing from his minimum security unit at about 11 p.m. Sunday. The 62-year-old was serving a life sentence for second-degree murder at Archambault Institution. He has a fair complexion, brown eyes and grey hair. He also has a tattoo of a skull bone and a hand on his right shoulder, a rose on his abdomen and the letters R.P. on his right arm. The federal agency says it has contacted Quebec provincial police who have issued a warrant for Plourde's arrest. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Toronto & GTA Toronto Maple Leafs Toronto & GTA NBA Toronto Blue Jays
