The scene takes place on March 23, 2023, at 10:18 p.m., at gate 55 of international departures at Trudeau Airport.
Alone, Francesco Del Balso is preparing to leave the country with a one-way ticket to Italy.
A week earlier, Leonardo Rizzuto, youngest son of the late mafia godfather Vito Rizzuto, was the victim of a spectacular murder attempt on Highway 440 in Laval.
PHOTO OLIVIER JEAN, THE PRESS
Projectiles passed through the front window, on the driver’s side, of the Mercedes driven by Leonardo Rizzuto.
Sûreté du Québec investigators suspect Del Balso of having ordered and organized the attack, according to court documents filed and testimonies heard during the proceedings of the two individuals accused of shooting Rizzuto, Kevin Rochebrun and Steve Emmanuel Barthélémy.
On March 23, the police intercepted Del Balso at the airport for their investigation into the attack against Rizzuto and seized his phone and passport.
They also have a discussion with him.
The famous book again
From the outset, Del Balso defends himself and says that during the attempted murder, he was on vacation in Cuba.
But Del Balso being Del Balso, he doesn’t stop there.
He explains to the police that before the Colisée investigation, through which the RCMP decapitated the Rizzuto clan in 2006, he had the “book” (the book of illegal sports betting and mafia usurious loans), which he made millions, but that it made some people jealous.
PHOTO FRANÇOIS ROY, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Francesco Del Balso at the time of his arrest during Operation Colosseum, November 2006
After his arrest in connection with Colosseum, he claimed to have given the book to others because he wanted to take the path to legitimacy and was already making a lot of money legally.
“Who did you give it to?” “, asked the police.
“Fuckin Leo, Steve [Stefano Sollecito] and Mini-Me [Carmelo Cannistraro] “, Del Balso replied, clenching his fists, adding a fourth name that the police did not understand.
When he left the penitentiary, Del Balso wanted to take up the book again, but he was turned down.
“Who refused? “, asked the police again.
“You know who I’m talking about,” Del Balso replied.
A price on his head for $400,000
Del Balso then spoke of the attempted murder of which he was the victim in November 2022 near his home in Laval, and said that the contract on his head was for $400,000.
PHOTO ALAIN ROBERGE, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Francesco Del Balso narrowly escaped death when his Lexus SUV was riddled with bullets near his home in Laval in November 2022.
He said the killer came to him and demanded $500,000 to tell him who had put a contract on his head, but Del Balso said he sent him away.
When police asked him why he wanted to leave the country so quickly, Del Balso said he had booked his ticket a long time ago, before adding: “Do you think I really had a choice to leave?” »
He was shot and killed two and a half months later.
Both defendants plead guilty
Police believe the attempted murder of Del Balso in fall 2022, the attack on Leonardo Rizzuto in March 2023, and the murder of Del Balso 11 weeks later had as their backdrop a conflict between the Sicilian mafia clan Montreal and the Hells Angels of the Montreal section for control of the “book” still held by the mafia.
PHOTO ALAIN ROBERGE, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Leonardo Rizzuto, younger son of the late mafia boss Vito Rizzuto, in February 2019
The police suspected Del Balso of having rented at least one vehicle which was used by individuals to monitor Leonardo Rizzuto seated in a café in Laval during the afternoon of March 15 and to open fire on the youngest son of the former mafia boss shortly after.
Friday, these two individuals, Kevin Rochebrun and Steve Emmanuel Barthélémy, pleaded guilty at the Joliette courthouse.
PHOTO PROVIDED
Kevin Rochebrun
Rochebrun, 33, who was the shooter, pleaded guilty to attempted murder, being in a vehicle knowing there was a firearm and breaking a prescription.
Judge Éric Côté of the Court of Quebec endorsed a joint suggestion from the Prosecution and the Defense and sentenced him to ten years in penitentiary. But subtracting the time spent in preventive detention, he has a little more than eight and a half years left to serve.
PHOTO PROVIDED
Steve Emmanuel Barthélémy
Barthélémy, 35, who was the driver, pleaded guilty to one count of discharging a firearm and being in a vehicle knowing a firearm was inside.
He was sentenced to five years in prison, but has just over three and a half years left to serve.
To contact Daniel Renaud, call 514 285-7000, ext. 4918, write to [email protected] or write to the postal address of The Press.