Sam Tilocco

On July 5, 1932, Joseph Porrello and underboss Sam Tilocco went to the Venetian Restaurant in Cleveland’s Little Italy. It was owned by Frank Milano, head of the rising “Mayfield Road Mob” faction. The reason for Porrello’s visit is unclear, but apparently Milano was going to turn over a number of checks (some for as much as $4,500 [$100,000 in 2017 dollars]) from subordinates as well as a big payoff himself. Porrello called Milano’s place “the bank”.

Porrello and Tilocco were seated at a table when two hitmen attacked them. Porrello took three bullets to the right side of his head and died instantly. Tilocco got up and started running out of the restaurant. He was shot three times in his right torso and once in his left torso. He staggered out into the street toward his automobile around the corner on E. 126th street. He fell in the street, and was shot twice in the head. The hitmen were never identified.

The next day Vincenzo Porrello assumed control of the Cleveland crime family but he too was murdered just three weeks later.