Original Gangsters Podcast · Original Gangsters, a True Crime Talk Podcast

Montreal Mafia Don Leo Rizzuto Remains In Command From Behind Bars

·53 min·3 clips

It was a making ceremony done via a communications device on a FaceTime, and it served as a state of the union with Leo Rizzuto and Pete D'Adamo addressing the organization.

Host Scott Bernstein and Montreal expert Ken Pereira analyze the Rizzuto crime family's response to a major bust that jailed Godfather Leo Rizzuto and top leaders. They examine whether this signals the end of the dynasty or a strategic transition. Pereira, a former labor union leader, provides insider perspective on Montreal's underworld. The hosts confirm a secret meeting was held in St. Leonard about 10-15 days after the June 2025 arrests, organized via FaceTime from prison. Upwards of two dozen members attended, including some who had never met, revealing the organization's compartmentalized structure. Leo Rizzuto and his right-hand man, Pete D'Adamo, communicated they would continue running operations from behind bars. At least half a dozen individuals were formally "made" during this gathering, including members of a regulatory body called "the Union" established in late 2024. Notably, longtime senior figure Compare Frank Arcadi chose not to attend, sending his representative "Mini-Me" instead. A key insight is that Rizzuto's declaration asserts control not just over the streets, but also over the prison's internal power structure. The meeting served to boost morale and affirm loyalty, countering widespread media obituaries for the family. The hosts reveal D'Adamo's rapid rise from driver and muscle to a top leadership role, partly due to his romantic relationship with Rizzuto's sister, an attorney. They draw a line from a failed 2023 assassination attempt on Leo Rizzuto to the subsequent killing of the perpetrator, Chet Del Basso, within six months. The episode notes the calculated nature of the arrests, with D'Adamo being taken off the street first in a March gun case. Pereira emphasizes that Rizzuto's move to make new members *before* the bust suggests advanced preparation and three-dimensional chess. The discussion highlights the resilient, decades-long partnership and recent peace brokered between the Rizzutos and the Hells Angels, led by Marty Robert. The tone is conversational and analytical, blending breaking news with deep historical context and insider sources. Bernstein and Pereira correct their own past predictions, fostering a sense of real-time investigation and credibility. This episode is ideal for true crime enthusiasts fascinated by Mafia logistics, power dynamics, and contemporary Canadian organized crime. Listeners interested in the tactical realities of running a criminal empire from prison will find it compelling. Those seeking a finished narrative or conclusive ending might skip it, as the situation remains actively unfolding.

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