The Detroit Mafia - The Man Who Created His Own 5 Families - Joe Zerilli & William Tocco - 1969

Joe Zerilli was a serious old-timer and the Boss of the Detroit crime family, a man who created his own version of the "Five Families." He was respected throughout the world of organized crime. Wherever he went, he was treated with the utmost respect. Before he even took his seat at a wedding or other ceremonies, powerful individuals would wipe it down to ensure it was free of any dust. It didn't matter if you were a friend or an enemy; you had to respect Joe.
He was incredibly wealthy and didn't hide it. Unlike other bosses who concealed their riches, Joe flaunted his. He drove luxury cars and went to great lengths to ensure he wasn’t being followed or wiretapped. His connections spanned across America, with businesses in Miami, Middle America, and New Orleans. He was heavily connected to other major crime figures, including Carlos Marcello, the Genovese crime family, and Russell Bufalino. Whenever Jimmy Hoffa's name came up, so did Joe’s and his crime family's.
Despite his power, accurate information about Joe’s involvement in major events, like the Hoffa situation, remains elusive. It’s known that the Bufalino family handled Hoffa, but Joe’s role is still shrouded in mystery. During the Kennedy administration, Joe was targeted by authorities. However, the newspapers and the Justice Department admitted he was too rich and too connected to touch. They conceded that he would never go to prison and would die a free man. Instead, they targeted lower-level gangsters, considering Joe untouchable.
Joe was also the subject of contrasting opinions from the media. The Saturday Evening Post claimed that the Detroit Police Department and FBI were making significant headway in taking him down. In contrast, the Detroit Press laughed at those suggestions, asserting that Joe was untouchable and would never be arrested. Ultimately, the Detroit Press was proven right.
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[@johng1758]

I live in Detroit and I have been inside Tony Jac’s house after his wife Rose passed away. I walked in and there is a huge painting of the two of them. My mouth dropped and said OMFG is that before I could continue, there daughter said yep. She also said don’t believe everything you hear in the media. She was so nice (and pretty good looking if I can say). I’m 100% Sicilian so we got along great!

[@El_Peto]

The Mrs was a snooty stuck up woman thinking herself high society when she was married to a murderous drug trafficker.

[@pjpredhomme7699]

She could say that - for the rest of us - believe it . I crossed paths with him a couple times - I don't scare easy & I knew his brother - he was a scary MF

[@jeremiahallen2393]

Scott Bernstein is the man on Detroit mafia history

[@user-we6bl7yn1u]

Joe was so powerful and no one seams to know about joe its nuts the wanna be mob tub channels never mention his name my friend .they are so lame u are a person that knows his shit and salute for having a well organized channel .just saying 🇨🇦🇮🇲🇺🇸💪👉👈

[@HistoryAndOrganisedCrime1919]

They are a family that was extremely secretive. Trying to get accurate information on them is difficult. The Saturday Evening Post hit them and then the Detroit Press but nothing else was a threat to them. I like to cover families only a few channels talk about hence why I'm covering Carlos Marcello and his power in the south. Joe Zerilli names comes up quiet a few times. I was stunned to realize he could come to New Orleans when he liked without permission which was unheard of. Thank you for kind words also. It means a lot. History and organised Crime

[@powell4661]

My memory of NOLA is that the other families had to ask for permission to visit, were limited as to how many men visited, and were greeted at the airport.

[@josephsierzengaIV]

The Detroit Partnership strategically placed Pete Licavoli ( A Boss) in Arizona about the same time Joe Bonnano moved out there….Bonanno, Zerilli and Tocco were related through marriage. The Bosses from San Diego Montranga and LA’s Nick Licata were from Detroit as well. They had a lot of power on the West Coast 💯

[@Chronicheaven]

I'm related to some of Detroit's founders(lcn) however we NEVER spoke, speak, or think about it for some reason. My grandparents and parents were honest, hard-working, upstanding contributors to society. My Grandpa fought/combat in WW2 in France and lucky for me, he was 1 of 4 survivors of an ambush by Germans in that country. He was an infantry engineer, so his job was to detonate landmines before his regiment advanced. Thanks for the great content!

[@EricD-j3j]

He was one of the few outside of NYC on the commission. Bruno,maggidino being the others

[@MoneyMayle1]

I was born in Detroit in 1982 and have lived into the metro area my entire life. I went to school in the mentioned Grosse Pointe where the heavy hitters all lived (right down the street in apartment section). I went to school with Jack Tocco, big Jack's grandson, but as kids we knew nothing about any of this. Tremendous job on this, I thoroughly enjoyed it!

[@HistoryAndOrganisedCrime1919]

Glad you enjoyed it...!

[@rustymorgan6494]

I have really enjoyed some of your Detroit posts. I drove a produce truck and a few other vehicles for Tony Jack's brother Vito for a couple years in the 90s. His kid is the "Man With The Plan" now, the good ole days!

[@josephsierzengaIV]

For the juice company?

[@fuzzybutkus8970]

Jacky’s actress daughter had a peanut allergy event and is in a vegetive state. He takes care of her now. He won several million dollars against ambulance company. They say he’s stepped back. Pete Tocco street boss died this week.

[@josephsierzengaIV]

@@fuzzybutkus8970 yes… it’s been this way now for almost a decade! She was such a nice, down to earth, beautiful Girl!!! So sad🙏

[@El_Peto]

​@@fuzzybutkus8970want to be actress. It was about 30 mil. Don't hear too many people mention Jackie the Kid

[@josephsierzengaIV]

True Ivy League Borgata💯 And PS… ‘The Irishman’ wasnt and wound not of done Shit to Anthony ‘TonyJack’ Giacolone! Outside of ‘Fat Tony’ and Angelo Bruno ‘TonyJack’ Giacolone was the most powerful LCN member in that whole movie. He was just as smart, as he was dangerous…that’s why he was ‘FrontBoss’ or ‘StreetBoss’ for 40yrs and vacationed regularly with Tony Accardo, Joey Aiuppa Russ Bufalino and Anthony Ricci from the Genovese Family. Fact.

[@pjpredhomme7699]

Anyone that has any credibility found the Irishman a joke . I think the guy was trying to make one last score - before he died so he made up all kinds of things . That aside - you don't have to know a whole lot - to know that in the mid 70's NOBODY was going to be doing anything to the Giacolone's. They were on another level to most of your rank and file LCN both in terms of rackets and violence. Nothing was going to happen on their turf without their OK. The body count that surrounds them is astronomical - and never a conviction. The John Gotti's of the world are a joke by comparison

[@josephsierzengaIV]

@@pjpredhomme7699 💯 and what this guy is failing to recognize is that after Hoffa disappeared teamsters vowed revenge for Hoffa, and actually formed hit squad to take out the Giacolone’s Angelo Meli, Anthony’Tawn’ Tocco Pete Vitale etc and those teamsters were all gunned down or died in bizarre fashion’s and killed in Michigan….not NY not Pennsylvania.

[@El_Peto]

​@@pjpredhomme7699both the brothers did time

[@pjpredhomme7699]

​@@El_Petoyeah that is not any secret - I guess that must mean something to you

[@pjpredhomme7699]

Tony Giacalone was no joke , very cunning dangerous man

[@EricD-j3j]

Needed to mention powerhouses peter corrado,Anthony corrado,papa john prizzola,tony d ana,whose uncles were first dons before zerilli n tocco, Joseph Barbara jr Angelo melli

[@EricD-j3j]

The mayors house was sam sings,boss before zerilli,and tony n vito jacks uncle

[@djquinn11]

I love all things Detroit OC. Good stuff here.

[@sajjbrown2357]

Love this Detroit OC history!

[@johnnyonetake9249]

Glad to see that clown gunner wasnt mentioned lmao

[@gurnblanston5000]

DeNiro shoulda been Tony Pro or Tony Jack in the film. Or both.

[@sunflowerdownunder]

Simply the best. I enjoy listening so much.🌻

[@HistoryAndOrganisedCrime1919]

Glad you enjoy it! I always appreciate your support.

[@EricD-j3j]

But Detroit is just as active as the five fam inn 2024

[@user-we6bl7yn1u]

Detroit they have close ties to my place of birth Hamilton Ontario started in the prohibition days to get very much closer then ever Hamilton had a big alcohol smuggler Perri his last name was so Little ole steel town was in between buffalo & detroit wht a money making place to be my god like having a money tree out back not one a acer of them lol yes oh yes

[@josephsierzengaIV]

If Jimmy Didn’t fully trust Tony Jack and Billy Jack then why was he meeting with them exclusively, the last year of his Life? And two times the week leading up to his actual disappearance?🤔

[@pjpredhomme7699]

​@@josephsierzengaIV Wasn't Hoffa supposed to be meeting with Provenzano ? in order to do that he would need to go thru the Giacolone's. Remember the day Hoffa disappeared - Tony was @ the Southfield AC - and made a point of asking what time it was very loudly so that he had plenty of witnesses for his whereabouts that day. Billy lost his FBI tail and was unaccounted for a lot of that day.

[@josephsierzengaIV]

@@pjpredhomme7699 he was supposed to meet ‘Tony Jack’ and ‘Pro’ who are cousins…And Hoffa thought he was meeting Pro bc Giacolone’s told him that he would meet him there.(lie) What’s your point? Or are you just pointing out Giacolone obviously knew what was going on, and set himself up for a rock solid alibi??? He also met with an Attorney w/Jack Tocco a guy he NEVER was with in public that day… giving the ‘Acting Boss’ and ‘StreetBoss’ sit tight alibi’s

[@williampatterson1376]

Is Detroit Mafia still alive in 2024 , 🤔 Detroit Mafia an Cleveland Ohio Mafia got any families/members down here in Wellsville Ohio Steubenville Ohio Toronto Ohio

[@audreydaleski1067]

Knew about the bakery

[@BCRSIX]

This must be an audio reading of a book. I wonder what the name of the book was and who wrote it? Anybody got any ideas?

[@HistoryAndOrganisedCrime1919]

These are articles not books.... The first one is the Saturday Post I believe 1968 then The Detroit Press three part series... again released in 1968.. No need to wounder...

[@BCRSIX]

@@HistoryAndOrganisedCrime1919 Thanks!

[@jeremiahallen2393]

Got a few things wrong black bill the boss before joe. Then after blackjack Tocco. Bills son took over

[@HistoryAndOrganisedCrime1919]

These are articles that came out I believe during the end of 60s giving an insight in regards to what was being printed about the Detroit mafia

[@anthonygenovese5338]

What's with the snow in indoor scenes? I'm tempted to give it a thumbs down.

[@Baskerville22]

Childish writing, short on detail but overloaded with hyperbolic generalities.

[@HistoryAndOrganisedCrime1919]

There are four articles in this piece. The Saturday Evening Post and a three piece article bynthe Detroit Press only the 2 min introduction is mine. The rest are all actual articles released in 1969.

[@Chronicheaven]

How u like them apples baskerville?? I mean, U tried hurting someone's feelings and attacking their art, which clearly took time, effort, courage and passion, yet, come to find out that your intended victim hadn't even written the material. I guess I'm saying that when u attempt to be a classless lowlife, like you, many times God shows how off your assumptions are and gives you an opportunity to grow and evolve.. However, I'm sure with my experience I can pull your card and exactly pinpoint your character description. It gets easier with experience and dealing with trash over and over..

[@audreydaleski1067]

Uno.

[@Flowerz__]

Is this all Ai?

[@HistoryAndOrganisedCrime1919]

The voice is I put the script together myself and I edited the video myself

[@Flowerz__]

@@HistoryAndOrganisedCrime1919okay thanks brotha. Just came back to this video and seeing your reply. Going to give it a watch now! I think I was skeptical bc didn’t want to waste time with an AI generated vid, I get using the voice but glad to hear the script is human made!

[@audreydaleski1067]

Usury

[@GHOST67892]

👍

[@sputumtube]

This video could have been much shorter and twice as concise if it didn't depend on such a long-winded festival of flowery adjectives.

[@HistoryAndOrganisedCrime1919]

Some of the information is from different articles from different times. The articles repeat some of the same information to inform the reader on some history.

[@williamrogers9004]

Don't explain yourself to this crybaby

[@sputumtube]

@@williamrogers9004 Steady on William. It was just my opinion on how the video was presented. There's no need to be rude.

[@Chronicheaven]

Totally. I say screw the guy who has an opinion! Especially after using such long, flowing words for a flowery metaphor to describe a creator’s use of “flowery adjectives” in his opinion. The irony is cringe and brutal and opinions, in general, are for the arrogant…

[@sputumtube]

@@Chronicheaven Lol..... love it. :)