York, Ontario Regional Police recently arrested crime boss Angelo Figliomeni plus seven other men and one woman in a $70 million money-laundering scheme targeting Toronto-area casinos. Detective Sergeant Carl Mattinen, of the Special Operations Bureau, said, “Fortunately, with casinos, a lot of that information is tracked and it helped us.” Wiretaps provided further evidence in the investigation, named Project Sindacato.
Mattinen said members of the Figliomeni crime group visited the casinos every night, bringing $30,000-$50,000. They’d lose a portion of their cash in the casino, intentionally or otherwise, and pocket the rest as legitimate wins.
That was the group’s undoing, said financial crime and anti-money laundering expert Matt McGuire. He said that type of gambling pattern, plus large cash transactions, typically would generate a report to the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada. “The casino was just a weak link in their whole plan,” he said.
McGuire said the crime group also established finance companies, which are not legally required to report or monitor irregular transactions. “Similarly, they allegedly set up a charity, which is a hallmark of a very professional money-laundering scheme,” he added. A real estate firm and a construction company still are under investigation by police.
Police also seized $35 million in assets, including 27 homes and 23 luxury vehicles and closed 11 illegal gambling dens operating in cafés. “The most important aspect of this investigation is the seizure and confiscation of assets. That is what truly will make a long-lasting impact of any criminal group,” Mattinen said.
Salvatore Oliveti, one of the men charged, is the founder and chairman of Rev It Up, a fundraiser that supports SickKids Hospital, and Option B Solutions, a car loan company, through which Mattinen said a “high amount of money” allegedly was laundered. Erica Quintal, 30, who also was arrested, was listed as a member of the charity’s “sponsorship team.”
Police in Italy also arrested 12 members of the Calabrian ‘Ndrangheta Mafia as part of Project Sindacato.
