The death of Peter J. Bellanca in February of 1998 was a serious blow to the defense of Jack Tocco the reputed leader of the Detroit Outfit. Bellanca a resident of Grosse Pointe Park Michigan, had grown up with Jack and Anthony Tocco. During the decades that Bellanca represented Jack Tocco, Tocco never once suffered defeat in a court of law. The only entry into the police file of Jack Tocco occured in 1965 when he was arrested for attending a cock fight. Over the years, Peter Joseph and Harold Bellanca have stood in court and represented the Tocco brothers never once failing to defend the virtue of the accused mafia leaders. In addtion to his success as the legal mouth piece of the Tocco brothers, Peter established a reputation as a fine actor landing the starring role in several plays and productions. Bellanca would be convicted along with Anthony Joseph Zerilli and Michael Santo Polizzi on charges of hidding his ownership of the Frontier Hotel and Casiono in Las Vegas in the early '70s. This conviction forced Peter to relinquish his role as a commissioner for the Hazel Park Racing Association. The 64 year old Bellanca remained a loyal friend and staunch defender of the Tocco's untill his death.
