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Crime & Justice • Organized Crime

Salvatore Cazzetta

Salvatore Cazzetta is a Canadian former outlaw biker and gangster associated with the Quebec biker underworld.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated September 10, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Salvatore Cazzetta (born c. 1954) is a Canadian former outlaw biker and gangster who co-founded the Rock Machine Motorcycle Club and later became a member of the Hells Angels in Quebec. Known by the nickname 'La Barbe', he has been described as a longtime associate of the Rizzuto crime family.

Early life and background

Salvatore Cazzetta was born around 1954. Publicly available sources provide limited details about his early life.

Rock Machine Motorcycle Club

In 1989, Cazzetta co-founded the Rock Machine Motorcycle Club with his brother Giovanni. The club became a major rival of the Hells Angels during the Quebec biker war.

Hells Angels affiliation

After his imprisonment and release, Cazzetta joined the Hells Angels. Sources describe him as a prominent figure in the Quebec chapter and as a leader in the province between 2011 and 2016.

Cazzetta has been linked in reporting to organized crime, including the Rizzuto crime family, and to tax disputes involving undeclared illicit income. Media coverage also connects him to police investigations and court proceedings in Quebec.

Key facts

  • Co-founded the Rock Machine Motorcycle Club in 1989 with his brother Giovanni.
  • Later joined the Hells Angels after the Quebec biker war.
  • Described as a longtime associate of the Rizzuto crime family.
  • Reported as a Hells Angels leader in Quebec between 2011 and 2016.
  • Involved in tax and criminal proceedings in Quebec.
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Canadian context

Cazzetta is a Quebec-based organized-crime figure whose name appears in Canadian reporting on biker gangs, police investigations, and tax enforcement, especially in Montreal and the surrounding region.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Salvatore Cazzetta?
He is a Canadian former outlaw biker and gangster known for co-founding the Rock Machine Motorcycle Club and later joining the Hells Angels in Quebec.
What is he best known for?
He is best known as a founder of the Rock Machine and as a later Hells Angels figure during and after the Quebec biker war.
What nickname was he known by?
He was also known as 'La Barbe' ('the Beard').
Was he associated with the Hells Angels?
Yes. Sources say he joined the Hells Angels after leaving prison and later held a leadership role in Quebec.
What is his connection to the Rizzuto crime family?
Available sources describe him as a longtime associate of the Montreal-based Rizzuto crime family.
Is there a Canada connection?
Yes. His reported criminal activity and biker leadership were centered in Quebec, making him a notable figure in Canadian organized crime coverage.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salvatore_Cazzetta
    Supports: Born c. 1954; Canadian former outlaw biker and gangster; founder of Rock Machine; later joined Hells Angels; associated with the Rizzuto crime family; reported Quebec Hells Angels leadership.
  2. Journal de Montréal — https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2019/04/12/le-fisc-est-aux-trousses-dun-ancien-chef-des-hells
    Supports: Reports tax dispute over undeclared illicit income; describes him as former Hells leader; notes criminal and biker background.
  3. Journal de Québec — https://www.journaldequebec.com/2019/06/07/laval-le-hells-salvatore-cazzetta-intercepte-pour-des-plaques-impayees-1
    Supports: Reports Cazzetta was intercepted for unpaid licence plates and notes his prior Rock Machine and Hells Angels connections.
  4. Radio-Canada — https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/1071507/abandon-dernieres-accusations-salvatore-cazzetta-hells-angels
    Supports: Reports dropped criminal charges; identifies him as a Hells Angels member and notes his role as a founder of the Devils Ghosts.