Organized Crime Figure. Boss of Detroit's first Mafia family. Giannola was born in Terrasini, Sicily and immigrated to Detroit in 1901. He and his brothers opened a general store in Ford City (present day Wyandotte)and other enterprises in Detroit's Little Italy, soon engaging in traditional criminal activities. Tony Giannola was severely wounded in an assassination attempt in September 1913 by the Adamo brothers, who were acting on behalf of a group of Italian businessmen known as the "White Hand Society." In the ensuing gang war, both Adamo brothers were killed and all resistance to Giannola and his two brothers, Sam and Vito, faded. The trio were noted as the wealthiest Italians in Detroit, always generous with their friends and ruthless with their enemies. A rival Mafia boss, John Vitale, soon made a move against the Giannola family. Tony Giannola was lured away from his Ford City home after the murder of a friend on January 3, 1919, and was shot dead in front of that friend's home while paying a benevolent visit. His killer was his adopted son and personal bodyguard, Tony Alescio. Giannola's murder touched off an unprecedented gang war which claimed dozens of lives and altered the face of Detroit organized crime forever.
Organized Crime Figure. Boss of Detroit's first Mafia family. Giannola was born in Terrasini, Sicily and immigrated to Detroit in 1901. He and his brothers opened a general store in Ford City (present day Wyandotte)and other enterprises in Detroit's Little Italy, soon engaging in traditional criminal activities. Tony Giannola was severely wounded in an assassination attempt in September 1913 by the Adamo brothers, who were acting on behalf of a group of Italian businessmen known as the "White Hand Society." In the ensuing gang war, both Adamo brothers were killed and all resistance to Giannola and his two brothers, Sam and Vito, faded. The trio were noted as the wealthiest Italians in Detroit, always generous with their friends and ruthless with their enemies. A rival Mafia boss, John Vitale, soon made a move against the Giannola family. Tony Giannola was lured away from his Ford City home after the murder of a friend on January 3, 1919, and was shot dead in front of that friend's home while paying a benevolent visit. His killer was his adopted son and personal bodyguard, Tony Alescio. Giannola's murder touched off an unprecedented gang war which claimed dozens of lives and altered the face of Detroit organized crime forever.
Bio by: Dennis Rice
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