Restaurant frequented by Hells Angels and people linked to the mafia closed for 25 days
October 12, 2023
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A restaurant in the Rivière-des-Prairies—Pointe-aux-Trembles borough was ordered to close its doors for 25 days because it was frequented by members of the Hells Angels and people linked to the mafia for the worst moments of COVID-19. pandemic, when all establishments were supposed to be closed.
The Prima Luna restaurant received the order from the Régie des alcools, des courses et des jeux in mid-September. The court ordered that the suspension of the restaurant's license would take effect at the time its alcohol selection was placed under seal.
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At a hearing on the matter, the liquor corporation was told that officers saw several organized crime figures in the restaurant at times when all restaurants had been ordered to close as part of health measures aimed at to prevent the spread of COVID-19. At other times, restaurants in the city were only allowed to deliver food.
Among those with whom police clashed were Francesco Del Balso, the Montreal mafia boss killed in the West Island in June, as well as Martin Robert and Stéphane Plouffe, two members of the Hells Angels whose houses were recently searched as part of an investigation into drug trafficking led by the Sûreté du Québec.
According to the Régie's decision, the first significant event occurred on December 20, 2020, when all restaurants in Montreal were supposed to be closed. Police noticed several vehicles parked in front of Prima Luna.
“When the police arrived, the vehicles left the parking lot, but three of them were intercepted. The police identified the people behind the wheel and recognized one of them as a criminal,” the liquor board wrote in its lengthy decision.
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On February 27, 2021, several videos posted to Instagram showed 11 people sitting down for a meal inside the restaurant. When police reviewed the videos, they learned that three of those present had criminal records, including one full member of the Hells Angels.
On May 29, 2021, while restaurants were still closed, police found inside Prima Luna 35 people gathered to celebrate the birthday of Michel Lamontagne, another full member of the Hells Angels.
Thirteen were identified as being known by Montreal police to have ties to organized crime. Among them were Plouffe, Robert and Del Balso. “These individuals have criminal records including gangsterism, weapons, violence, conspiracy to murder, drugs, arson, dangerous driving and tobacco smuggling,” the liquor corporation noted.
Lamontagne, now 47, was charged with possessing a loaded firearm at the restaurant, but the charge was dropped last year.
While the case was before the court, the restaurant's lawyer argued that the owner did not know that the people eating at her establishment were members of organized crime groups. The owner refused to testify in court.
“The license holder's lawyer argues that the identity or knowledge of the people linked to organized crime and present in the establishment was unknown to her, as well as to her manager. To this, the court responds that this should have been heard from the mouth of the owner's manager (in court). Furthermore, knowledge by the holder of the identity of people linked to organized crime or their situation with regard to their criminal record is not mandatory to conclude that there has been a breach of this nature,” the commission ruled.
“Moreover, the court is skeptical of this argument. »
https://actualnewsmagazine.com/un-r...liees-a-la-mafia-ferme-pendant-25-jours/
