Guglielmo Tocco
Feb. 12, 1897, to May 28, 1972.
"William," "Black Bill"
Tocco came to the U.S. from his Sicilian hometown of Terrasini about 1910. His family settled in Detroit.
During the Prohibition Era, Tocco teamed with other Sicilian bootleggers led by Angelo Meli, creating a forerunner of Detroit's "Partnership." His combination with the family of Joe Zerilli included marrying Rosalie Zerilli.
Another useful link was forged when Tocco's son married into the family of New York Mafioso Joe Profaci. (Tocco's daughter reportedly married into the Licata family on the West Coast.)
In 1963, Senate investigators identified Tocco as one of five men controlling the underworld rackets in the Detroit region. The others were Joseph Zerilli, Angelo Meli, John Priziola and Peter Licavoli. Detroit's Police Commissioner George C. Edwards estimated that the Detroit mob grossed $150 million per year from gambling, extortion, narcotics, prostitution and other criminal enterprises.
Tocco appears to have decided to retire at precisely that moment. He moved to Florida in 1963 and remained there until his death.
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The American "Mafia"