At the start of 1920, John Vitale had emerged as the top Mafia boss in Detroit. His reign would be short-lived. With the elimination of his biggest rivals, the Gianolla brothers, Vitale was now recognized as the most dominant Mafia boss in Detroit. For Vitale the elimination of bosses Tony and Sam Gianolla caused the fracture of the Gianolla gang, a desired effect, but an undesirable effect was also caused as two dominant figures within the Gianolla organization emerged to take control of splinter factions of young, capable mafiosi who would oppose Vitale's leadership.