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Joseph Zerilli (born Giuseppe Zerilli; Italian pronunciation: [dʒuˈzɛppe ddzeˈrilli]; December 10, 1897 – October 30, 1977) was an Italian-born American mobster who rose to power in the crime family known as the Detroit Partnership, leading from the 1930s through much of the 1970s.
The Detroit Partnership (also known as the Detroit crime family, the Detroit Combination, the Detroit Mafia, the Zerilli crime family (Italian pronunciation: [dzeˈrilli]), and the Tocco–Zerilli crime family) is an Italian-American Mafia crime family based in Detroit, Michigan. The family mainly operates in Detroit and the Greater Detroit ...
Anthony 'Tony' Joseph Zerilli (October 24, 1927 - March 31, 2015) was an Italian-American mobster from Sterling Heights, Michigan. From 1949 he was one of the majority owners of the highly profitable Hazel Park Raceway. In 1970 he succeeded his father Joseph Zerilli as head of the Detroit Partnership ("The Partnership") criminal organization.
Criminal career In 1979, Jack Tocco assumed leadership of the Detroit Partnership following the death of Joseph Zerilli. [1] Tocco inherited a decimated organization with several key members facing prison. Tocco also lost a valuable resource with the death of Papa John Priziola, one of the last original ruling dons from the Partnership's inception in 1931. Around this time Jack's cousin ...
Giordano and the Detroit family After Tony Lopiparo's death, Anthony Giordano became boss and declared independence from the Kansas City crime family. [1] In the 1970s, Giordano, along with Detroit mobsters Anthony Joseph Zerilli and Michael Polizzi, attempted to gain control of the Frontier Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. [1]
Once the Detroit Partnership was established, Meli became the first and longest serving consigliere. He was considered to be one of the five members of the Ruling Council of the Partnership, along with Joseph Zerilli, Peter Licavoli, Black Bill Tocco, and John Priziola. [20]
Personal life In 1928, Tocco married Rosalia Zerilli, sister of Joseph Zerilli, [3] and they purchased land in Grosse Pointe Park where they raised their seven children, including Jack Tocco, who would become a feared Detroit mafioso. [1] Tocco's success in bootlegging earned him respect from Mafia families nationwide.
It is known that Milazzo was a close associate of the East Side Gang led by Angelo Meli, William "Black Bill" Tocco and Joseph "Joe Uno" Zerilli who took over and led the East Side Mob, the remnants of the former Gianolla Gang, Vitale-Bosco Gang and eventually became the first three leaders of the modern Detroit Partnership, otherwise known as ...