“Released under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 (44 TSC 3107 Hote).- DATE: 11-14-2017 e y bye . ” a aa « ft 7 i “ ‘ oe , r DE 92-914 3. Their associates within the Detroit family : and the relationship of these individuals to each other (in this regard, informant should be requested to comment on LCN members in Michigan, other than Detroit, ps as well as in other paris of the U. S.) tt In this regard from previous correspondence of the San Diego Office, it appears that SD 1064-C-TE is most closely acquainted with the Priziola Group of the Detroit LCN family. He should be requested to comment on the relationships and inter-relationships of any other groups with which he may be acquainted. 4. Any information which he may be able to relate concerning any of these individuals which might lead to possible prosecution. With reference to FAT TONY RUGGIRELL9O and BIG LOUIE RUGGIRELLO, it is generally agreed that FAT TONY is the sharpest of the four RUGGIRELLO brothers. BIG LOUIE is, however, the one most often referred to as being actively engaged in the numbers racket in Detroit. At the time that the RUGGIRELLO brothers operated a bowling alley, all four were connected with the bowling alley, and JOSEPH, the oldest brother, and TODD9, the youngest brother, were the two most actively engaged in this operation. The name of the alleys was known as the Palm Beach Gardens. The father of the RUGGIRELLO brothers was reportedly a member of LCN and is known to have been close to JOSEPH ZERILLI, boss of the Detroit family. With reference to the individuals on page 10 concerning whom the informant could furnish no information, it is noted that ROUGH MANUEL BADALAMENTI lives in Monroe, Michigan, and is a part of the old "Down River Gang", which engaged in bootlegging on a large scale during the prohibition era. He was close to JOE "ONE EYE" ToCCO and WYANDOTTE JIM PALAZZOLA, both deceased, who ran the Down River Gangs. JOE BARBARA, JR., is the son of the JO# BARBARA who was host at the notorious Apalachian Meeting in New York in 1957. . | Saat * | . Docld: 32307957 Page 3
eleased under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 (44 USC 2107 Hotey~ DATE: 11-14-2017 ou TR NS ry r DE 92-914 TONY D'ANNA and SAM PERRONE are both old- time Detroit mobsters who received a great deal of national publicity in connection with the Senator KEFAUER Committee hearings. PERRONE was also the subject of a bombing attack in January of 1964 and was given a great deal of national publicity in this regard. BLACK LEO CELLURA and SAM FINAZZO are both old- time members of the Priziola Group and were suspected of handling narcotics for many years. PAUL and PETER VITALE are both originally from re the Wyandotte Down River Gang. They are believed to be \ reldted to or associated with MATTE VITALE of Wyandotte, ; Michigan, who may have been related to SALVATORE VITALE who disappeared in the Detroit area in 1956, and concerning “whom SD 1064-C-TE has previously furnished a great deal : of information. o Informant should further be requested to further clarify his comments set out on page 12 of referenced airtel in which he identifies leaders of the Detroit family. In this regard, informant does not mention JACK TOCCO, son of BLACK BILL TOCCO. JACK TOCCG is generally regarded -. as the strongest and most apt leader of the younger group ' of the Detroit family. Also in this regard, ANGELO MELI _ aS generally reported to be one of the "strongest" men in the Detroit family in terms of commanding respect. MELI has been in poor health for many years and has retired from . “LCN activities, but is still given the utmost respect by all members of the Detroit family. One member, informant ..has.indicated that MELI is more important and stronger “than JOE ZERILLI. oo San Diego is requested to question SD 1064-cC-TE concerning his knowledge of the early history of the Detroit LCN family. Numerous reports have been received indicating that. JOH ZERILLI, who has been head of the Detroit family for more than 40 years, was close to AL CAPONE in Chicago. He also organized the Detroit east side mobs in the gang wars against the old Detroit Purple Gang and eliminated or unified the Italian mobs in Detroit in the late 20's and early 30's to become one of the wealthiest and strongest Doclda: 32307957 Page 4