Rocco Sollecito

Rocco Sollecito (Italian: [ˈrɔkko solˈleːtʃito]; June 9, 1948 – May 27, 2016) was an Italian-Canadian underboss of the Rizzuto crime family based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Biography

Sollecito was born in Bari, Italy.[1] Sollecito was believed to be one of the "top five figures" within the Rizzuto family and was responsible for deals within the construction industry.[1] He was arrested on November 22, 2006, along with dozens of others including Nicolo Rizzuto, Paolo Renda, Francesco Arcadi, Lorenzo Giordano and Francesco Del Balso, as part of Project Colisée.[2]

Sollecito pled guilty in September 2008 to "general conspiracy to commit extortion, bookmaking, illegal gaming as well as being in possession of the proceeds of crime" and was sentenced to eight years imprisonment, though he was released in the summer of 2011.[3][4][5] His son, Stefano, and Vito Rizzuto's son, Leonardo, are believed to be the heads of the Mafia in Montreal, who were both arrested and charged with drug trafficking and gangsterism in November 2015.[1][6] On February 19, 2018, they were released from prison, acquitted of charges of gangsterism and conspiracy to traffic cocaine.[7]

Death

Sollecito was shot to death in Laval around 08:30 ET on May 27, 2016, while driving a white BMW SUV.[8] He was 67 years old at the time of his death.[1]

Sollecito's death is believed to be part of dismantling the older generation of the Rizzuto family.[9] Sollecito's death occurred just months after the death of Rizzuto confidant, Lorenzo "Skunk" Giordano, who was shot to death in a parking lot in Laval.[8][10]

On October 17, 2019, Jonathan Massari, Dominico Scarfo, Guy Dion and Marie-Josée Viau, were arrested and charged with planning and executing the murders of Sollecito and Giordano.[11]

References
  1. "Major figure in Montreal Mafia gunned down". The Globe and Mail. 2016-05-27. Retrieved 2016-05-27.
  2. "Mafia leader assassinated in Laval". CTV. 2016-05-27. Retrieved 2016-05-27.
  3. "Six Plead Guilty: Rounded up during cops' Project Colisée". Canada.com. 2008-09-19. Archived from the original on 2009-02-23. Retrieved 2016-05-27.
  4. Renaud, Daniel (2012-10-16). "Vito Rizzuto retrouve un allié de taille". La Presse (in French). Retrieved 2016-05-27.
  5. "Aging Montreal mob boss set to walk free". Canada.com. 2008-10-16. Archived from the original on 2009-02-23. Retrieved 2016-05-27.
  6. "Montreal Mafia: Judge denies bail for Leonardo Rizzuto, grants it for Sollecito". montrealgazette.com. 15 June 2016.
  7. "Mob-linked Leonardo Rizzuto to answer to weapons, drug charges in March". montrealgazette. 23 February 2018.
  8. "Rocco Sollecito, reputed high-ranking Montreal Mafia member, killed in Laval". CBC. 2016-05-27. Retrieved 2016-05-27.
  9. "Rocco Sollecito's shooting part of 'final cleanup' of Montreal Mafia's old guard". CBC. 2016-05-27. Retrieved 2016-05-27.
  10. "Rizzuto 'underboss' shot dead in Laval". CBC. 2016-03-01. Retrieved 2015-05-27.
  11. "Four arrested in four Mafia killings that targeted Rizzuto clan". montrealgazette.com. October 17, 2019.
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