Michael Roberto loses bid for parole after serving 7 years in prison

Notorious gang killerMichael Roberto lied to his parole officer, has no community support, no halfway house has accepted him and he is a high risk to violently reoffend so the Parole Board of Canadarefused his request to be released from prison.

The Calgary gangster andmurderer, who was involved in the notorious BolsaRestaurant triple murderin 2009, has been servingseven years behind bars.

On Wednesdayhe appearedbefore the parole board viaCCTVin Edmonton from an undisclosed location in order to protect his safety.

"Your risk would be undue," said board member, MichaelCrowley at the end of the hearing. "We are denying day parole."

The hearing gave a glimpse into Roberto's life past and present.

Roberto who was originally charged with three counts of first-degree murdermade a partial immunity deal in 2013, pleading guilty tocharges of murder in association with a criminal organization, conspiring to commit murder and discharging a firearm.

In exchange for his testimony against other gangstersRobertoreceived a16-year sentence and got double credit for the time he had already served sincehis arrest in 2009.

• Michael Roberto warns kids from prison to steer clear of gangs

High risk for future violence

The panel consistedof two senior parole board members,Crowley and ChrisTrowbridge,who madetheirdecision after hearing from Roberto and his parole officer.

The first thing board memberslearned was that Roberto's key supporter, his wife, had not called or visited him since April and that Roberto had lied to his parole officerDiane Aitchisonabout their status.

In speaking with Roberto'swifeAitchison learned the former gangsterhad sent a letter asking for a divorce,though he'd told his parole officerthey were simply taking a break.

It was discovered that Roberto has been in communication with another woman,a Calgary student,who he saidis simply interested in his case. Her request to attend the hearing as an observer was denied.

Roberto described her as "very passionate" about following his case from a "legal standpoint" and denied having an intimate relationship with her.

"I did lie to Miss Aichison," said Roberto. "I was embarrassed to discuss my feelings with her."

"I've never been really good with discussing my feelings with strangers."

"This shows that you're prepared to lie to someone in authority," said Crowley. "It speaks loudly to the issue of can you be trusted?"

Though Roberto has completed at least one violence management program while in prison, hedeclined to participate in another which caused Crowley and Trowbridge concern.

They also noted two assessments that found Roberto to be at a medium to high risk to violently reoffend.

$2k per week, tax free

Roberto said he became part of the FOB gang because of his olderbrother and for "approval and money."

His fellow gangsters became family for Roberto who says he grew up in ahigh crime neighbourhood, with amother who drank and did drugs, while his older brother was involved in gangs.

Roberto described himself asone of the key players in thegang war that lasted from 2002 to 2009.

His involvement withthe FOBsbegan with a "dial-a-dope" phone and selling crack cocaine.

"A few hundred a day," said Roberto of the amount of money he was making at thetime. "Not much."

He estimated he was earning about $2,000 each week, which Crowley pointed out was tax free.

The war between Roberto's FOB gang and the rivalFKs reached its pinnacle with theBolsakillings, at which time the two groups were credited with at least 25 murders in just seven years.

Two rival gang members,SanjeevMann and AaronBendle, were shotand killedin theBolsaRestaurant.KeniS'ua, a bystander, was shot dead in the parking lot of the Vietnamese restaurant.

In an agreed statement of facts, Roberto admitted to killing Mann.

Plea deals

Roberto was originally charged and convictedof three counts of first-degree murder but successfully appealed and a new trial was ordered.

Before that trial was scheduledpolice were able to flip Roberto against his former friends and gang associates and offered him a plea deal in exchange for his testimony as a witness for theprosecution.

Though his evidence has not resulted in any convictions, several of those he was supposed to testify against have madepleadeals so it'sunclear how he may haveinfluenced the pleas.

There are still two other murder trials Roberto must testify at in order tofulfilthe obligations of his immunity deal.

Right before his request for parole was deniedRoberto made a final plea to the panel members.

"I know just going on my word isn't enough," said Roberto. "With what I'm doing with the Calgary police, if I was toreoffend, go back to that way of life, I would lose that agreement."

"Essentially my life would be over, I think that's a pretty good reason why I won't reoffend."

'I would look forward to a boring lifestyle'

Roberto was questioned about why he continued to live a violent, dead-endcriminal lifestyle.

"Why not be a straight person?" Crowley asked.

"I wish I would have but it's all I knew," said Roberto. "They were my brothers, my family ... I didn't realize where it would have led to."

Crowley pointed out that life on the outside, living crime free would likely bore Roberto.

"I would look forward to a boring lifestyle at this point," Roberto said. "I have changed, I don't want to go back."

In a public service announcementvideo that plays at the Calgary Police Service's new interpretive centreRoberto advises kids to stay away from the gang life andspeaks of the violent lifestyle that kept him looking over his shoulder every day.

He told Crowley and Trowbridge that continuing to reach out to kids was part of his release plan.

"I think I can make a difference," he said."Making those videos and talking to young kids."

Though victims are allowed to make presentations, noneregistered for Roberto's hearing.

Right now, Roberto iseligible for full parole and can apply at any time but if he wants to try for day parole againhe mustwait one year.