Arrest made, international manhunt underway in organized crime-related murders

A lengthy joint investigation has led to the arrest of a suspect and spurred an international manhunt for two others related to a pair of brutal organized crime-related murders in Ontario.

The multi-jurisdictional probe, dubbed Project Scopa, was formed when investigators uncovered a link between the murders of veterinary technician Mila Barberi and reputed mobster Angelo Musitano.

Twenty-eight-year-old Barberi was gunned down in broad daylight on March 14, 2017 as she sat in a parked car outside a business on Caster Avenue, waiting to pick up her boyfriend, 40-year-old Saverio Serrano. Serrano, the so-called “intended target,” was struck by two bullets but survived. His father, Diego Serrano, has ties to organized crime.

Seven weeks later, on May 2, Musitano was shot to death as he sat in his pickup truck in the driveway of his Chesapeake Drive home in Waterdown, a small rural community in Hamilton.

As a member of Hamilton’s infamous Musitano crime family, it was evident “from the beginning” that his death was a result of his involvement in the family business, Det. Sgt. Peter Thom said.

Thom said its members have been not been cooperative with the investigation.

“The Mafia, the Mob, whatever handle you want to give it…Organized crime continues to thrive in our communities,” he said at a news conference Thursday.

“His family members know why he was killed, despite that they have chosen to remain silent.”

While the three newly-identified suspects have been linked to the murders, they’re not believed to be the “masterminds” behind what police describe as a “sophisticated” murder plot.

Two suspects not believed to be in Canada

The planning began in late 2016, stretched into 2017 and involved what police say was a “well-organized surveillance scheme” that was used to spy on the victims, their family members and associates.

By May 2017, one of the suspects accused in the killings, Michael Graham Cudmore, flew to Cancun, Mexico where he joined a man by the name of Daniel Ranieri.

Ranieri left for Mexico in 2015 where he began living under an alias after a warrant was issued for his arrest in a separate investigation into organized crime in York Region.

In January 2018, days after police announced a link between the murders, a second suspect, Daniel Mario Tomassetti, boarded a flight to Cancun to join them. Tomassetti, who ran a travel business, has connections in the country but failed to return to Canada as planned one week later.

By March, Ranieri was found dead.

Police consider him a person of interest in the murders of Musitano and Barberi.

“Daniel was found in a ditch in the Cancun area, he had been bound and executed,” Thom said.

“Up until that time, Michael Cudmore had maintained regular contact with his family here in Canada. They are now concerned for his safety and well-being as he has uncharacteristically lost touch.”

Cudmore’s family has reported him as a missing person. Tomassetti’s family, however, has not.

Canada-wide arrest warrants have since been issued for both Cudmore and Tomassetti.

“Investigators will be having it endorsed to be valid internationally and will be in touch with Interpol and Mexican authorities to assist in locating and apprehending these two individuals,” Thom said.

“Once arrested, they will be returned to Canada where they will stand trial.”

On Wednesday afternoon, police descended on a home in Hamilton where they arrested 27-year-old Jabril Hassan Abdalla.

Abdalla, Cudmore and Tomassetti are each facing charges of two counts of first-degree murder and three counts of conspiracy to commit murder.

Thom said one of the three suspects acted as the gunman in both murders, though he refused to say who.

He said there are “multiple potential motives” under scrutiny by investigators but none of the theories are conclusive.

“We don’t know the exact on goings in this circle,” he said. “It’s our belief that there is some movement going on, a power struggle, and it’s certainly a possibility that these two murders were involved in that.”

Ancaster murder victim knew the accused

Also believed to be caught up in the violence is the recent brazen murder of Albert Iavarone.

Iavarone was shot dead one week ago outside his Ancaster home. In the hours following his death, police said the 50-year-old’s association to people in the organized crime world was “one of the avenues” they were looking at as a possible motive.

Thom revealed Thursday that Iavarone knew two of the three people accused in his death and “is very close to” a person of interest in the case.

Iavarone was also “known to have known” Musitano prior to his death.

“I’m not saying the two cases are connected,” he clarified, “but it is something we’re very interested in following up on.”

He refuted the suggestion that a surge in organized crime was brewing in the province.

“It’s been established here for a long, long time. There’s certainly been a resurgence in the violence,” he said.

“With the rest of the incidents occurring across the province — murders, arsons and bombings — there seems to be some kind of power struggle going on.”

Investigation stretched across borders

Project Scopa uses the Italian word for broom and is also the title of a popular Italian card game. It involved police agencies from across the province.

Hamilton, Toronto, York Region and Niagara Region were all involved, as well as the RCMP, the Canada Border Services Agency and U.S. authorities such as the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and Department of Homeland Security.

The case required over 150 judicial authorities and involved “thousands of hours” of surveillance video of both murders.

Hamilton Police Chief Eric Girt described the investigation as “costly, complex and absolutely necessary to maintain public trust,” adding that criminal activity “has no borders.”

Thom echoed that notion, making one final plea to the remaining suspects to turn themselves in to authorities in Canada or abroad.

“We warn anyone assisting Cudmore or Tomassetti – if you assist either of them in evading their arrest you will face charges of accessory after the fact to murder and will be prosecuted.”