The Rizzuto Clan Under Siege: Trial Dates, Fugitive Capture, and Attacks on the Streets

 ​Legal and violent pressure is mounting for the Rizzuto Clan: trial dates are set, a fugitive has been caught, and external attacks are escalating.

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Last week, Quebec Superior Court Justice Yvan Poulin confirmed the planned trial schedule stemming from the extensive Project Alliance investigation. The prosecution is proceeding with a series of trials split among the 16 defendants charged. This series of proceedings officially kicks off with the trial of Patrick Gilbert, a former member of the Moors MC, which is slated to run from September 9th to November 6th of next year. Gilbert is charged with the 2012 murder of Domenico Facchini and attempted murder of Vito D'Orazio.

(Leonardo Rizzuto & Stefano Sollecito)

​The most anticipated and high-profile proceeding, however, involves the alleged leadership itself. This second major trial, slated to begin once Gilbert’s concludes, is scheduled for a lengthy six-month run, starting on November 16, 2026, and concluding on May 15, 2027 for the murder of Lorenzo LoPresti and several murder conspiracies. Those facing these charges are Leonardo Rizzuto, Stefano Sollecito, Mario Sollecito, Vito Salvaggio, Nicola Spagnolo, Sacha Krolik, and Michel Cliche. 

(Sacha Krolik)

​With the conclusion of the Rizzuto/Sollecito proceeding set for May 2027, the court calendar includes two final trials scheduled for August 30, 2027, and December 23, 2027. However, the focus now shifts onto those still escaping justice. At the time of the initial arrests, five suspects were wanted: Sacha Krolik, Mario Sollecito, Gianpietro Tiberio, Jean-Ismel Zéphir, and Pierry Philogène. Police pressure has been relentless: Philogène was captured earlier this year in British Columbia, and this past weekend, Project Alliance fugitive Sacha Krolik was arrested in Dubai, as reported by La Presse this morning. Krolik is a particularly significant capture as he faces the exact same first-degree murder and conspiracy charges as Leonardo Rizzuto and Stefano Sollecito, and was slated to be one of the seven defendants in the November 2026 trial. The remaining three fugitives, Sollecito (suspected to be in Italy), Zéphir (suspected to be in Haiti), and Tiberio remain the target of active arrest warrants.

(Gianpietro Tiberio, Jean-Ismel Zephir, Mario Sollecito)

Despite the significant legal victories for police, attacks on the street continue to persist. The most alarming recent violence involved a brazen act of aggression a few weeks ago, where an unknown gunman fired shots toward the courtyard of the Rivière-des-Prairies detention centre. This incident occurred while alleged clan members were reportedly outside, and police later recovered an AR-15 rifle, shell casings, and photos of Rizzuto Clan members near the scene. A main theory circulated in media reports at the time was that this shooting was orchestrated to force a prison transfer for certain inmates, a maneuver which was subsequently carried out.

(Pietro D'Adamo, Marco Pizzi, Davide Barberio, Vito Salvaggio)

The organization has also been faced with an ongoing wave of violent attacks aimed businesses with ties to the Rizzuto Clan since the start of December. These numerous, targeted incidents have involved both shootings and arsons aimed specifically at businesses and properties with known or suspected ties to high-profile figures. These targets include businesses linked to Vito Salvaggio, Davide Barberio, Marco Pizzi, and Pietro D'Adamo. In one night, a two bars in Laval and 3 other businesses in Montreal were targeted either by shootings or arson. 

​The current period of the Rizzuto Clan is defined by unprecedented legal pressure. The scheduling of the major, complex trials, and the successful international capture of a high-profile fugitive like Sacha Krolik, confirm law enforcement is not letting up. This, coupled with the persisting attacks on the street, marks the most significant threat the clan has faced in recent history.