Court hears Nero’s drug accomplice had two sides
QMI Agency The two contrasting sides of Martino Caputo were exposed at his sentencing hearing Wednesday for conspiring to import a tonne of cocaine a month into Canada.
In their glowing testimonials offered in court, his friends, family and relatives described a generous, successful entrepreneur who helped family members and anyone needing assistance from a young age through his adult years.
On the other hand, Caputo, 41, who has ties to convicted Niagara drug kingpin Nick Nero, was “a high- level drug partner in a sophisticated criminal organization with the potential to make millions of dollars,” said Crown attorney Chris Walsh, who is seeking a 16- year prison sentence for Caputo.
“There are clearly two sides to Mr. Caputo, one was a very upstanding citizen — benevolent, generous and kind,” Walsh said. “His supporters don’t know about the second side of Mr. Caputo.”
Caputo stood to gain one- third of a 200- kilogram stash of cocaine that was to be stolen from Chicago in the spring of 2012. None of this enormous profit was realized by anyone because Nero, a Niagara resident and leader of the cocaine ring, was arrested, stopping the ripoff, court heard.
Forty- three supporters, including some prominent Toronto businessmen, filed letters describing Caputo’s good character.
Caputo, who had no prior criminal record, owned and operated Savourie restaurant for eight years in Forest Hill village until 2004, and has since worked at his brother’s restoration and painting business. Nero and Caputo had convictions registered against them last month in a Toronto court for committing drug offences for a criminal organization.
Judge John McMahon will pass sentence on Caputo on Oct. 24. Nero had a sentencing hearing Friday.
At the time of the conspiracy, Caputo was dating Tamara Fletcher, the twin sister of Nero’s girlfriend, Tawnya Fletcher, also of Niagara, who was sentenced earlier to two years in prison.
“This is an incredibly good citizen who made some bad decisions over a short period of time, nine weeks, that have caused terrible damage to his life,” said Caputo’s lawyer, Greg Lafontaine, who is seeking a 10- year sentence — minus 2 1/2 years for time served — for his client.
The Crown’s sentence is far too severe for Caputo’s “minimal” involvement, his unblemished record and otherwise exemplary life, Lafontaine said.
Caputo once helped his adult niece organize a fundraiser for autistic children, court heard.
When his brother’s grandson was airlifted to the Hospital for Sick Children five years ago for emergency heart surgery, Caputo “charmed his way” into the hospital to take a photo of the baby, so he could alleviate the worried mom’s fears, court heard. The child recovered and is now flourishing.