In 1989, the
Chicago Sun-Times reported that Andriacchi had been elevated to being the second-in-command in the Chicago Outfit. The article identified Andriacchi as having two nicknames: "the Sledgehammer"—because of his unsubtle ways as a
safe cracker—and "the Builder". Andriacchi was one of several reputed mobsters ordered to appear before a federal grand jury after the May 17, 1992, bombing of a car outside the home of a daughter of
Leonard Patrick, who was in the process of testifying against several known mobsters. Andriacchi was identified in a 1995
Chicago Tribune article as being an underboss for day-to-day operations for the Chicago Outfit. In 1997, the
Chicago Sun-Times reported that Andriacchi was "at the top of the Outfit's new organizational chart," identifying Andriacchi as a reported longtime lieutenant of Chicago Outfit kingpin
John DiFronzo. After the conclusion of the "
Family Secrets trial" in Chicago in 2007, which sent multiple high-ranking members of the
Chicago Outfit to prison for long sentences, Andriacchi was again identified in Chicago newspapers as being a powerful member of the Chicago Outfit. "Reputed mobsters not charged in the Family Secrets case who are still powerful in the Outfit include John "No Nose" DiFronzo (deceased 2018), Joe "The Builder" Andriacchi,
Al Tornabene (deceased 2009), Frank "Tootsie" Caruso,
Marco D'Amico (deceased 2020) and
Michael Sarno, law enforcement sources said," the Chicago Sun-Times wrote on September 11, 2007. On September 30, 2007, the Chicago Tribune reported that law enforcement sources indicated that Andriacchi controls Chicago's north side and north suburbs, and that he leads the
Elmwood Park crew. The
FBI considers Andriacchi a prime suspect in the 2006 disappearance and presumed murder of
Anthony Zizzo, and offered a $10,000 reward in 2016 for information that would help to solve the crime. ==Personal life and death==