Week 5 The A merican mob Loosely based on Sicilian Mafia Lucky Luciano Began in impoverished I talian neighborhoods of NY E ast H arlem LES Brooklyn Active in NY NJ NE gt Boston Providence ID: 709435
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Slide1
OTHERNESS AND THE ITALIAN IMMIGRANT EXPERIENCE
Week
5Slide2
The American
mob
Loosely based on Sicilian Mafia (Lucky Luciano)
Began in impoverished
I
talian neighborhoods of NY
–
E
ast
H
arlem, LES, Brooklyn
Active in NY, NJ, NE > Boston, Providence
NY home to 5 main families: Gambino,
Lucchese
, Genovese,
Bonanno
, Colombo
Each family operates individually although The Commission oversees national coordination Slide3
Lucky
luciano
Salvatore
lucania
Father of american organized crime; 1st official genovese family boss1907 – Lucania family moves to LES and starts a protection racket for Jewish kids (from Italian and Irish families – remember this is how the Sicilian Mafia began)19-teens he starts learning the pimping trade and befriends Myer LanksySlide4
Myer Lansky
1902-1983 (born in modern Belarus)
Known as “mob’s accountant” and develops, with lucky
luciano
, the national crime syndicate in
america Ran a gambling empire and probably owned parts of the casino industry in america and abroadBecame friends with Bugsy Siegel and became involved in bootlegging, and eventually went to VegasAccording to many, Lanksy is responsible for the Masseria and Maranzano murders – and by extension, Lucky Luciano’s rise to powerSlide5
1920
–
prohibition begins,
luciano
recruited as a
Masseria gunman. Luciano, Frank Costello, and Vito Genovese start bootlegging ring financed by gambler arnold rothstein. “The brain” was also principally responsible for Luciano’s rise to the higher echelons of society. By mid 1920s, he’s earning millions and spending about $8 million/year on bribes of public officials.Luciano’s power and success helped him to rise to a top aid for Masseria. Around this time, Maranzano has arrived and is refusing to pay commissions to Masseria.1931 – decides to kill Masseria. Makes deal with Maranzano
to become second in command for killing off
Masseria
. In April, orchestrates his murder at a
coney
island restaurant during a card game (
genovese
and
bugsy
siegel
are 2 of 4 gunmen!).
Maranzano
divides remaining groups into 5 families (but declare himself capo
dei
capi
). In September,
Maranzano
decides to kill
luciano
, recognizes the threat.
Lucchese
tips him off, and he hires
jewish
gangsters to kill him (with help of
lansky
and
siegel
).
Luciano becomes head of
italian
organized crime in
americaSlide6
Luciano starts to dominate gambling, bookmaking, loan sharking, drugs, extortion. Also involved in garbage, labor unions, construction, garment center, trucking.
Eliminates title of capo
dei
capi
, establishes THE COMMISSIONhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCViU8Djmp4 (Mini bio)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epO9oN3Hx58 (The Commission idea)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fpz7jczYvVk (establishing the Commission)Slide7
The COMMISSION
Governing body for organized crime, established to help regulate rackets, territories, but also Luciano’s power over the families and prevent future rivalries and wars
5 NY families,
philadelphia
, buffalo, la, al capon’s
chicago group. Later came detroit and KC. Also representation for jewish and irish organizations.1935 – dutch schultz wants to murder special prosecutor thomas
dewey
. Luciano fears police crackdown. Schultz refuses, so he is eliminated. It’s
dewey
who later
i
ndicts
luciano
on pandering charges.
1936
–
luciano
convicted of 62 counts of compulsory prostitution (“The Combination”). Sentenced to 30 years.
Genovese is temporary boss, but
luciano
still directs family business from prison. In 1937, Genovese
fleese
to
naples
,
costello
takes over. Luciano finally steps down in 1938 after exhausting appeal attempts.Slide8
1942,
luciano
helps naval intelligence (as controller of waterfront) and organizes dock workers, and also possibly provides
sicilian
mafia contacts
1946 – dewey is now governer and commutes luciano’s sentence pending deportation to italy. Luciano goes back to italy and then to cuba (lansky has gambling outfit here, luciano has bootleg contacts here).1946 –
lansky
calls meeting “to see
sinatra
perform” but to include
luciano
in mob dealings (heroin,
vegas
, gambling in
cuba
). Deported by
cubans
after threats of cutting of us products (prescription drugs)
Carlo
gambino
gave eulogy at
luciano’s
funeral in queens after dying of a heart attack in 1962.Slide9
Additional resources
Selwyn
Raab
on his book
The five families
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-JSVvgGGC8)Myer Lanksy (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEN89gsoW5U)Lucky Luciano (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_T234pvA44)