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Anthony Giacalone

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Anthony Giacalone
Giacalone's FBI mugshot in 1975
Born
Anthony Joseph Giacalone

(1919-01-09)January 9, 1919
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
DiedFebruary 23, 2001(2001-02-23) (aged 82)
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Resting placeHoly Sepulchre Cemetery, Southfield, Michigan
Other names"Tony Jocks"
OccupationMobster
Known forLinks with Jimmy Hoffa and his disappearance
RelativesVito Giacalone (brother)
AllegianceDetroit Partnership
Conviction(s)Tax evasion (1976)
Criminal penalty10 years' imprisonment

Anthony “Tony Jack” Joseph Giacalone (January 9, 1919 – February 23, 2001), also known as Tony Jocks, was a Sicilian-American organized crime figure in Detroit. He served as a capo in the Detroit Partnership, and later as a street boss. In terms of Mafia organization, he was listed by the FBI in 1963 as one of the “Big Men” and deemed an administrator or heir apparent.[1] He came to public notice during the 1970s investigations into the disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa, as he was one of two Mafia members – the other being Anthony Provenzano – that Hoffa had arranged to meet on the day he disappeared.[2] In 1976, Giacalone was sentenced to 10 years in prison for tax evasion. He died of natural causes on February 23, 2001.

Biography

Giacalone was born on January 9, 1919, on the Eastside of Detroit. He was born to Sicilian immigrant parents, the oldest son of seven siblings. He often helped his father, Giacomo, sell produce from the back of a horse-drawn wagon in the Indian Village section of Detroit.[3] He began to aspire to work in organized crime after seeing the wealth its leaders had, in contrast to the meager living his father earned. He particularly looked up to his father's relative Salvatore "Sam" Catalanotte, a leading figure in Detroit's growing Italian underworld. Giacalone was charged with his first criminal offense at the age of 18, the first of multiple run-ins with the law.

By the time he was in his 30s, he was working as a pickup man in the local numbers racket, run by Peter Licavoli, and as collector of delinquent gambling debts for Joe Zerilli. Both of these men were highly respected in local crime organizations and they helped protect Giacalone from the law. Between 1950 and 1952 he was arrested multiple times for various gambling offenses, but avoided prosecution. In August 1954, he had his first conviction after 14 arrests. He was sentenced to 8 months in jail and ordered to pay court costs. After that stint in jail he served another 7 days in jail for refusing to testify before the grand jury investigating gambling in the Detroit area.

Giacalone gained national fame in the 1970s with the disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa. Prior to then, there had been growing tension between Hoffa and several Mafia members, who opposed his plans to return to prominence in the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. The latter included Giacalone, Anthony Provenzano and Giacalone's brother Vito. Despite the mounting strain between the two groups, it appears as though there were never any public displays of ill will or malicious intent; though he, along with his brother Vito, was allegedly involved in a plot gone awry to rob a safe belonging to Hoffa in Washington D.C.[4][5] On July 30, 1975, Hoffa, who had mentioned his plans to acquaintances and family members to meet with Giacalone and Provenzano at 2:00 p.m. at the Machus Red Fox restaurant parking lot[6] in Bloomfield Township, a Detroit suburb; was never seen again.[7] It has been posited that Giacolone may have been motivated by the fact that Hoffa would not acquiesce to Mafia demands and retire.[8] Though Giacalone was suspected of being involved in a conspiracy to murder Hoffa,[2] Giacalone and Provenzano, who denied having scheduled any such meeting or appointment with Hoffa, were found not to have been near the restaurant that afternoon.[9] In 1976, Giacalone was sentenced to 10 years in prison for tax evasion at FCI, Oxford, Wisconsin.[2]

Death

Giacalone died on February 23, 2001, aged 82. He had been admitted to St. John's Hospital and Medical Center in Detroit for heart failure and complications arising from kidney disease.[2] He was buried at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Southfield, Michigan.

Criminal history

On August 9, 1954, Giacalone was arrested for the bribery of a patrolman on the racket squad of the Detroit Police Department. Giacalone offered $200 a month in return for information regarding any possible gambling raids.[10] He was sentenced to 8 months in jail in addition to a $500 fine. He was arrested for a similar offense in June 1963, bribing Lieutenant James W. Thomas with $50 a month to look the other way in regard to a numbers gambling operation.[11] This arrest, his fifteenth, led to an investigation of his mafia-related activities. Giacalone was charged with bribery conspiracy, but was freed on $7,500 bond.[12] This sudden conviction led Detroit Police Commissioner George Edwards to believe that Giacalone was not only the boss of the numbers racket in southeastern Michigan, but also the head of the Detroit Mafia.[12] Edwards later testified in front of the Senate's permanent investigations subcommittee in October 1963, and identified Giacalone as the Mafia gambling boss of the Detroit area.[13] In November 1963, Giacalone and his brother, Vito Giacalone, were indicted in a Washington tax evasion hearing. The brothers received over $40,000 as fake sales representatives of two companies also indicted in the testimony.[14] Giacalone's hearing in 1964 for bribing Lt. Thomas caused quite a stir within the legal system. It was originally set for February 28, 1964,[15] before being pushed later into 1965. Judge Joseph A. Gillis, who was assigned to Giacalone's case, felt that Edwards’ previous public assertions about Giacalone were not fair to his trial.[16]

Giacalone was finally ordered to stand trial in July 1965 for his charges related to the bribery of Lt. Thomas.[17] As of January 16, 1966, Giacalone had been arrested 15 times, and convicted only once, which was the bribery case that had been to court 41 times and heard by six judges, but still had not been to trial.[18] This case took a turn in March 1966 when Lt. Thomas admitted to the jury that he had lied and given false testimony about where he had written reports about the alleged bribes from Giacalone.[19] The next month, Giacalone's co-defendant, Harrison “Chink” Brown, had been dismissed due to lack of evidence about his involvement in the alleged bribe.[20] Less than a week later, Giacalone and another co-defendant, Claude E. Williams, were found not guilty by a jury after a 2.5 hour deliberation.[21] Lt. Thomas was ultimately suspended from his position with the Detroit Police Department,[22] but was later reinstated in July of that same year.[23]

In July 1966, Giacalone along with Dominic P. “Fats” Corrado were arrested in Montreal due to entering Canada illegally.[24] They were deported back to the United States shortly thereafter from Windsor, and were barred from the country.[25] In May 1967, Giacalone agreed to answer four questions for George E. Bowles, the Grand Juror of Wayne County, in exchange for no jail time.[26] The questions concerned any possible business Giacalone may have conducted with Paul Quaglia, a Detroit policeman. Giacalone refused to answer one of the questions, and ultimately was indicted and spent a week in jail.[27] In March 1968, Giacalone, with his brother Vito, was among 127 people arrested during a raid of a gambling operation in Detroit[28] Two months later, they were also arraigned on charges regarding a large-scale loanshark racket, which included the conspiracy to extort.[29] Only a week later, Giacalone was charged with more misdemeanor offenses regarding illegal gun possession.[30] He was found guilty on these charges in August 1968, but was only put on probation and fined instead of jail time because he was described as a “family man” in his defense.[31] Giacalone was found guilty of blackjack possession in November 1968,[32] he was held on a $5,000 bond and was sentenced to 4.5 to 5 years in prison the following January.[33] Less than a week later in November, Giacalone was indicted with 11 other men on seven counts of federal offenses regarding their alleged loansharking operation,[34] he was later found innocent with his brother in October 1969.[35]

While Giacalone was free on bond regarding his blackjack charges, a warrant was issued in February 1969 for an alleged gambling operation in addition to bribery,[36] these charges were dropped in November 1969.[37] The Giacalone brothers were indicted on three counts each of federal income tax evasion in January 1972.[38] These charges were dismissed later that year in June,[39] but this was overturned by the Circuit Court of Appeals in May 1973.[40] The trials began in March 1974,[41] and they were again acquitted the next month.[42] About a year later in April 1975, Giacalone was again indicted for tax evasion between 1968 and 1971.[43] In May 1975, Giacalone was arrested and indicted in Detroit for mail fraud and conspiracy,[44] he was acquitted of these charges in September 1976.[45]

Giacalone's name blew up in newspapers nationwide in the summer of 1975, regarding the disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa. Giacalone was allegedly supposed to meet with Hoffa on the day of his disappearance, but Giacalone denied this.[46] Giacalone was quizzed by authorities for any connections to Hoffa's disappearance.

In June 1976, Giacalone was sentenced to ten years in prison in addition to a $30,000 fine for tax evasion.[47] He posted bond despite the Assistant United States attorney labeling him as a “danger to the community”.

The Hotel Gotham

The Luxurious Hotel Gotham was declared “the finest hotel in the country owned and operated by colored,”[48] and figures like Jesse Owens, Jackie Robinson, and Sammy Davis Jr. filled the Gotham's long list of visitors.[49] John White (one of the Gotham's owners) was a gambling man involved in alternative forms of earning money. Soon after its opening, the Gotham became known as “the fortress of the numbers racket in Detroit”.[50] At this time, Tony Giacalone was Detroit's boss of the numbers racket, thus it is hardly surprising that his unlisted telephone number was contained in White's personal directory.[51] White's numbers operation was wildly successful because Giacalone and the Mafia supplied the daily lottery's winning number combinations, gambling paraphernalia, but most importantly protection from law enforcement and any other trouble. Giacalone himself was recorded on wire-tap bribing police officers for information on upcoming gambling raids at his establishments like the Gotham.[52] Although this earned Giacalone 8 months in the Detroit House of Corrections and a $500 fine (roughly $5,000 today), it did little to hinder the progress of numbers operations like White's and rackets like Giacalone's.

The Gotham's penthouse, reserved exclusively for gambling, saw policemen, politicians, and other wealthy individuals come and go on a daily basis. Even after the Gotham officially closed for business in 1962, White's numbers operation continued.[51] This served as an opportunity to conduct a Federal raid, which was carried out that November. Officials discovered, among many other things, that the Gotham raked in over $21 million annually (equivalent to $166 million today).[51] Unfortunately for Federal officials, despite arresting and later convicting 41 people including John White,[51] the only link uncovered between Giacalone and the Gotham was that of his phone number. This served little purpose to authorities other than to confirm what they already knew; the mafia assisted numbers operators in Detroit.

He was played by Patrick Gallo in Martin Scorsese's 2019 film The Irishman. In the film, Anthony Giacalone's role is more understated, as a character he does not have a significant or essential role.

Notes

  1. ^ "The Mafia Organization in the Detroit Area." Exhibit 18. Organized Crime and Illicit Traffic In Narcotics: Hearings Before The Permanent Subcommittee On Investigations Of The Committee On Government Operations, United States Senate: Part 1, 25 September – 9 October 1963
  2. ^ a b c d Filkins, Dexter (26 February 2001). "Anthony J. Giacalone, 82, Man Tied to Hoffa Mystery". The New York Times.
  3. ^ Jack L. Goldsmith (2019). In Hoffa's Shadow: A Stepfather, a Disappearance in Detroit, and My Search for the Truth. Farrar, Straus and Giroux. ISBN 9780374712495.
  4. ^ "October 29, 1977 (Page 3 of 22)." Enquirer and News (1959-1983), Oct 29, 1977, pp. 3.
  5. ^ Hoffa, by Arthur A. Sloane, MIT Press, 1991.
  6. ^ "October 29, 1977 (Page 3 of 22)." Enquirer and News (1959-1983), Oct 29, 1977, pp. 3.
  7. ^ "INVESTIGATIONS: Hoffa Search: 'Looks Bad Right Now'". Time. August 18, 1975. Archived from the original on September 26, 2008. Retrieved May 6, 2010.
  8. ^ Brown, Nadine; Boynton, Doug; Dorris, Jim; Romanchuk, Dan; Alexander, Bob; Johnson, Pamela; Fenton, David; Sinclair, John; Adler, Bill; Agee, Philip; Kelley, Ken (1975). "Ann Arbor Sun: Ann Arbor Sun". 3 (17). Rainbow People's Party. JSTOR community.28032719. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  9. ^ "FBI: Tip on Jimmy Hoffa prompts search". CNN. Atlanta, Georgia: Turner Broadcasting Systems. May 18, 2006. Archived from the original on February 12, 2010. Retrieved July 7, 2009.
  10. ^ "The Mafia Organization in the Detroit Area." Exhibit 18. Organized Crime and Illicit Traffic In Narcotics: Hearings Before The Permanent Subcommittee On Investigations Of The Committee On Government Operations, United States Senate: Part 1, 25 September – 9 October 1963
  11. ^ June 21, 1963 (Page 56 of 56)." Detroit Free Press (1923-1999), Jun 21, 1963, pp. 56. ProQuest 1818674325
  12. ^ a b June 22, 1963 (page 10 of 28). (1963, Jun 22). State Journal (1911-1980) ProQuest 2032304731
  13. ^ October 11, 1963 (page 3 of 16). (1963, Oct 11). Port Huron Times - Herald (1910-1970) ProQuest 2417026146
  14. ^ November 20, 1963 (page 18 of 40). (1963, Nov 20). Enquirer and News (1959-1983) ProQuest 2092235277
  15. ^ February 28, 1964 (page 35 of 40). (1964, Feb 28). State Journal (1911-1980) ProQuest 2032367023
  16. ^ April 10, 1964 (page 6 of 52). (1964, Apr 10). Detroit Free Press (1923-1999) ProQuest 1818868517
  17. ^ July 9, 1965 (page 10 of 40). (1965, Jul 09). Detroit Free Press (1923-1999) ProQuest 1819063383
  18. ^ January 16, 1966 (page 1 of 161). (1966, Jan 16). Detroit Free Press (1923-1999) ProQuest 1819202871
  19. ^ March 16, 1966 (page 1 of 48). (1966, Mar 16). Detroit Free Press (1923-1999) ProQuest 1819200991
  20. ^ April 2, 1966 (page 26 of 34). (1966, Apr 02). Detroit Free Press (1923-1999) ProQuest 1819207505
  21. ^ April 7, 1966 (page 1 of 64). (1966, Apr 07). Detroit Free Press (1923-1999) ProQuest 1819205195
  22. ^ April 12, 1966 (page 3 of 40). (1966, Apr 12). Detroit Free Press (1923-1999) ProQuest 1819199717
  23. ^ July 7, 1966 (page 12 of 30). (1966, Jul 07). Port Huron Times - Herald (1910-1970) ProQuest 2417080869
  24. ^ July 26, 1966 (page 1 of 36). (1966, Jul 26). Detroit Free Press (1923-1999) ProQuest 1819301938
  25. ^ July 27, 1966 (page 37 of 56). (1966, Jul 27). State Journal (1911-1980) ProQuest 2032548251
  26. ^ May 20, 1967 (page 3 of 34). (1967, May 20). Detroit Free Press (1923-1999) ProQuest 1819402125
  27. ^ January 19, 1968 (page 3 of 28). (1968, Jan 19). Detroit Free Press (1923-1999) ProQuest 1819465199
  28. ^ March 5, 1968 (page 6 of 24). (1968, Mar 05). Port Huron Times - Herald (1910-1970) ProQuest 2417066041
  29. ^ May 14, 1968 (page 1 of 38). (1968, May 14). Enquirer and News (1959-1983) ProQuest 2092533221
  30. ^ May 22, 1968 (page 12 of 86). (1968, May 22). State Journal (1911-1980) ProQuest 2032698764
  31. ^ August 21, 1968 (page 35 of 49). (1968, Aug 21). Detroit Free Press (1923-1999) ProQuest 1819503210
  32. ^ November 9, 1968 (page 3 of 32). (1968, Nov 09). Detroit Free Press (1923-1999) ProQuest 1819538503
  33. ^ January 7, 1969 (page 3 of 36). (1969, Jan 07). Detroit Free Press (1923-1999) ProQuest 1819550500
  34. ^ November 15, 1968 (page 1 of 52). (1968, Nov 15). Detroit Free Press (1923-1999) ProQuest 1819544797
  35. ^ October 24, 1969 (page 1 of 48). (1969, Oct 24). Detroit Free Press (1923-1999) ProQuest 1819676889
  36. ^ February 5, 1969 (page 3 of 40). (1969, Feb 05). Detroit Free Press (1923-1999) ProQuest 1819560787
  37. ^ November 14, 1969 (page 14 of 56). (1969, Nov 14). State Journal (1911-1980) ProQuest 2032912565
  38. ^ January 12, 1972 (page 3 of 52). (1972, Jan 12). Detroit Free Press (1923-1999) ProQuest 1820261480
  39. ^ June 3, 1972 (page 8 of 43). (1972, Jun 03). Detroit Free Press (1923-1999) ProQuest 1820289740
  40. ^ May 5, 1973 (page 10 of 44). (1973, May 05). Detroit Free Press (1923-1999) ProQuest 1820360651
  41. ^ March 27, 1974 (page 3 of 52). (1974, Mar 27). Detroit Free Press (1923-1999) ProQuest 1820408393
  42. ^ April 10, 1974 (page 1 of 64). (1974, Apr 10). Detroit Free Press (1923-1999) ProQuest 1820414008
  43. ^ April 10, 1975 (page 5 of 96). (1975, Apr 10). Detroit Free Press (1923-1999) ProQuest 1820481581
  44. ^ May 15, 1975 (page 25 of 73). (1975, May 15). Detroit Free Press (1923-1999) ProQuest 1820512572
  45. ^ October 1, 1976 (page 2 of 36). (1976, Oct 01). State Journal (1911-1980) ProQuest 2033428833
  46. ^ August 1, 1975 (page 1 of 28). (1975, Aug 01). The Advocate (1970-2011) ProQuest 2421494059
  47. ^ June 24, 1976 (page 2 of 85). (1976, Jun 24). Cincinnati Enquirer (1923-2009) ProQuest 1888711068
  48. ^ "Negro Syndicate Buys $250,000 Gotham Hotel". Michigan Chronicle. October 23, 1963.
  49. ^ Stephens, Ronald (March 7, 2014). "Gotham Hotel, Detroit, Michigan". BlackPast African American History. Archived from the original on 2019-08-30.
  50. ^ "Who's Who of Detroit Crime". Detroit Free Press. October 11, 1963. ProQuest 1818720517.
  51. ^ a b c d "Testimony of George C. Edwards and Vincent W. Piersante". US Senate Permanent Subcommittee Report on Organized Crime and Illicit Traffic in Narcotics: 404. October 10, 1963.
  52. ^ "How Gambling Boss Talked Himself Into Bribery Rap". Detroit Free Press. June 21, 1963. ProQuest 1818674325.

References

  • Reppetto, Thomas (2007). Bringing Down the Mob: The War Against the American Mafia. Henry Holt & Company. ISBN 978-0-8050-8659-1.
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