Salvatore Cazzetta
Salvatore Cazzetta | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1955 (age 68–69) |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Known for | Founded The Rock Machine |
Salvatore Cazzetta is a Canadian convicted of drug-dealing with a long association with outlaw motorcycle gangs, in Quebec.[1]
Cazzetta and Maurice "Mom" Boucher were members of a small motorcycle gang, the "SS", which was under consideration for an invite to join the Hells Angels.[2] When the Lennoxville massacre took place the two friends made different choices.
Elements of the Hells Angels' Montreal chapter had become convinced that five senior members of their club had been embezzling club profits, so they tricked them into a meeting, and killed them.[2] According to true crime author RJ Parker this killing triggered distrust within other elements of Canada's underworld empire.
According to Parker, Cazzetta was closely related to senior member of the Quebec Mafia, and thus adopted the position that underworld members should not kill other members of their own gang.[2] So, where Boucher did join the Hells Angels, Cazzetta formed his own motorcycle club, The Rock Machine, taking over turf formerly controlled by the weakened Montreal chapter of the Hells Angels.
According to Parker, Boucher could not strike against his former friend, out of concern the powerful Quebec Mafia would intervene.[2] He wrote that Boucher worked to rebuild his chapter's ties with other chapters and other underworld groups. He wrote that Cazzetta too forged alliances, principally with the Bandidos, another powerful motorcycle club, and that he forged ties with cocaine cartels, and became one of Montreal's principal importers of cocaine.
Cazzetta's cocaine smuggling and distribution triggered extra police scrutiny, and 1994, he was arrested with 11 tons of cocaine.[2]
Cazzetta's detention triggered Boucher to attack the remainder of The Rock Machine.[2] The struggle lasted six years, and many innocent bystanders were hurt or killed. Cazzetta was in prison during the war.
By the time Cazzetta had served his sentence Boucher himself was serving a life sentence, the war was over, and The Rock Machine had been absorbed into the Bandidos.[2] Cazzetta chose to join the Hells Angels, in 2005.[3] He would rise to lead the Hells Angels in Quebec.[4]
References
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"A who's who of the Montreal underworld: The mafiosi, bikers and gangsters swept up in police raids". National Post. 2015-11-20. Retrieved 2020-07-18.
The 60-year-old is believed to be a leader among the Hells Angels in Quebec and one of its most influential members.
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RJ Parker (2015). Peter Vronsky (ed.). Hell's Angels Biker Wars: The Rock Machine Massacres. Rj Parker Publishing, Inc. ISBN 9781517198718. Retrieved 2020-07-18.
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Paul Cherry (2018-07-09). "Probe into West Island drug trafficking ring was sparked by gangland murder". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved 2020-07-18.
During Project Associé, the Montreal police took note and, in some cases, video-recorded as Van Elk met with several influential organized crime figures like Salvatore Cazzetta and Gilles Lambert, both members of the Hells Angels since 2005.
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Paul Cherry (2016-08-30). "Police received tips about Montreal lawyer over a decade ago". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved 2020-07-18.
Salvatore Cazzetta, 61, the alleged leader of the Hells Angels in Quebec, was also charged in that sweep.
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