Prosecution’s case falls apart in massive Mafia bust,
Defence says police monitored lawyers’ communications
What was hailed by York Regional Police as the largest antiMafia operation in the region’s history has collapsed before it even reached a trial.
In the summer of 2019, police called Project Sindicato a massive blow against organized crime in the GTA, after 48 search warrants were carried out at cafés, businesses and residences in Vaughan and across the region.
Luxury cars, including five Ferrari sports cars, 27 homes and millions of dollars of cash were seized as some 500 bank accounts were shut down. Police said the local ’Ndrangheta, a Mafia strain, was involved in illegal gambling and loansharking, and laundered some of its money through regular visits to legal, government-run casinos.
Among the 15 people arrested was Angelo Figliomeni, 56, of York Region, whom police called the boss of the organization.
Now the court case — which targeted builders, bankers, real estate agents and others in the financial sector — lies in tatters.
“All of the charges against all of the accused who were still facing charges in Newmarket related to Project Sindicato had their charges stayed,” Figliomeni’s lawyer Michael Lacy said on Wednesday in an email.
The prosecution’s case fell apart after defence lawyers attacked police conduct in the investigation, saying they unlawfully accessed solicitor-client communications, Lacy said.
“The Crown, quite responsibly, brought in an outside police officer from the Toronto Police Service to investigate our claims,” Lacy said. “Ultimately, we did not get the result of that investigation because instead of litigating the motions, the Crown instead chose to stay the charges.”
The federal Crown’s office and Canada Revenue Agency had no immediate comment on Wednesday morning.
“Mr. Figliomeni has always maintained that he did not commit any criminal offence,” Lacy said. “It was our position that the Crown’s case was premised on innuendo, suspicion and unsubstantiated allegations. Quite apart from what we alleged was significant police illegality, we were confident that Mr. Figliomeni was going to be exonerated.”
“My client is glad that this is over but there is no joy in having to have gone through the experience in the first place,” Lacy said.
A spokesperson for York Regional Police said the force is “extremely disappointed” in the Crown’s decision to not proceed to trial on the criminal charges in Project Sindicato.
“Members of Organized Crime and Intelligence Services were the leads on the Project Sindicato investigation,” Const. Laura Nicolle said in an email on Wednesday.
“While we are not in a position to make comment on the reasoning for not moving forward with prosecution, it should be noted that YRP worked collaboratively and diligently with the Crown from the onset of and throughout the criminal investigation,” Nicolle said.
“We received advice from the Crown at several junctures, relating to appropriate charges and investigative methods and to ensure the Crown was satisfied of a reasonable prospect of conviction,” Nicolle said.
“We remain very proud of this investigation.”