Alleged Mob boss abducted
By Paul Cherry, The Gazette
May 21, 2010


MONTREAL – Reputed mob boss Paolo Renda, the brother-in-law of reputed Montreal Mafia don Vito Rizzuto, appears to have been abducted and police are asking for the public’s help in finding him.


Renda was reported missing by his wife, Rizzuto's sister, Thursday afternoon and his luxury vehicle was found on Gouin Blvd. W. not far from his home in the Cartierville area.


The windows were open and the key was still in the ignition.


The 70-year-old Renda was paroled in February after reaching the two-thirds mark of a two-year prison term he received in October 2008 for a conviction related to Project Colisée, a major investigation into organized crime in Montreal.


Renda pleaded guilty to possession of the proceeds of crime and to a related charge of participation in a criminal organization.


The apparent abduction is the latest blow to the Rizzutos, with Vito in prison in the United States on racketeering charges and the broad daylight assassination of his eldest son Nick Rizzuto Jr. in December.


Renda, was last seen at 3:15 p.m. yesterday, Montreal police Const. Yannick Ouimet said.


Renda's wife contacted police about 6 p.m. to report her husband missing.


Considered to be one of the highest ranking members of the Rizzuto organization, Renda saw the National Parole Board take the unusual step of modifying his release conditions just as he was preparing to leave a federal penitentiary. The parole board received information, from Correctional Service Canada, that there were concerns Renda might seek revenge for the December murder of his nephew, Nick Rizzuto Jr.


Renda's release conditions had already been set when the parole board received the information, but commissioners took the very unusual step of adding more conditions just as Renda reached this statutory release date.


While he was being investigated in Project Colisee, Renda unwittingly provided investigators with the clearest evidence of how the Rizzuto organization was operating in the absence of its charasmatic leader, Vito Rizzuto, who had been extradited to the U.S. in a racketeering case.


Renda was secretly recorded during a conversation he had with an mafioso from Italy. The mafioso did not agree with how things were being run. Renda explained that a type of four-man committee had talen over the leadership. Renda also identified himself as being part of that committee. The mafioso from Italy responded that the traditional way is to have one person in charge.


Renda is described as 5 feet 8 inches tall, and he weighs 170 pounds. He has gray hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing navy blue pants and a striped polo-style shirt.


Anyone with information about Renda's disappearance is asked to call Info-Crime at 514-393-1133.


Also this morning, Renda’s father-in-law, Nicolo Rizzuto Sr., was due in court to answer to a five-year-old impaired driving charge. His lawyer instead argued successfully for a delay, citing safety concerns.


The Gazette is following both stories.

http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Alleged+boss+abducted/3055855/story.html