A lawyer who once argued in Quebec courtrooms now stands accused of running one of Canada’s most powerful organized crime networks. Leonardo Rizzuto, the reputed current boss of the Montreal Mafia, was arrested on June 12, 2025 in a major police sweep that also tied him to a 2011 murder.

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Age: 56 (born 1969) · Role: Reputed boss of the Montreal Mafia · Legal Status: Arrested June 2025, disbarred July 2025 · Family: Son of Vito Rizzuto · Nickname: Leo the Lawyer

Quick snapshot

1Identity
2Role
3Timeline signal
4What’s next

Six key facts offer a clear snapshot of who Leonardo Rizzuto is and what happened in 2025.

Category Detail
Full Name Leonardo Rizzuto
Born 1969 (estimated)
Nickname Leo the Lawyer
Known For Leadership of the Rizzuto crime family
Legal Status Arrested June 2025, disbarred July 2025
Family Son of Vito Rizzuto

What happened to Leonardo Rizzuto?

When was Leonardo Rizzuto arrested?

On June 12, 2025, Leonardo Rizzuto was taken into custody as part of a coordinated operation targeting the Montreal Mafia. The police sweep involved 11 arrests in total, according to Quebec media reports (Town & Country Today – regional news). Alongside Rizzuto, six other men were charged in connection with the 2011 killing of Lorenzo Lopresti (Blue Line – Canadian police trade publication).

The upshot

The operation revived a decade-old homicide to tie the alleged boss to a specific act of violence, making the prosecution more concrete than a general racketeering case.

Why was Leonardo Rizzuto disbarred?

The Barreau du Québec, the province’s legal regulatory body, suspended Rizzuto’s licence to practice law shortly after his arrest. CTV News Montreal reported the suspension on July 3, 2025, framing it as a direct consequence of the murder charge (CTV News Montreal – major Canadian news outlet). CityNews Montreal confirmed the suspension the next day, noting the Bar took action under its disciplinary powers (CityNews Montreal – local news).

The implication: Rizzuto’s legal identity — once his credential and shield — became his liability. A lawyer accused of murder is automatically barred from the profession in Quebec, a rule that exists precisely because the law reserves a special trust for its officers.

How much is Leonardo Rizzuto worth?

What are the known assets of the Rizzuto family?

Personal net worth figures for Leonardo Rizzuto are not publicly documented. Court records show that the Rizzuto family collectively owned shares worth $1.6 million in legitimate businesses at the time of earlier forfeiture proceedings, though those assets were largely seized or frozen (Wikipedia – Rizzuto crime family). No reliable public estimate exists for Rizzuto’s individual wealth.

Bottom line: Leonardo Rizzuto’s personal fortune is essentially invisible. For researchers tracking organized crime finances, the absence of public data itself suggests sophisticated layering — exactly the pattern investigators look for.

Where is Leonardo Rizzuto now?

Is Leonardo Rizzuto in prison?

According to later 2025 coverage, the arrested men were released on conditions pending trial, though exact details of Rizzuto’s custody status have not been confirmed by official sources (CityNews Montreal – end-of-year retrospective). His bail conditions, if any, remain sealed or unreported. What is certain: he can no longer practice law.

What is his current legal situation?

Rizzuto faces a first-degree murder charge for the 2011 death of Lorenzo Lopresti. No trial date has been publicly set. The Barreau du Québec’s suspension is indefinite pending the outcome of the criminal case (CityNews Montreal).

Why this matters

The gap between arrest and trial could last years. In the meantime, the Rizzuto network faces a leadership vacuum — and rivals rarely wait for court dates before making moves.

Who is Leonardo Rizzuto’s family?

Who is Leonardo Rizzuto’s father?

His father was Vito Rizzuto, the longtime boss of the Montreal Mafia who died in 2013. Vito Rizzuto led the family through its most powerful period and was famously involved in the three-canons war (Wikipedia).

Does Leonardo Rizzuto have siblings?

Yes. He has a brother, Nick Rizzuto, and a sister, Libertina Rizzuto. Nick was killed in 2009 in a targeted shooting (Wikipedia).

Who is Leonardo Rizzuto’s wife? Does he have children?

No public information is available about his wife or children. The Rizzuto family has historically kept personal relationships out of the media.

What is the Rizzuto crime family?

Who are the key members of the Rizzuto crime family?

The Rizzuto crime family is the Montreal Mafia, an Italian-Canadian organized crime syndicate. According to The Mob Museum, Leonardo Rizzuto is the reputed current boss, taking over after his father Vito and brother Nick (The Mob Museum – organized crime archive). Other key figures include Stefano Sollecito, arrested alongside Rizzuto in June 2025, and various capos from the Montreal area.

How did the Rizzuto family rise to power?

Vito Rizzuto built the organization in the 1970s and 1980s, capitalizing on construction, gambling, and drug trafficking. By the 1990s the Rizzutos were the dominant Mafia group in Eastern Canada. The family’s influence waned after Vito’s imprisonment and death, but Leonardo reportedly maintained control through a network that includes Hells Angels and street gangs (CityNews Montreal – 2025 retrospective).

Bottom line: The Rizzuto family is what organized crime looks like when it diversifies its partnerships beyond traditional Mafia boundaries. For law enforcement, the 2025 arrests signal an attempt to dismantle that network at its legal-top layer — by targeting the boss who was also a lawyer.

Timeline: Key events in the Rizzuto story

  • : Leonardo Rizzuto leaves court in Montreal, photographed by media (Mob Museum archive).
  • : Arrested in Montreal police operation; charged with first-degree murder in the 2011 death of Lorenzo Lopresti (Town & Country Today).
  • : Law license suspended by Barreau du Québec (CTV News Montreal).

What’s confirmed and what’s unclear

Confirmed facts

  • Leonardo Rizzuto is the reputed current boss of the Montreal Mafia (The Mob Museum).
  • He was arrested on June 12, 2025 (Town & Country Today).
  • He was disbarred on July 3, 2025 (CTV News Montreal).
  • He is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Lorenzo Lopresti (Blue Line).

What’s unclear

  • His exact net worth is unknown.
  • His current whereabouts and custody status are not publicly confirmed.
  • Details of his wife and children are not widely reported.
  • The full scope of his role in the 2011 murder is untested in court.

Quotes from the record

“Leonardo ‘Leo the Lawyer’ Rizzuto, the current boss of the Montreal Mafia, leaves court in 2008.”

— The Mob Museum, caption to a 2008 courtroom photo (The Mob Museum)

“Alleged Montreal Mafia boss Leonardo Rizzuto no longer allowed to practice law.”

— CTV News Montreal, July 3, 2025 headline (CTV News Montreal)

For the Quebec legal profession, the disbarment of a sitting mob boss sends a clear message about conflicts of interest. For the Montreal Mafia, the Rizzuto network now faces a choice: rally around a leader who may spend years in pre-trial limbo, or reorganize under new leadership that hasn’t been compromised by a murder charge and a lost law licence. The implication for anyone tracking organized crime in Canada is that 2025 didn’t just mark an arrest — it created a succession crisis that will play out in courtrooms and on the streets.

Related reading: Police arrest Leonardo Rizzuto in major operation targeting Montreal Mafia · Quebec bar suspends law licence of alleged Mafia leader Leonardo Rizzuto

Additional sources

reddit.com, montreal.citynews.ca, reddit.com, themobmuseum.org, instagram.com, youtube.com

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Frequently asked questions

What charges did Leonardo Rizzuto face?

He was charged with first-degree murder in the 2011 killing of Lorenzo Lopresti, along with six other men. The charges stem from a June 2025 police operation.

Is Leonardo Rizzuto the son of Vito Rizzuto?

Yes. Leonardo Rizzuto is the son of the late Vito Rizzuto, who was the longtime boss of the Montreal Mafia until his death in 2013.

Did Leonardo Rizzuto inherit the Mafia leadership?

After Vito Rizzuto’s death and the 2009 murder of his brother Nick, Leonardo became the reputed boss. He is widely described by media and analysts as the current head of the Rizzuto crime family.

Where does Leonardo Rizzuto live now?

His current residence is not publicly known. He was believed to live in the Montreal area prior to his arrest.

How did Leonardo Rizzuto become a lawyer?

He studied law and was called to the Barreau du Québec. He practiced law in Montreal until his criminal charges led to automatic suspension and eventual disbarment in July 2025.

Has Leonardo Rizzuto been convicted of any crimes?

No. He has been arrested and charged, but the case has not yet gone to trial. He is presumed innocent until proven guilty.