An Ontario man who fled to Mexico eight years ago while being sought for two high-profile Mafia murders has been apprehended by authorities and is now contesting his extradition back to Canada. Daniel Tomassetti, 35, was one of Canada's most wanted fugitives, with his arrest coming as a significant development in a case that has seen other suspects found dead in Mexico.
Eight-Year Manhunt Ends with Capture
Daniel Mario Tomassetti was arrested in Mexico after spending nearly a decade evading Canadian authorities. His capture represents a dramatic turn in an investigation that began in 2017 when police identified him as a suspect in two targeted shootings linked to organized crime activities in Ontario.
Hamilton Police Service spokesman Constable Adam Kimber confirmed that Tomassetti is currently in custody in Mexico, with efforts underway to facilitate his return to Canada. However, York Regional Police spokesman Constable James Dickson noted that the fugitive is contesting his extradition, though neither officer would provide specific details about the circumstances or timing of the arrest.
Violent Crimes and Mafia Connections
The charges against Tomassetti stem from two separate incidents in 2017 that police have connected to Mafia conflicts in the Greater Toronto Area. On May 2, 2017, Angelo Musitano—brother of Hamilton Mafia boss Pasquale (Pat) Musitano—was shot at close range while sitting in his pickup truck in his suburban Hamilton driveway. The assailant had been waiting nearby before approaching the driver's side window.
Earlier that year, on March 14, 2017, the same gunman targeted another vehicle in Vaughan, Ontario. After pulling into a parking lot outside a store, the shooter began firing into the darkened windows before realizing the driver had already exited the vehicle. The gunman then turned his weapon on a couple standing beside the car, killing 28-year-old Mila Barberi, who was the girlfriend of his presumed target.
Police investigators determined that the bullets were intended for her boyfriend Saverio Serrano or a family member. The Serrano family has extensive criminal connections, with father Diego Serrano having a long history as a drug importer and brother Francesco Serrano also involved in criminal activities.
Joint Investigation and Other Suspects
A joint investigation by Hamilton and York Regional Police, codenamed Project Scopa, identified the same individuals as suspects in both shootings. The investigation revealed connections between Tomassetti and two other men who also fled to Mexico following the murders.
Michael Cudmore, 39, of Hamilton, was named as the triggerman in both murders, while Daniele Ranieri, 34, a volatile gangland enforcer from Toronto, served as a criminal mentor to Cudmore. Both men escaped to Mexico after the crimes, but both were later found dead in the country, making Tomassetti's survival and subsequent arrest particularly noteworthy.
Rewards and International Manhunt
Authorities had offered a $50,000 reward for information leading to Tomassetti's arrest. He faces serious charges including two counts of murder, attempted murder, and three counts of conspiracy to commit murder. His status as a fugitive gained national attention when he was featured as a Top 25 most-wanted person in 2023 through the BOLO Program, with police initially suspecting he might be hiding in the United States.
An Interpol Red Notice had been issued for Tomassetti, highlighting the international scope of the search for the fugitive. His arrest in Mexico marks the culmination of an extensive eight-year investigation that spanned international borders and involved multiple law enforcement agencies.
The case continues to develop as Mexican and Canadian authorities navigate the extradition process while Tomassetti contests his return to face justice in Ontario courts.
