I read the book The Winter of Frankie Machine, and it came to my mind some curiosity on the Detroit Partnership.

With the city of Detroit that has filed for bankruptcy, do you think the mafia will increase its power on the city?

There're new made men cerimony ?

There were killings linked to the family of Detroit?

The book talks about the family of Detroit, which controls streapclubs in San Diego, the Partnership has never had any interest in California or is it just an invention of the writer?



Detroit LCN 2011

Administration

Boss – Giacomo “Black Jack” Tocco
Underboss – Joseph “Joe Hooks” Mirabile
Consigliere – Dominic “Uncle Dom” Bommarito
Counselor Emeritus – Antonino “Tony the Exterminator” Ruggirello
Street Boss – Jack “Jackie the Kid/ Jackie the Bathrobe” Giacalone
Street Counselor – Allen “The General” Hilf

Capos
Anthony “Chicago Tony/Tony Lop” La Piana
Anthony “Tony Pal/The Butterfly” Palazzola
Frank “Frankie the Bomb” Bommarito
Joseph “Joey Jack” Giacalone
Peter “Blackie/Specs” Tocco

Soldiers

Tocco Crew

Anthony “Tony T/Tawn/Tic-Toc Tony” Tocco (retired)
Anthony “Tony Z” Zerilli (retired)
Paul Tocco (retired)
Vito Tocco
Joe Tocco
Jack “Little Jackie/Miami Jack” Tocco (FLA)
Anthony “Little Tony/Little Tawncy” Tocco (FLA)
Anthony “Nino/Smitty” Tocco
Salvatore “Mops” Tocco
Eugene “Genie Boy” Baratta
Joseph “Jo Jo” Messina
Peter “Petey Boy” Messina
Peter “Pete the Clown” Leonardo

La Piana Crew

James “Jackie Two-Guns/Smiling Jack” Russo
Antonio “Toto” Ruggirello
Joseph “Jo Jo” Ruggirello
Anthony “Little Tony Razz/Tony the Builder” Randazzo
Gerard Di Michelle
Isodoro “Teddy San Diego” Matranga (CA)
Joseph “Joe D” Di Stefano

Palazzola Crew

Salvatore “Sparky” Palazzola, Jr.
Joe Barbara, Jr.
Dominic “Big Dom” Vivio (retired)
Frank “Frankie the ch*nk/The Butcher” Versaci
Paul “Big Paulie” Corrado
Paul “Cousin Paulie/The Fixer” Corrado
Peter “Fat Pete” Corrado
Peter “The Baby Bull” Corrado
Anthony “Nino/Tony the Scientist” Corrado
Dominic “Chicago Dom” Corrado

Bommarito Crew

Vito “Billy Jack” Giacalone (retired)
John “Johnny Bananas” Sciarotta
Joseph “Joey the Trashman” Tringale
Anthony “Little Tony Long/The Executive” Cimini
Dominic Rubino
Giesuppe “Joe the Hood” D’Anna (in charge of zips)
Girolamo “Mimo” D’Anna
Vincenzo “Vinnie Meatballs/Enzo the Greaseball” Bronzino

Giacalone Crew

Jack “Jackie the Nose” Giacalone (FLA)
Anthony “Fat Tony” Giacalone, Jr.
Vincent “Vinnie Jack” Giacalone
Joseph "Joe White" Giacalone
William “Billy Lee” Loiacano (retired)
Sam Ventilmiglia (TEX)
Joseph “Joe Gravel” Gargalino (retired)
David “Davey the Doughnut” Aceto
Patrick Ruggerio
Anthony Ruggerio
Robert “Bobby the Animal” La Puma

Furio, that is one of my favorite books (read it three times). Real cool how the author used real LA/Detroit figures but just changed the names by one or two letters LOL. They were supposed to make a movie with Deniro as Frankie but it fell through. Too bad as it would have made an awesome movie. You should check out the other Don Winslow books if you haven't. Sorry, I can't answer your question though.

don't worry Baldo,but I read that the movie was in stand-bye,have bought the copyrights to make the film, but they have not agreed on who will be the director and the main actor.

Detroit's conditions have no effect on (Metro) Detroit's family, since they've been thriving in the middle-class suburbs since Zerilli's reign (1950's/1960's) -- primarily in southern Macomb County (i.e., Roseville, Warren, St. Clair Shores, Sterling Heights, and Clinton Twp). Also Oakland (where several high-ranking members reside), Washtenaw (which contains the cities of Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti), and Genesee (which contains the city of Flint). They've also had in interests as far north as Saginaw, and as far south as Monroe County (on the border of Ohio).

One author claims membership is possibly over 50, but it's probably closer to around 30 made members, and about twice as many associates. There's been rumors of at least 2 ceremonies since Jack Tocco's release from prison in 2003, which would bring membership to around ~ 30 total (around 10 members have died since the FBI's 1996/2001 estimate of 30 made members).

Isodoro “Teddy San Diego” Matranga (a soldier) still resides in San Diego. Historically speaking, he has been involved in San Diego-area strip clubs. He hasn't been busted for anything in quite some time, however, at least federally. He's in the 60's.

There is at least one family that is not on the chart. Knew them well. Dad, sons, uncles were all involved and, given their relatively affluent lifestyle, I would be surprised if at least one, and probably more than one, were not made.

All dead or in jail now from what I understand, but they never made it into the papers. One of the kids got shot years ago. Heard the other one died but don't know if it was from natural causes or not. Could never find anthing on it online.

What's left of the Partnership is almost exclusively involved in gambling and loan-sharking now so I don't how much, if any, impact the city declaring bankruptcy has, or will have, on the family. Considering how (I hate to overuse this phrase) low-key the family has been in the recent years, it's doubtful that they will all of a sudden get big in unions and labor racketeering again when they seem to be living comfortably off of their books and shylocking, especially with the reduced numbers they now employ. No reason to get the feds all riled up.

I assume these two are the only "zips" he's in "charge" of

Is there any Detroit poster out here with some more info overall?

when will you people finally realize that the partnership doesnt operate in detroit? they followed the white flight to the suburbs decades ago

Detroit is dead.

Move on.

You are a fool if you really believe what you typed above.

geez sonny
that's disappointing

Here is a 2013 Detroit Chart from Scott Bernstein, investigative journalist and author. I do believe Detroit isn't as strong as Bernstein contends, but at the end of the day, he would know more than anybody on this entire site regarding Detroit:


Detroit LCN 2013
Administration:
Boss – Giacomo “Black Jack” Tocco
Acting Boss - Jack "Jackie the Kid" Giacalone
Underboss – Joseph “Joe Hooks” Mirabile
Acting UB - Anthony "Chicago Tony" La Piana
Consigliere – Dominic “Uncle Dom” Bommarito
Counselor Emeritus – Antonino “Tony the Exterminator” Ruggirello
Street Boss - Jack "Jackie the Kid" Giacalone
Acting SB - Peter "Blackie"/"Specs" Tocco
Street Counselor – Allen “The General” Hilf

Caporegimes
Anthony “Chicago Tony” La Piana
Anthony “Tony Pal/The Butterfly” Palazzola
Joseph “Joey Jack” Giacalone
Peter “Blackie/Specs” Tocco
Acting - Paul "Big Paulie" Corrado
David "Davey the Doughnut" Aceto

Soldiers
Anthony “Tony Z” Zerilli (shelved)
Frank "Frankie the Bomb" Bommarito (shelved -operating small solo rackets)
Dominic "Big Dom" Vivio (shelved -PITT)
Paul Tocco (Inactive -95)
Vito Tocco
Joe Tocco
Jack “Little Jackie/Miami Jack” Tocco (FLA)
Anthony “Little Tony/Little Tawncy” Tocco
Anthony “Nino/Smitty” Tocco
Salvatore “Mops/Junior” Tocco
Eugene “Genie Boy” Baratta
Joe Barbara, Jr.
Joseph “Jo Jo” Messina
Peter “Petey Boy” Messina
Peter “Pete the Clown” Leonardo
Antonio “Toto” Ruggirello
Anthony “Little Tony Razz/Tony the Builder” Randazzo
Gerard Di Michelle
Louis "Butch" Stramaglia
Antonio "Tony the Zip" Ciraulo (life in prison)
Isodoro “Teddy San Diego” Matranga (CA)
Joseph “Joe D” Di Stefano
Salvatore “Sparky/Little Sammy” Palazzola, Jr.
Paul “Cousin Paulie/The Fixer” Corrado
Peter “Fat Pete” Corrado
Peter “The Baby Bull” Corrado
Anthony “Nino/Tony the Scientist” Corrado
Dominic “Chicago Dom” Corrado (CHI-NW IND)
John “Johnny Bananas” Sciarotta
Joseph “Joey the Trashman” Tringali
Anthony “Little Tony Long/The Executive” Cimini, Jr.
Dominic Rubino
Giesuppe “Joe the Hood” D’Anna (in charge of Sicilian "zip" faction)
Girolamo “Mimo” D’Anna
Vincenzo “Vinnie Meatballs/Enzo the Greaseball” Bronzino
Jack “Jackie the Nose” Giacalone (FLA)
Vincent “Vinnie Jack” Giacalone
Joseph "Joe White/Big Joey Jack" Giacalone (Flint)
William “Billy Lee” Loiacano (retired - FLA)
Sam Ventilmiglia (TEX)
Joseph “Joe Gravel” Gargalino (retired -FLA)
Danny "The Trigger" Triglia (retired)
Patrick Ruggerio
Anthony Ruggerio
Robert “Bobby the Animal” La Puma

Guys who could be on verge of a button: Little Petey Tocco, Little Tony Pal, Benny "Marbles" Mirable, Little Joey Tocco, Frank Di Stefano

Scott's charts have always been inflated, but he's been dead-on with most stuff. He definitely deserves a lot of credit.

Like I've said before, there is around ~ 30 total made members, and at LEAST twice as many associates (of course, no one can truly define "associate"). Each of the captains have 2-6 made guys under them. There are some younger members -- i.e., Dominic Corrado, who is 42. Here's a recent picture of him from last month with Vince Giac (also a made member), who is Jackie's younger brother. He is 47 and lives in Shelby Twp. Many members/associates (along with middle-class people in general) have scurried further into the northern suburbs over the past decade or so. The girl in the picture is their (Jackie and Vince) sister Diane.

I totally agree that Scott tries "to sell the hype" and has inflated numbers since I joined Real Deal a few years ago. Scott knows more than me in regards to Detroit, no doubt...but he tries to be the Jerry Capeci or the George Anastasia of their respective cities mafia family and I just don't buy that Detroit is all that active...I'm just not buying it...I could be wrong, I'll admit that...but I just am not going to digest it. Too many holes, too many conflicting opinions and the fact of the matter is that the FBI isn't going to share the sensitive stuff with a journalist who covers the mafia. I give him props for writing his Detroit book and getting a co-writing credit for the Leonetti book, but it's still hard for me to believe that Detroit is smarter than every other mafia family like he claims they are.

Scott B lists the guys so i guess you just go down the list and see which guys you agree on and which ones you don't. Not like he just came up with a number, he does put names to it.

Again, I wouldn't know as my expertise is Pittsburgh/Youngstown/Cleveland...However, I do believe that a lot of the names that Scott lists are misrepresented or just not made members...If these numbers were accurate, Detroit would be as powerful or influential as Chicago...AND I JUST DON"T BUY IT.

Honestly i know very little on the Detroit family of today so i'm really not in a position to say either way.

But maybe a local guy could go down that list and determine how accurate it is or isn't. Most of those names mean nothing to me, again i'm just not that familiar with Detroit.

I did. And the number I came up with was 31, and that was including the few known members who are shelved and/or definitely inactive.

Some of the names are spelled incorrectly (or some of the guys have varying names). For instance, Gerard Di Michele (a/k/a Gerard DeMichele) is also somewhat young at the age of 54, and is very likely made. He was mentioned in the 2001 IBT investigation report, and was, apparently, very close with Nove Tocco. I couldn't find anything on him until I discovered the alternative spelling, which revealed his relatively recent '06 arrest for throwing a poker party in Clinton Twp. He opened up a vending company (Macomb Vending) a few years ago.

I had this discussion on a different forum: if someone were to perform a legitimate legal search on these guys, you'd definitely see more activity. If it's not a felony, or if it's knocked-down to a misdemeanor in the district court (VERY common for a crime like gambling), and if the papers don't pick up on the case, no one would ever know about it. If you search up current local county jail inmates, people would see there is usually a substantial number of people in there on gambling-related charges (mostly misdemeanors), but the papers almost never pick up on them.

DeMichele's case is a good example. If Robert Perakis (politician / former state representative) wasn't arrested with him, the papers wouldn't have touched it.

31 sounds like a fair number to me, thanks MacombGuy.

Is there anything to support an estimate of 30 made guys in Detroit other than the estimate itself?

i.e., are there any signs of activity--busts, murders, etc.?

At the risk of starting another never-ending mudslinging contest, the Feds estimate Chicago has less than 30 made guys right now.

While I suppose the idea of Detroit having more guys than Chicago is not impossible, I can't think of any reason, from documented history to population demographics, that it would be so.

All indicators in fact would point to Detroit having a mere fraction of what Chicago has.

Have the old times step aside,i see acting ub,acting street boss,acting boss what is going on in Detroit.

I will go with the 31 number, much more believable than the 45-50 "active" made guys that Scott claimed to be. I still say "active" would be around 20-25...but I will buy 31.

Chicago and the "made" status is different than Detroit (and all other traditional Cosa Nostra families). I'm quite positive you already know this.

If anyone took a look at that list and based it off previous FBI statements, you'd come up with about 20 made men, and most of them are in their 60s, 70s, and 80s. Since they haven't released ANY kind of chart in 30+ years, the other 10 or so is purely from research. And my estimate of 31 is a far cry from Scott's estimate of 45-60, which is a bit insane.

A few people believe it is closer to 20 members, but that'd be assuming that Detroit hasn't had a ceremony since the early 90s, which would be a ridiculous assumption.

+1

That said, MC Scott knows his stuff. And 25 to 30 members is still a good sized family in this day and age. It all comes down to the inter/intra marriage thing with them. That, and Detroit has a dead inner city, with a large suburban surrounding area, meaning that the action is now spread out all over the metro area. Its no longer concentrated like it used to be. Except the Greektown area. This would make it harder for the feds to servielle all the 30 members.

I agree that Scott knows his stuff, in fact, I agree with most of what he writes about. But I do believe he has a "role" to play in selling books and hyping up the Detroit Partnership bigger than what they really are. The suburbs and blood relation is something he's been talking about for years and now everybody else talks about it because they eat up every word he says just because he published a book. His accomplishment in publishing a book is nothing to downplay, but a lot of people now look at him as God because he is one of the few authors on Real Deal. Again, I like Scott and he definitely knows more about Detroit than I do...but he also is a salesman.

Yep. Like I said, the 31 total includes the (very) prominent shelved/retired members -- i.e., Zerilli, Paul Tocco, Danny Triglia, and Frankie Bommarito -- who are all in their 80s.

To be technical, Nove Tocco, by definition, is still a made member; albeit, he's a rat in WP.

Historically, they've been harder to grab because of their close relations, and the fact that virtually everything is kept under wraps. And in all honesty, a part of me believes Zerilli was telling the truth about Hoffa's burial site. Meaning, I wouldn't be surprised if the Giac Brothers purposely lied to him. Zerilli's always had a beef, and they knew this. Really, there was no need for him to know about where the body was at (or where it was destroyed). The only people who truly had to know explicit information were the people who killed him. I'd bet a billion that Vito's own son (and future boss within the next few years) knows nothing about that affair either. It's for the better.

And it's that kind of thing that has kept them around.

They're official all-time low was 23 made members in 1984. And if you adjusted for the deaths which made up that total, they doubled their size in about a decade (by the '96/'01 FBI estimate). They haven't had more than a couple dozen active members at any given time since the late-70's, and I see no reason why they wouldn't keep it that way.

[/quote] Chicago and the "made" status is different than Detroit (and all other traditional Cosa Nostra families). I'm quite positive you already know this. [/quote]

No I don't. I know Chicago didn't "make" guys for a long time but since they started I don't know how it's any different than the traditional LCN meaning.

Detroits leadership all have college degrees
Wiseguys in other cities can't even read much less be able to acquire a degree
Also I believe the fact that the leadership has always been wealthy has allowed them to not be cheap, because they didn't grow up poor, so you didn't have wiseguys flipping because they weren't taken care of financially

From what I understand, associates are treated differently by the Chicago Outfit than other families. Meaning, they're given greater power in the organization as opposed to other families, and they don't seem to hold the "made" status to a very high regard as other families do. When was the last known making ceremony in Chicago? Are they still making new members in traditional ceremonies?

Honestly, I know very little about the Outfit. I'm only truly knowledgeable about the Detroit family -- which has always used ceremonies, and where there has always been a world of difference between an associate and a made man.