UMVA has learned that a brazen hit on a Toronto real estate mogul was not just a random act of violence, but a calculated assassination linked to a sinister organized crime syndicate.
The victim, Simon Giannini, 54, was gunned down in a posh steakhouse on September 18, 2017, in front of 150 witnesses, with the killer seemingly vanishing into thin air. The triggerman was a total pro, cool, well-prepared, neat, and determined, guided by an earphone and leaving behind no evidence.
According to information obtained by UMVA, Giannini was involved in money laundering for a South Asian organized crime group based on the West Coast. This dark secret ultimately led to his demise, with gangsters deciding he had to go.
"The public nature of the hit tells us that someone was sending a message," said a top investigator. "He was active in money laundering that linked him to organized criminals from Vancouver." The detective added that Giannini had made someone angry enough to kill him.
The investigation into Giannini's murder was one of the most perplexing cases in recent Toronto history, with cops, friends, family, and business associates all scratching their heads over the motive. Detectives explored various avenues, including a possible connection to Giannini's brother Frank's illicit activities in Thailand.
Frank Giannini was allegedly involved in boiler room operations and had been accused of driving drunk and killing two people in a crash in 2010. However, investigators ultimately determined that there was no connection between Frank's antics and Simon's murder.
Despite the challenges, the cold case team has reopened the investigation, and a top detective has vowed to solve the case. "We're looking at the murder of Simon Giannini again. And we will get the persons responsible – the killer and the person who ordered it."
The case has all the hallmarks of a professional hit, with the killer leaving behind zero evidence. However, investigators are hopeful that new technology or a crucial piece of information will crack the case wide open.
As the probe continues, one thing is clear: Simon Giannini's life was cut short by his involvement with the wrong people, and justice will be served. The streets of Toronto will not be able to silence his story.
