William Tocco
Encyclopedia
William "Black Bill" Tocco (February 12, 1897 - May 28, 1972) was an Italian-American mobster from Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan
and a founding member of the Detroit Partnership
of La Cosa Nostra.
, Sicily
on February 13, 1897. He was one of seven children born to Giacomo Tocco and Nicolina Moceri. In 1910 the Tocco family immigrated to Detroit, Michigan
, and William became a naturalized citizen after serving in the United States Army
during World War I
.
operations. On August 11, 1920, he was arrested for the murder of Antonio Badalamenti, a Vitale Gang leader killed in retaliation for an attack on Giuseppe Manzello and Angelo Polizzi. The charges were dropped two days later. With Manzello dead, Meli took over the Giannola Gang, renaming it the Eastside Mob, and appointing Tocco and Zerilli as his top aides.
After Giovanni Vitale's death on October 2, 1920, Salvatore Catalanotte
dominated the Sicilian crime syndicate and organized the Pascuzzi Combine - a liquor syndicate consisting of the remaining gangs. With profits made by Tocco and Zerilli's in the Pascuzzi Combine, they purchased the Pheiffer Brewing Co. Pheiffer's assets were then taken over by States Products Co. The company continued producing malt
products and did well for around five years, then it was changed to the Pheiffer Products Co. On February 5, 1932, Tocco was arrested for conspiracy to violate the National Prohibition Act. Eight days after the raid, a federal injunction closed Pheiffer Products and Meyer Products for alleged wort
production. Not long after this Zerilli and Tocco were barred from participating in the legal beer business by the Michigan
State Liquor Control Commission and ordered to sell their interest in the Pheiffer Brewing.
families nationwide. He was a major factor in aligning the Partnership with several crime families, including the Profaci crime family in New York. In 1952, his son Anthony Tocco married Carmella Profaci, daughter of Joe Profaci
. In 1953, Tocco’s daughter married Carlo Licata the son of Nick Licata
a former mobster who was ousted by the Detroit Family and was adopted by the Los Angeles crime family
headed by Jack Dragna
. Nick Licata attended the wedding in Detroit and was back in good standing with the Partnership.
letter to purchase the Hazel Park Stadium Company (HPSC). Andrews then went on to fill Bellanca in with the details of the company plans, which centered around the proposed construction of an automobile or harness racing
track in Hazel Park, Michigan
. Bellanca started soliciting for investors, who happened to be Tocco and Joe Zerilli, through this they formed a second corporation, named Hazel Park Racing Association. The track was finished after Bellanca attained money from the syndicate leaders. Hazel Parks success led to a dispute between HPSC's original incorporators and Bellanca's Hazel Park Racing Association. Tocco, Zerilli and Bellanca expanded their interest in horse racing
on June 27, 1957, by purchasing the Wheeling Downs Race Track in Wheeling, West Virginia
.
. On May 28, 1972, he died in Bon Secours Hospital in Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan. He was 75 years old and he left behind his wife Rosalia, seven children, and 28 grand children. The funeral was held in the Church of the Holy Family in Detroit, Michigan. His body was buried in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery.
Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan
Grosse Pointe Park is a city in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 11,555 at the 2010 census. Bordering on Detroit with frontage on southern Lake Saint Clair, it is the westernmost of the noted Grosse Pointe suburbs, with the oldest overall housing stock of the five cities...
and a founding member of the Detroit Partnership
Detroit Partnership
The Detroit Partnership, also known as the Detroit crime family, Detroit Combination, Detroit Mafia, Detroit Outfit or Zerilli crime family is an American Mafia crime family based in Detroit, Michigan...
of La Cosa Nostra.
Early years
William Tocco was born Guglielmo Vito Tocco in TerrasiniTerrasini
Terrasini is a town and comune in the Province of Palermo on the island of Sicily in Italy.-Data:Terrasini is located west of Palermo at the motorway between Palermo and Trapani, between the mountains and the Gulf of Castellammare near the Palermo International Airport.Terrasini's population works...
, Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
on February 13, 1897. He was one of seven children born to Giacomo Tocco and Nicolina Moceri. In 1910 the Tocco family immigrated to Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
, and William became a naturalized citizen after serving in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
Criminal career
After returning to Detroit, Tocco joined his cousin Giuseppe Zerilli and Angelo Meli in backing the Giannola Brothers' bootleggingRum-running
Rum-running, also known as bootlegging, is the illegal business of transporting alcoholic beverages where such transportation is forbidden by law...
operations. On August 11, 1920, he was arrested for the murder of Antonio Badalamenti, a Vitale Gang leader killed in retaliation for an attack on Giuseppe Manzello and Angelo Polizzi. The charges were dropped two days later. With Manzello dead, Meli took over the Giannola Gang, renaming it the Eastside Mob, and appointing Tocco and Zerilli as his top aides.
After Giovanni Vitale's death on October 2, 1920, Salvatore Catalanotte
Salvatore Catalanotte
Salvatore "Sam Sings in the Night" Catalanotte was an Italian-American mobster and boss of Detroit's Unione Siciliana from 1920 to 1930. "Sings in the night" is a translation of his last name.-Criminal career:...
dominated the Sicilian crime syndicate and organized the Pascuzzi Combine - a liquor syndicate consisting of the remaining gangs. With profits made by Tocco and Zerilli's in the Pascuzzi Combine, they purchased the Pheiffer Brewing Co. Pheiffer's assets were then taken over by States Products Co. The company continued producing malt
Malt
Malt is germinated cereal grains that have been dried in a process known as "malting". The grains are made to germinate by soaking in water, and are then halted from germinating further by drying with hot air...
products and did well for around five years, then it was changed to the Pheiffer Products Co. On February 5, 1932, Tocco was arrested for conspiracy to violate the National Prohibition Act. Eight days after the raid, a federal injunction closed Pheiffer Products and Meyer Products for alleged wort
Wort
Wort may refer to:* Wort, the liquid created by the mashing of malted barley to use in brewing beer* Worting, Hampshire, a large district and suburb of the town of Basingstoke, in Hampshire, England....
production. Not long after this Zerilli and Tocco were barred from participating in the legal beer business by the Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
State Liquor Control Commission and ordered to sell their interest in the Pheiffer Brewing.
Family life
In 1928, Tocco married Rosalia Zerilli and purchased land in Grosse Pointe Park where they raised their seven children. Tocco's success earned him respect from MafiaMafia
The Mafia is a criminal syndicate that emerged in the mid-nineteenth century in Sicily, Italy. It is a loose association of criminal groups that share a common organizational structure and code of conduct, and whose common enterprise is protection racketeering...
families nationwide. He was a major factor in aligning the Partnership with several crime families, including the Profaci crime family in New York. In 1952, his son Anthony Tocco married Carmella Profaci, daughter of Joe Profaci
Joe Profaci
Giuseppe "Joe" Profaci was a New York La Cosa Nostra boss who was the founder of what is today known as the Colombo crime family. Established in 1928, this was the last of the Five Families to be organized. He was the family's boss for over three decades.-Family ties:Profaci's sons were Frank...
. In 1953, Tocco’s daughter married Carlo Licata the son of Nick Licata
Nick Licata (mobster)
Nick "Old Man" Licata was an Italian American mobster who was the Boss of the Los Angeles crime family from 1967 until his death in 1974.-Early life:...
a former mobster who was ousted by the Detroit Family and was adopted by the Los Angeles crime family
Los Angeles crime family
The Los Angeles crime family is an Italian American criminal organization based in Los Angeles, as part of the American Mafia . Since its inception in the early 1900s, it has spread throughout Southern California. Like most Mafia families in the United States, the L.A. family gained power...
headed by Jack Dragna
Jack Dragna
Jack Ignatius Dragna was an American Mafia member and Black Hander who was active in both Italy and the United States in the 1900s. He was active in bootlegging in California during the Prohibition Era in the United States...
. Nick Licata attended the wedding in Detroit and was back in good standing with the Partnership.
The Hazel Park Race Track
The Outfit's involvement with Hazel Park began in 1948 following the visit of a local auto dealer, Waldo Andrews to the law office of James Bellanca. Andrews had secured a 30-day optionOption (law)
In law, an option is the right to convey a piece of property. The person granting the option is called the optionor and the person who has the benefit of the option is called the optionee .Options characteristically exist in one of two forms:* Call options, which give the beneficiary the right to...
letter to purchase the Hazel Park Stadium Company (HPSC). Andrews then went on to fill Bellanca in with the details of the company plans, which centered around the proposed construction of an automobile or harness racing
Harness racing
Harness racing is a form of horse racing in which the horses race at a specific gait . They usually pull a two-wheeled cart called a sulky, although racing under saddle is also conducted in Europe.-Breeds:...
track in Hazel Park, Michigan
Hazel Park, Michigan
Hazel Park is a city in Oakland County of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 16,422. Hazel Park was incorporated in 1941 and bills itself as "The Friendly City"....
. Bellanca started soliciting for investors, who happened to be Tocco and Joe Zerilli, through this they formed a second corporation, named Hazel Park Racing Association. The track was finished after Bellanca attained money from the syndicate leaders. Hazel Parks success led to a dispute between HPSC's original incorporators and Bellanca's Hazel Park Racing Association. Tocco, Zerilli and Bellanca expanded their interest in horse racing
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
on June 27, 1957, by purchasing the Wheeling Downs Race Track in Wheeling, West Virginia
Wheeling, West Virginia
Wheeling is a city in Ohio and Marshall counties in the U.S. state of West Virginia; it is the county seat of Ohio County. Wheeling is the principal city of the Wheeling Metropolitan Statistical Area...
.
Death
Tocco spent most of the last nine years of his life in Miami, FloridaMiami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
. On May 28, 1972, he died in Bon Secours Hospital in Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan. He was 75 years old and he left behind his wife Rosalia, seven children, and 28 grand children. The funeral was held in the Church of the Holy Family in Detroit, Michigan. His body was buried in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery.
See also
- Jack ToccoJack ToccoGiacomo “Jack” Tocco is an Italian-American mobster from Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan, and alleged boss of the national organized crime organization known as The Detroit Partnership, based in Detroit, Michigan.-Early life:...