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Montreal Gazette
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Montreal Gazette
Opinion: Automatic release must be reformed for cases involving organized crime
Op Eds Montreal is in the middle of a quiet war. On one side, law enforcement scores rare wins like the June 12 arrests of alleged Mafia leaders including Leonardo Rizzuto and Stefano Sollecito in a sweeping police operation across Quebec. On the other, violence keeps erupting in incidents such as the fatal shooting of a man in a Brossard park on July 2, which Longueuil police said may have been gang-related. The problem isn't that police aren't doing their job. It's that the law keeps handing criminal networks a second life. Take Nicola Spagnolo. An alleged associate of the Rizzuto clan, he was serving time for a 2020 stabbing. He had been turned down for parole due in part to affiliations with organized crime denied by Spagnolo but noted by Correctional Service Canada (CSC). And yet, under Section 127 of the Corrections and Conditional Release Act (CCRA), he automatically qualified for release after serving two-thirds of his sentence — until he was arrested in June as a murder suspect in the same case as Rizzuto and Sollecito, while he was still behind bars. If no new charges had been filed, he would have walked free. This is not a flaw. It is a design failure. The CCRA's statutory release mechanism was built on ideals of rehabilitation and reintegration. But in cases involving links to organized crime, those ideals are being exploited. CSC's assessments flagged Spagnolo as 'an active member of a security threat group or organized crime.' Yet legally, that status wasn't enough to deny his release — because in Canada, an assessment of affiliation with organized crime alone does not qualify as a sufficient reason to override statutory release. This must change. Parliament should amend Section 127 to create an exception to automatic release for individuals with links to organized crime. This exception should not be based on subjective suspicion, but on clear CSC assessments, intelligence, and behavioural records while in custody. This is about protecting the public, not punishing indefinitely. In addition, Canada should implement a national threat profile registry, which would classify inmates based on their operational risk rather than just their criminal record. This registry would allow authorities to consider gang membership, leadership roles and persistent criminal associations in evaluating release eligibility. Similar models are already used in certain situations in jurisdictions like Germany and the Netherlands. Moreover, release should not mean freedom without oversight. Canada's statutory-release system does permit curfews, halfway-house residency and other conditions, yet safeguards are limited when release itself is mandatory. For individuals flagged under the proposed registry, electronic monitoring, communication bans and mandatory reintegration plans would be imposed for at least the duration of the original sentence. Reintegration isn't passive — it requires structured conditions and accountability. Provincial prosecutors should also be empowered to contest statutory releases when public safety is at stake. Currently, their involvement in release procedures is minimal, yet they are the most familiar with the real-life consequences of letting violent gang members return to the same neighbourhoods they helped destabilize. Beyond legal reform, there's a societal dimension. Communities affected by violence are not just crime scenes — they are often left to pay the price for legal leniency. Residents lose faith in public institutions when the same names cycle through headlines and courtrooms year after year. Fighting organized crime must include breaking the cycle of predictable impunity. Montreal cannot afford to wage war on organized crime with laws that seem designed for first-time offenders. This is not about being tough on crime — it's about being smart on structural threats. Organized criminal networks exploit every loophole available. It is time the law stopped helping them. We need sentencing legislation that reflects the complexity of modern criminal networks, prioritizes sustained community protection and restores trust in the justice system. For that to happen, automatic release for documented members of organized crime must end. Anything less is an invitation to repeat the same cycle, with more victims next time.
Montreal Gazette
26-06-2025
- 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.'
San Francisco Chronicle
28-05-2025
- San Francisco Chronicle
Man charged in Connecticut mall shooting that wounded 5 as lawyer claims self-defense
A 19-year-old man was charged with assault and weapons crimes after he allegedly shot five people at a Connecticut mall during a dispute, authorities said Wednesday. Tajuan Washington, who was free on $20,000 bail on unrelated motor vehicle charges, drove to police headquarters while officers were surveilling him and surrendered following Tuesday's shooting at the Brass Mill Center in Waterbury, city Police Chief Fernando Spagnolo said during a news conference. The injuries were not life-threatening, officials said. The shooting shortly after 4:30 p.m. sent mall patrons scrambling for safety. Dozens of law enforcement officers responded and searched the mall for hours. Police identified Washington on security video, seeing him leave the mall and drive away, then surveilled his home, Spagnolo said. Washington was ordered detained on $2 million bond as he was arraigned in court Wednesday on charges including first-degree assault, criminal use of a weapon, illegal discharge of a firearm and risk of injury to children. His lawyer, public defender Justin Chan, said he believed Washington was defending himself and added Washington had been traumatized by losing a relative to gun violence. Chan also said there were no convictions on Washington's record. Lawrence Adler, a lawyer for Washington on the motor vehicle charges that include interfering with police, said Washington denies those allegations and called the case insignificant. He said he did not know much about the mall shooting. 'There's nothing about his past to lead anyone to say this kid's on a path to hurting people,' Adler said. Waterbury Mayor Paul Pernerewski Jr. said three people have been discharged from the hospital and two were still being treated. The person most seriously injured, a woman who was shot in the spine, had regained some feeling in her extremities, and officials were hoping she isn't permanently paralyzed, he said. Washington and a man who was with four young women got into a dispute, and Washington pulled a pistol, Pernerewski said. 'It was in effect two young men who knew each other, had a history and a past,' the mayor said. The city was shaken but not broken, Pernerewski said. 'This is a strong city, and we are very much standing together in times of crisis," he said. "We support and we care for one another.' Spagnolo did not release details of the dispute, saying it was not entirely clear but police had some idea what it was about. Spagnolo said evidence indicated the shooter used a .40-caliber handgun, which had not been found. Police with a search warrant seized two rifles and found ammunition at Washington's home that matched ammunition at the mall, Spagnolo said. Police surveilling Washington's home followed him as he drove to police headquarters to report he had been involved in the dispute, Spagnolo said. It was shocking that a dispute that might have just been a fistfight became a shooting instead, Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont said at the news conference. 'Someone pulls out a semiautomatic and shoots seven rounds and badly wounds five people like that — just like that,' Lamont said. Police and witnesses described the chaos of people crying and running, others locking themselves inside areas of the mall, and swarms of police searching for the shooter. Jayvon Turner told WFSB-TV that one of the victims was bleeding heavily. 'It was crazy, and I tried to tell everybody to get out of there," he said. Court records show Washington was accepted into a probation program earlier this year for another set of charges, which have been sealed from public view under the state law for that program, which is generally for first-time offenders. In October, local media reported that Washington was arrested by state police on allegations of driving more than 100 mph (160 kph) on Interstate 84 in Southington. State police said Washington sped away from a trooper who tried to pull him over, and the trooper ended the pursuit for safety reasons. He was later arrested when police traced the speeding car's registration to his home, troopers said.
28-05-2025
Man charged in Connecticut mall shooting that wounded 5
A 19-year-old man was charged with assault and weapons crimes after he allegedly shot five people at a Connecticut mall during a dispute, authorities said Wednesday. Tajuan Washington, who was free on $20,000 bail on unrelated motor vehicle charges, drove to police headquarters under police surveillance and surrendered following Tuesday's shooting at the Brass Mill Center in Waterbury, city Police Chief Fernando Spagnolo said during a news conference. The injuries were not life-threatening, officials said. The shooting shortly after 4:30 p.m. sent mall patrons scrambling for safety. Dozens of law enforcement officers responded and searched the mall for hours. Police identified Washington on security video, seeing him leave the mall and drive away, Spagnolo said. Washington was detained on $2 million bond and was expected to appear in court Wednesday. It was not immediately clear if he had a lawyer for the shooting case who could respond to the allegations. Lawrence Adler, a lawyer for Washington on the motor vehicle charges that include interfering with police, said Washington denies those allegations and called the case insignificant. He said he did not know much about the mall shooting. 'There's nothing about his past to lead anyone to say this kid's on a path to hurting people,' Adler said. Waterbury Mayor Paul Pernerewski Jr. said three people have been discharged from the hospital and two were still being treated. The person most seriously injured, a woman who was shot in the spine, had regained some feeling in her extremities and officials were hoping she isn't permanently paralyzed, he said. Washington and a man who was with four young women got into a dispute and Washington pulled a pistol, Pernerewski said. 'It was in effect two young men who knew each other, had a history and a past,' the mayor said. The city was shaken but not broken, Pernerewski said. 'This is a strong city, and we are very much standing together in times of crisis," he said. "We support and we care for one another.' Spagnolo did not release details of the dispute, saying it was not entirely clear but police had some idea what it was about. Spagnolo said evidence indicated the shooter used a .40-caliber handgun, which had not been found. Police with a search warrant seized two rifles and found ammunition at Washington's home that matched some ammunition at the mall, Spagnolo said. Police surveilling Washington's home followed him as he drove to police headquarters to report he had been involved in the dispute, Spagnolo said. It was shocking that a dispute that might have just been a fistfight became a shooting instead, Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont said at the news conference. 'Someone pulls out a semiautomatic and shoots seven rounds and badly wounds five people like that — just like that,' Lamont said. Police and witnesses described the chaos of people crying and running, others locking themselves inside areas of the mall, and swarms of police searching for the shooter. Jayvon Turner told WFSB-TV that one of the victims was bleeding heavily. 'It was crazy and I tried to tell everybody to get out of there," he said. Court records show Washington was accepted into a probation program earlier this year for another set of charges, which have been sealed from public view under the state law for that program, which is generally for first-time offenders. The Brass Mill Center is located off Interstate 84 in Waterbury, about 30 miles (about 50 kilometers) southwest of Hartford, the state capital. Spagnolo said police have used the mall for active shooter drills in the past, and that helped officers during the response.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Man charged in Connecticut mall shooting that wounded 5
A 19-year-old man was charged with assault and weapons crimes after he allegedly shot five people at a Connecticut mall during a dispute, authorities said Wednesday. Tajuan Washington, who was free on $20,000 bail on unrelated motor vehicle charges, drove to police headquarters under police surveillance and surrendered following Tuesday's shooting at the Brass Mill Center in Waterbury, city Police Chief Fernando Spagnolo said during a news conference. The injuries were not life-threatening, officials said. The shooting shortly after 4:30 p.m. sent mall patrons scrambling for safety. Dozens of law enforcement officers responded and searched the mall for hours. Police identified Washington on security video, seeing him leave the mall and drive away, Spagnolo said. Washington was detained on $2 million bond and was expected to appear in court Wednesday. It was not immediately clear if he had a lawyer for the shooting case who could respond to the allegations. Lawrence Adler, a lawyer for Washington on the motor vehicle charges that include interfering with police, said Washington denies those allegations and called the case insignificant. He said he did not know much about the mall shooting. 'There's nothing about his past to lead anyone to say this kid's on a path to hurting people,' Adler said. Waterbury Mayor Paul Pernerewski Jr. said three people have been discharged from the hospital and two were still being treated. The person most seriously injured, a woman who was shot in the spine, had regained some feeling in her extremities and officials were hoping she isn't permanently paralyzed, he said. Washington and a man who was with four young women got into a dispute and Washington pulled a pistol, Pernerewski said. 'It was in effect two young men who knew each other, had a history and a past,' the mayor said. The city was shaken but not broken, Pernerewski said. 'This is a strong city, and we are very much standing together in times of crisis," he said. "We support and we care for one another.' Spagnolo did not release details of the dispute, saying it was not entirely clear but police had some idea what it was about. Spagnolo said evidence indicated the shooter used a .40-caliber handgun, which had not been found. Police with a search warrant seized two rifles and found ammunition at Washington's home that matched some ammunition at the mall, Spagnolo said. Police surveilling Washington's home followed him as he drove to police headquarters to report he had been involved in the dispute, Spagnolo said. It was shocking that a dispute that might have just been a fistfight became a shooting instead, Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont said at the news conference. 'Someone pulls out a semiautomatic and shoots seven rounds and badly wounds five people like that — just like that,' Lamont said. Police and witnesses described the chaos of people crying and running, others locking themselves inside areas of the mall, and swarms of police searching for the shooter. Jayvon Turner told WFSB-TV that one of the victims was bleeding heavily. 'It was crazy and I tried to tell everybody to get out of there," he said. Court records show Washington was accepted into a probation program earlier this year for another set of charges, which have been sealed from public view under the state law for that program, which is generally for first-time offenders. The Brass Mill Center is located off Interstate 84 in Waterbury, about 30 miles (about 50 kilometers) southwest of Hartford, the state capital. Spagnolo said police have used the mall for active shooter drills in the past, and that helped officers during the response.
