Anthony Zizzo (born 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]
Anthony Zizzo | |
|---|---|
| Born | Anthony Zizzo August 3, 1935[1] |
| Disappeared | August 31, 2006 (aged 71) Melrose Park, Illinois |
| Status | Missing for 18 years, 3 months and 19 days |
| Nationality | American |
| Other names | Little Tony |
| Height | 5 ft 3 in (1.60 m)[2] |
| Spouse | Susan Zizzo[2] |
Early life
editAnthony 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.[4]
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.[4]
Carlisi Street Crew
editThis section needs expansion with: details about Zizzo's role in the crew and convictions for his offending that lead to an appeal decided in 1997. You can help by adding to it. (January 2022) |
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
editZizzo 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
editTheories 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
editReferences
edit- ^ Croon, Garrett (August 31, 2011). "Reward Offered in Search for Missing Westmont Man". FBI. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
- ^ a b "Little Tony's Big Mystery: Mob underboss Anthony Zizzo missing 12 years". abc7chicago.com. September 17, 2018.
- ^ a b Chuck Goudie (2006-09-21). "Chicago mob's No. 2 man is missing". ABC7 News. Archived from the original on October 10, 2012. Retrieved June 22, 2011.
- ^ a b c Lombardo, Robert M. (2012-12-15). Organized Crime in Chicago. University of Illinois Press. doi:10.5406/illinois/9780252037306.001.0001. ISBN 978-0-252-03730-6.
- ^ "UNITED STATES v. ZIZZO - United States Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit". Findlaw. July 29, 1997. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
- ^ Lombardo, Robert M. (25 April 2013). "Fighting Organized Crime: A History of Law Enforcement Efforts in Chicago". Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice. 29 (2): 312. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.990.9075. doi:10.1177/1043986213485635. S2CID 145671310.
- ^ "I-Team Report: 'Little Tony's' Last Ride". ABC7 Chicago.
- ^ a b c Goudie, Chuck (2011-08-25). "I-Team Report: 'Little Tony's' Last Ride". ABC7 News. Archived from the original on 2011-11-01. Retrieved 2011-08-26.
- ^ Gerry Smith (2011-06-20). "Weakened by convictions, Chicago mob still running schemes, experts say". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved June 22, 2011.
- ^ a b Don Babwin (2007-08-26). "Experts: Chicago mob diminished, but still going". USA Today. Associated Press. Retrieved June 22, 2011.
- ^ Steve Warmbir (2011-02-12). "New FBI document details rise of 'Mutt and Jeff' inside the mob". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved June 22, 2011.
- ^ FBI seeks info 10 years after Chicago mob boss Anthony Zizzo vanished, ABC7 Chicago, Chuck Goudie, 31 Aug 2016
- ^ Chicago mob boss Joe 'The Sledgehammer' Andriacchi dies at 91, sources tell I-Team, ABC7 Chicago, Barb Markoff, Christine Tressel, Tom Jones, Chuck Goudie, 14 Aug 2024