The Pascuzzi Combine was established following the conclusion of the Gianolla/Vitale gang war by Sam Cantalonotte head of the Unione Siciliana. The primary function of the Combine was to ensure a peaceful working relationship between the remaining members of the two factions. Cantalonotte set specific guidelines and territories that each faction was expected to abide by. Cantalonotte allowed each group to keep it's individuality but demanded co-operation when it came to business.
The Pascuzzi Combine consisted of the remnants of the Gianolla and Vitale gang survivors who became known as the East and Westside Mobs, the River Gang "headed by the Licavoli brothers (Thomas and Peter) and a group of their friends and relatives from St.Louis," and members of Cantalonotte's own Unione Siciliana. The responsibility for a specific function was designated according to strength and experiences. The Licavoli's worked closely with Cantalonotte smuggling liquor shipments into Detroit by way of Windsor Ontario Canada while Anthony D'Anna "a former Gianolla gunman," handled the purchase and distribution of the sugar used in the production of the Detroit product. Joe Cantalonotte the son of Sam, handled the storing of excess liquor while working closely with the Licavoli's importation service. The books were kept maticulously by Joe "Misery" Moceri "a former St.Louis hood who's ties to the Unione in that city as well as his relations to the Licavoli's made him a trusted and well conected choice to handle the money. The Combine ran their liquor operations through the Amherstberg Distillery and the Riverside Brewery both located on the Canadian side of the border. These two properties were key in the acquisition of liquor shipments in Canada wich were then sent into the US by allys in the Ontario region. The Pascuzzi combine was the largest and best organized operations working in the Detroit area untill it was broken up by federal agents who conducted a series of raids in 1929. Following the dismantling of the Pascuzzi Combine the participants continued to do business with one another and eventually merged to form the Detroit outfit in 1931. |