Former hitman Frédérick Silva gave at least one murder contract while he was in prison, 18 months before becoming a police collaborator last summer.
This murder is that of Frantz Louis, a gang member shot and killed in his car, near his home on rue Fabre, in the Villeray district of Montreal, on November 19, 2020.
This is what we learn in a statement by Frédérick Silva filed during a procedure initiated by the murderers of Louis, that The Press obtained after applying to the Court.
PHOTO PATRICK SANFAÇON, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Scene of the murder of Frantz Louis, rue Fabre, November 19, 2020
Frédérick Silva, who served as a hitman for several organized crime factions, is serving a life sentence for three murders that occurred in the fall of 2018.
He committed these crimes while actively wanted by the police, before being arrested after two years on the run in February 2019.
During the summer of 2022, Silva turned around and is currently at the heart of a major investigation by the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) and the Sûreté du Québec (SQ).
This relates to several homicides – and other contracts – committed in recent years and could upset the current scene of organized crime in Montreal.
After his arrest in February 2019, Silva was incarcerated in the Montreal Detention Center (Bordeaux) and illegally possessed a cell phone. He admitted to having then given from prison at least one murder contract, that of Frantz Louis, alias Big Brother.
A $100,000 contract
To an SPVM investigator who questioned him during a filmed interrogation, Silva said he communicated, through an encrypted communication system, with Sacha Nelson César, nicknamed Kash, in November 2020, to give him the contract to shoot down Frantz Louis for $100,000.
Silva said he received the address and make of Frantz Louis’ car from an unknown person and gave this information to Nelson César. He also clarified to the latter that Louis was an early riser and that he followed a schedule.
“It’s 90% settled. It will be done by my young people,” Nelson César told Silva.
Send a message
Frédérick Silva also recounts having provided two firearms to Nelson César which were to be used for the murder: an AR-15 or M-4 assault rifle and a pistol, in case the first weapon “jams”.
“Why did you want it done with an assault weapon?” asks the policeman who is interrogating him.
“Because I wanted it to be a big message in the middle,” Silva replies.
“You weren’t afraid of having innocent victims?” “Adds the investigator.
“No, because it was in his car. I thought if the guy is doing well, he’s not supposed to touch anyone else. It’s a residential area, but if the guy shoots into his car, the bullets usually don’t come out of the car. »
PHOTO FILED IN COURT
Frantz Louis was in his BMW vehicle when an individual approached and shot several times at the driver’s door window.
“Did Kash use those weapons? “, continues the policeman.
I said there: “Pull the guy and throw it away [l’arme], I want to see her on the news.” I wanted her to be right next to the car, but I didn’t see her. Did he use it? I don’t know.
Frédérick Silva, former hitman
“In the middle, what is the impact of killing someone with a long weapon rather than a pistol? », asks the investigator again.
“You attack killers, so that there, you go to a higher level. [Ça démontre que] you have a wicked good team walking around with that. So that I find that it would have shaken them more “Explains Silva to the policeman, while describing the assault rifle he had delivered to Nelson Caesar.
“We want to close it there”
On November 19, 2020, Silva watches the television news in prison and learns that a man has been shot and killed on Rue Fabre. He communicates with Kash to tell him of his satisfaction, but does not ask him any questions, in particular about the weapon used.
“Why don’t you ask those questions? asks the investigator.
“Because we want to close it there. »
Until we get to toll [paiement], we try less and less to talk about it. We’re talking about murder here. After it’s paid, we change phones, we throw away all our phones.
Frédérick Silva, former hitman
Silva adds that he sent the $100,000 to Nelson Caesar soon after the crime.
But the next day, a spectacular twist: the police announce that one of the alleged murderers has been arrested.
Visibly displeased, Silva immediately communicates with Nelson César to ask him for an explanation.
Kash explains that “his guy’s guy” was arrested and reassures Silva that the shooter is “ok”.
“It’s up to you not to get caught”
Silva offers Nelson César to pay a starting sum to pay the lawyer of the arrested suspect, without giving him the name of a criminal lawyer, but adds that there is no question for him of financing the continuation of the procedures.
Kash replies that he didn’t dare to ask her, that he is grateful and asks her for $15,000.
“I would like you to think: ‘Look, I’m going to help you and I’m here for you.’ That’s kind of the goal. And me, that’s what I changed, the mentality to do that. I want my world to always be happy, ”explains Silva to the policeman who asks him why he offered Nelson César to pay the suspect’s lawyer initially, but not for the rest of the procedures.
“Because he’s not my straight guy. It’s a friend’s team, ”replies the former hitman.
“As a subcontractor? »
” Exactly. Out of respect, I offered him [de payer 15 000 $]. [Le reste] it would be up to him to pay, it’s his team. You’ve been paid, it’s up to you not to get caught, ”develops Frédérick Silva.
Mobile blurred
The motive for the murder of Frantz Louis is unclear when reading Silva’s statements.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY SPVM
Frantz Louis shortly after his arrest in a loan sharking and extortion case in July 2020
There is vague reference to groups or an alliance with or for which Frantz Louis worked, or individuals with whom he was associated.
When he was killed, Louis still had an active case before the courts of loan sharking and extortion on behalf of a major player in the Montreal Mafia.
Sacha Nelson César was assassinated in turn 12 days after Frantz Louis, in Laval. The motive is still unknown.
Emanuell Hunte Roberts and Andrew Thomas Labrèche were convicted of the premeditated murder of Frantz Louis by a jury last May and sentenced to life in prison without eligibility for parole for 25 years.
Labrèche, however, challenges the constitutionality of the mandatory sentence for premeditated murder.
The weapon used to kill Frantz Louis was not one of those delivered by Frédérick Silva to Sacha Nelson César.
To reach Daniel Renaud, dial 514 285-7000, ext. 4918, write to [email protected] or write to the postal address of The Press.