The Violent Years (16 page)

Joseph Zerilli (his name is misspelled in photo) and William “Black Bill” Tocco during the police investigation of the Chester LaMare murder February 1931.

(Photo courtesy of the author’s collection)

William “Black Bill” Tocco during the Kefauver hearings 1950-51.

(Photo courtesy of the
Detroit News
collections at the Walter Reuther Library, Wayne State University)

Frankie Cammarata. Cammarata was a River Gang gunman and bank robber. He was later deported.

(Photo courtesy of the author‘s collection)

A late twenties Detroit Police show up photo of a number of important Detroit Italian mob figures. Included is Peter Corrado (far left) and Thomas “Yonny” Licavoli (second from left).

(Photo courtesy of the author’s collection)

A late twenties Detroit Police show up photo of members of the River Gang. Joe Moceri (second from left) and the Licavoli brothers were the leaders of the River Gang.

(Photo courtesy of the author’s collection)

Peter Licavoli shown in a 1935 mug shot.

(Photo courtesy of the author‘s collection)

Joe Zerilli in his prime. He eventually became the principle boss of the Detroit area Mafia family and one of the most powerful underworld figures in the country.

(Photo courtesy of the
Detroit News
collections at the Walter Reuther Library, Wayne State University)

James Licavoli, a cousin of Pete and Thomas Licavoli, worked as a gunman for the River Gang. He later became boss of the Cleveland, Ohio mob.

(Photo courtesy of the author‘s collection)

Elmer Macklin pulled the trigger on Chester LaMare in 1931.

(Photo courtesy of the author‘s collection)

Joseph Massei, second from left, an important leader of the River Gang, pictured here with Purple Gang attorney Edward Kennedy Jr. in derby to Massei’s right.

(Photo courtesy of the collections of the
Detroit News
at the Walter Reuther Library, Wayne State University)

Joseph “Scarface” Bommarito, was a key suspect in the July 1930 murder of WMBC radio commentator Gerald Buckley. He later was a Capo and street enforcer for the Italian mob.

(Photo courtesy of the archives of the State of Michigan)

Joseph “Red” O’Riordan. O’Riordan was a leader of the “Legs” Laman kidnapping mob.

(Photo courtesy of the archives of the State of Michigan)

This 1920 mug shot is the earliest known Detroit Police photo of Abe Bernstein, reputed leader of the Purple Gang.