Canadian Fugitive Captured in Mexico After Nine-Year Manhunt
Daniel Tomassetti, a 35-year-old Canadian career criminal, has been apprehended in Mexico after spending nine years on the run. His arrest in August marks a significant breakthrough in a complex investigation involving organized crime and targeted killings. Canadian authorities are now actively pursuing his extradition to face serious charges.
Serious Charges and Alleged Crimes
Tomassetti faces multiple grave charges, including two counts of first-degree murder, one count of attempted murder, and three counts of conspiracy to commit murder. These allegations stem from two separate targeted killings that occurred in 2017, which authorities believe are interconnected through organized crime networks.
The first victim was Angelo Musitano, an infamous Ontario mob boss. On May 2, 2017, Musitano was shot at close range while sitting in his pickup truck in the driveway of his Hamilton home, just outside Toronto. The gunman had been waiting nearby and approached the vehicle's window before firing. Just weeks later, Musitano's brother and fellow mob boss, Pasquale Musitano, survived a shooting attempt. However, his luck ran out in 2020 when he was fatally shot in front of a furniture store in Burlington, Ontario. It is important to note that Tomassetti has not been charged in connection with either incident involving Pasquale Musitano.
The Second Victim and a Case of Mistaken Identity
The second alleged victim was Mila Barberi, a 28-year-old veterinary technician from Toronto. On March 14, 2017, Barberi was gunned down while standing next to an SUV parked outside a store in Vaughan, near Toronto. She was waiting to pick up her boyfriend, Saverio Serrano, who authorities believe had connections to organized crime and was the intended target of the hit. Serrano was injured in the shooting but survived.
Surveillance footage from the parking lot captured the assailant running up to the vehicle and firing shots into it before realizing his target was not inside. The gunman then ran around the back of the SUV and fired additional rounds at Barberi and Serrano. Police believe the same gunman was responsible for both Barberi's and Angelo Musitano's murders.
Tomassetti's Role and Escape to Mexico
According to police investigations, Tomassetti did not pull the trigger in either killing but allegedly facilitated the murders. Following the 2017 incidents, he was placed under surveillance. However, in January 2018, Tomassetti managed to flee to Mexico, where he was known to have connections. Court records reveal that he evaded authorities by leaving his phone at home when he went to the airport. He had booked a round-trip ticket but was not on the return flight a few days later, successfully disappearing into Mexico.
The Fate of Alleged Co-Conspirators
Two other men were also wanted in connection with the murders of Musitano and Barberi. Michael Cudmore, 39, is believed to have been the shooter in both hits. His body was found in an abandoned vehicle on the side of a rural road in Mexico in 2020. The other man, Daniele Ranieri, 34, described as a mob enforcer and criminal mentor to Cudmore, was found dead in a ditch in Mexico in 2018. He had been tied up and executed.
Given the grim fate of his alleged co-conspirators, there were suspicions that Tomassetti might have also been killed. However, authorities persisted in their search, and in 2023, Tomassetti was named one of Canada's 25 most wanted fugitives and placed on the BOLO (be on the lookout) list. A $50,000 reward was offered for information leading to his arrest, though police have not confirmed whether this reward was claimed.
Arrest and Extradition Proceedings
Police have not disclosed the specific details of how Tomassetti was located and arrested by Mexican authorities. A spokesperson for York Regional Police informed the Canadian outlet National Post that Tomassetti is currently contesting his extradition back to Canada. This legal battle could prolong the process, but authorities remain determined to bring him to justice for the alleged crimes committed nearly a decade ago.
