Anthony Zizzo Explained

Anthony Zizzo
Birth Name:Anthony Zizzo
Birth Date:3 August 1935[1]
Disappeared Place:Melrose Park, Illinois
Other Names:Little Tony
Spouse:Susan Zizzo
Nationality:American
Height:5feet[2]

Anthony Zizzo (August 3, 1935 – disappeared August 31, 2006), also known as "Little Tony" and "Little Toes", was an American mobster who was the underboss of the Chicago Outfit.[3]

Early life

Anthony Zizzo was born on August 3, 1935, in the Little Italy neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. His parents were Italian immigrants who had settled in the United States. Zizzo grew up in a working-class family, and like many young men in his neighborhood, he became involved in organized crime at a young age.[4]

Zizzo dropped out of high school and began working as a truck driver for the Chicago Outfit, the city's dominant organized crime syndicate. He quickly rose through the ranks of the organization, and by the 1960s, he was a trusted member of the Outfit's leadership.

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Zizzo was involved in a number of high-profile criminal activities, including illegal gambling, loan sharking, and extortion. Despite his criminal activities, Zizzo managed to stay out of prison for much of his career, and he was known for his intelligence and cunning in the criminal underworld.

Carlisi Street Crew

Zizzo was third in command of the Carlisi Street Crew.[5]

In 1992, Zizzo and 10 other Carlisi Street Crew members were prosecuted by the Justice Department for racketeering.[6]

Disappearance

Zizzo disappeared after leaving his home on August 31, 2006, he was last seen outside a Melrose Park restaurant where his car was found after a missing person's report was made by his wife.[7] [8] He is presumed murdered,[9] [10] although the FBI also considered the possibility he went into hiding.[8]

Investigation

Theories on why Zizzo may have been targeted include fears he might testify against the Outfit as well as an ongoing feud with powerful captain Michael Sarno, whom he was supervising.[8] [10] [11]

At the time of his disappearance, law enforcement believed Zizzo was the underboss of the Chicago Outfit as he was third in command in the 1990s.[3] The FBI considers Joseph Andriacchi a prime suspect in the 2006 disappearance and presumed murder of Zizzo, and offered a $10,000 reward in 2016 for information that would help to solve the crime.[12] Andriacchi died in August 2024.[13]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Croon . Garrett . August 31, 2011 . Reward Offered in Search for Missing Westmont Man . May 3, 2022 . FBI.
  2. Web site: Little Tony's Big Mystery: Mob underboss Anthony Zizzo missing 12 years. abc7chicago.com. September 17, 2018.
  3. Web site: Chicago mob's No. 2 man is missing. Chuck Goudie. 2006-09-21. ABC7 News. June 22, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20121010032120/http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news&id=4586491. October 10, 2012. dead.
  4. Book: Lombardo, Robert M. . Organized Crime in Chicago . 2012-12-15 . University of Illinois Press . 10.5406/illinois/9780252037306.001.0001 . 978-0-252-03730-6.
  5. Web site: UNITED STATES v. ZIZZO - United States Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit . Findlaw . 20 January 2022 . en . July 29, 1997.
  6. Lombardo . Robert M. . Fighting Organized Crime: A History of Law Enforcement Efforts in Chicago . Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice . 25 April 2013 . 29 . 2 . 312 . 10.1177/1043986213485635 . 10.1.1.990.9075 . 145671310 .
  7. Web site: I-Team Report: 'Little Tony's' Last Ride. ABC7 Chicago.
  8. Web site: Goudie. Chuck. I-Team Report: 'Little Tony's' Last Ride. ABC7 News. 2011-08-26. 2011-08-25. https://web.archive.org/web/20111101051156/http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news%2Fiteam&id=8325425. 2011-11-01. live.
  9. News: Weakened by convictions, Chicago mob still running schemes, experts say. Gerry Smith. Chicago Tribune. 2011-06-20. June 22, 2011.
  10. Web site: Experts: Chicago mob diminished, but still going. Don Babwin. 2007-08-26. USA Today. Associated Press. June 22, 2011.
  11. News: New FBI document details rise of 'Mutt and Jeff' inside the mob. Steve Warmbir. Chicago Sun-Times. 2011-02-12. June 22, 2011.
  12. https://abc7chicago.com/news/fbi-seeks-info-10-years-after-chicago-mob-boss-vanished/1493318/ FBI seeks info 10 years after Chicago mob boss Anthony Zizzo vanished
  13. https://abc7chicago.com/post/old-time-chicago-mob-boss-joe-sledgehammer-andriacchi-dies-91-sources-team/15183289/ Chicago mob boss Joe 'The Sledgehammer' Andriacchi dies at 91, sources tell I-Team