In 1891, Castille was Lauropoli Francis Costello, a mountain village in Calabria, Italy born. In 1893, Costello's father moved alone to New York, where he opened a small grocery store in East Harlem. In 1900, Castilla had more saved up enough money to send his wife, Frank and Frank's older brother Edward. It 'was his brother Edward, 10 years Frank Sr., Frank is the first involved in petty crimes.
At the age of 14 years, Costello, wearing a blackCloth on his face robbed the landlady of the apartment building where he lived with his parents. The landlady saw Costello, but Costello concocted an alibi to satisfy the police, and was never arrested. In 1908 and again in 1912, Costello was arrested for assault and robbery, and again beat is somehow represented.
In 1915, Costello was 24 years old, was sentenced to one year in prison for bringing an illegal firearm. Despite the fact that in the coming decades,had been actively involved in dozens of criminal investigations would not have seen Costello, the inside of a jail cell for another 37 years. Costello has promised that if he then get out of jail, he would never be a weapon again. It never has.
After his release from prison Costello met and married a Jewish woman named Loretta Geigerman. It 'was to be married at the time of an Italian Catholic faith outside of their unusual. Costello, however, saw things differently, and eventually forged relationshipswith many Jewish gangsters such as Meyer Lansky, Louie "Lepke" Buchalter and Bugsy Siegel.
Shortly after I was married, began working for the slayer Joe Costello "The Clutch Hand" Morello, who were with her partner, Ignazio "Lupo the Wolf" responsible for the insidious Black Hand extortion rackets Saietta.
While working for Morello, Costello met with Charles "Lucky" Luciano, a Sicilian, who ran the rackets in Little Italy, the Lower East Side of Manhattan. ByLuciano, Costello was scarce, the gangsters like Vito Genovese, Tommy "Three Fingers Brown" Lucchese, and Lansky and Siegel. Together, these men were strong in armed robberies, thefts involving extortion, gambling and drug trafficking. When the Volstead Act became law in 1920, redeemed the beginning of the era of Prohibition, Costello and his friends in big, bring in illegal alcohol from Canada, and as far away as England. His partner was Arnold "The Brain" Rothstein, the firstfinanced the entire operation.
Costello, Luciano, Lansky and Siegel were in so much dough rakes, could pay the corrupt politicians and police officials estimated at $ 100,000 a week for protection. These payments go all the way to the office of New York City Police Commissioner - Grover Whalen. In 1929, immediately after the accident, Costello said Luciano, who had previously Whalen $ 30,000, so that Whalen was the margin calls from its coverageStockbroker.
"What could I do?" Costello said Luciano. "I had to give. We own".
Even after all the hearty dish out, payments had to graft, there were still more than $ 4 million in annual profits of all their clubs are divided equally between Costello, Luciano, Lansky and Siegel.
It 'was during this period that he believes Luciano Costello (Irish decent name) should change its name from Castile. Luciano said later: "When we arrived in our earsNew York, politics, not hurt us all that we had an Italian guy with a similar name Costello. "
At the end of 1920, both Luciano and Costello joined the mafia gang of Joe "The Boss" Masseria conducted. At the same time, Costello saw that it was useful to form alliances with other ethnic groups. In addition to the Jews - Lansky, Siegel and Rothstein, Costello has been closely associated with the Irish gangsters on the West Side of Manhattan, in particular Owney "The Killer" "Big Bill" and William MaddenDwyer. Costello has been with the Irish most of the rum-running operation called "The Combine. Of course, Costello all its profits with Luciano, Lansky and Siegel.
However, the farm frown on members of his gang to do with non-Sicilians. The fact that Costello was not too pleased Calabrese Farm.
Seeing the writing on, Luciano and Costello wall with Tommy Lucchese and Vito Genovese, has changed sides "Castella MaresWar ", was actively engaged in, Salvatore Maranzano Masseria with bitter rivals.
On Sunday, April 15, 1931, Luciano took lunch at Masseria Nuova Villa Tammaro Coney in Iceland. After Massaria finished a sumptuous meal, the two men engaged in a game of cards. While the card game, Luciano excused himself and went into the men's room. While Luciano was in the men's room, four armed men who burst of Bugsy Siegel, through the front door and Masseria sufficient to conduct full LEDmake him stone dead. When police arrived minutes later, said Luciano no knowledge of what had happened because he was ill at the time of the shooting. Luciano laughed at the story of the police, but they had no evidence of involvement by Luciano (or maybe it was corrupt), so they let him go.
In a few months, Costello and Luciano were disappointed with the way the old world Maranzano. In the face of an aristocrat, and a higher calling then his men, Maranzanoproclaimed himself "Tuti Capo de Capo (leader of all bosses)." To make matters worse, Maranzano extract a greater share of his subordinates had called for profits and Masseria greedy.
The coup de grace, when planted near Mole Maranzano was discovered Costello and Luciano, Maranzano was planning to kill because he feared Luciano Luciano ambitions. Do not like the idea soon be a dead man, Luciano quickly sent four murderess jew, very capable by the red LEDLevine, Maranzano office in Midtown. Disguised as policemen, the four men quickly disarmed Maranzano's bodyguard then shot and stabbed to death Maranzano.
With his two former bosses are now under the feet Costello along with Luciano, Siegel, Lansky and formed a national commission crime. While the task of Luciano, as head of the family that ran the day to day, whatever they were dizziness, Costello, his advisers involved, was the man behind the scenesGreasing the wheels to protect them from a close friend of politicians and top police officials in New York City. Of course, this meant Costello has had to pay and pay much, but he knew that if he needed a political favor, that would be done forever. Costello boasted that he possessed all the top Tammany Hall politicians, including Mike Kennedy, Christie Sullivan, Frank Rossetti, Carmine DeSapio and Hugh Rogers.
Costello has used his "in" with Tammany Hall to make virtually allpolitical appointment he wanted. Rogers himself admitted: "If Costello wants, I know what you sent to me."
In the mid-1930, Costello was now one of the biggest earner families Luciano, slot machines in the field with Phil "Dandy Phil" Kastel. Costello placed more than 25,000 slot machines in New York restaurants, bars, pharmacies, bus stops and service stations. What went well for a while 'until the reformist mayor Fiorello La Guardia of New York went on a rampage against the illegal slot machinesBusiness. The Guard did a great show to confiscate thousands of slot machines Costello. Laguardia, supported by the local police invited the slot machines on barges and then La Guardia slot machines has pushed himself into the water. Photo of La Guardia's antics appeared in all local newspapers and newsreels in movie theaters.
His business in New York City of slot machines in ruins, along with Costello Kastel, moved their operations to New Orleans, Louisiana. Here, withHelp New Orleans Mafia boss Carlos Marcello, may set their machines, have always been deemed necessary. Their entire operation was under the protection of Senator Hughie Long, a bastion of corruption itself.
In 1936, Luciano began hunting by special prosecutor Thomas E. Dewey. Despite weak evidence the testimony and perjury of prostitutes and pimps, Dewey tried and convicted on charges Luciano invented prostitution. Luciano also held that it wasDewey was surrounded, Luciano.
Luciano locked up in prison, named Vito Genovese Underboss Luciano, head of the Luciano Crime Family. But to escape in 1937, Genovese was indicted for murder, and the prosecution, fled to Italy. At this point, Luciano Costello appointed the head of the Luciano Crime Family.
Costello is very good as the new leader. Working with people of different nationalities, increase profitability, Costello family, the whole line.Costello controlled gambling, horse race fixing, political club, and the wires illegal race across the country. Of course, maintain its activities illegal without a hitch, Costello has contributed millions of dollars to the pension funds of hundreds of corrupt politicians and law enforcement authorities. In this way, Costello assured, if he needed a favor, which in fact has this privilege.
In 1943, Costello said in one of his political chits when he asked Thomas Aureliusappointed judge. The only problem was Manhattan Dist Atty. Frank Hogan, one of the few politicians on the payroll Costello, Aurelio has a bug on the phone. The date was 23 August 1943 Aurelius, and the man was none other than Frank Costello to speak, which confirms that Aurelio would soon be a judge.
The conversation went like this: "How are you, and thanks for everything," said Aurelio.
"Congratulations," said Costello. "Everything went perfectly. If I tell you,have something in your pocket, you can be assured. "
"It 'was perfect," said Aurelio. "It 'was good."
"Well, we all have to come to dinner and the evening very soon," Costello said.
"It would be good," said Aurelio. "But now I want to ensure my loyalty for all you've done. And 'unshakable."
Surprisingly, Costello had its claws in a profound way the politicians in New York and law enforcement authorities, in spite of the conversation between him and Aureliomade public, Aurelio is still the judge, immediately after hitting a prohibition proceedings. This shows how politics crooked New York City was in those days.
However, Costello was the most important person was able to approach FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover. Hoover was a degenerate player who often visited the track. While Hoover was two U.S. dollars on two U.S. dollars betting window, he would bet his subordinates to the hundreds of dollars for his placement of the windowsHoover.
Dependence Hoover after the horses fell directly with Costello's plans. Costello, through its mediation - Bookmaker Frank Erickson found that if certain breeds have been established. Costello would then send that information to the National reporter Walter Winchell, who was a mutual friend of both Costello and Hoover as well. Winchell said Hoover, who to bet on which horse Hoover made very happy and very rich.
Hoover was hidden value - the Costellofor many years. However, it was later discovered that regardless of Hoover in New York, was secretly Costello for breakfast, and sometimes even on a bench.
The question must be asked, when Costello was to provide information on horse racing Hoover fixed, done, do what Hoover for Costello?
The answer is simple. During this period, even if Hoover has gone after so many approximate Public Enemies as John Dillinger and Baby Face Nelson, Hooverabsolutely do not realize that the Mafia or 'Cosa Nostra, "even existed.
Hoover, but he could not even maintain influence and protection Costello out of the limelight forever. To study in 1951, Senator Estes Kefauver of Tennessee, and his five-man special commission of organized crime, died purpose Costello. On March 13, 1951, Costello was asked to testify before the Kefauver Committee. However, Costello was not that his face be seen on national television, so itsLawyer George Wolf, who was on that Costello is play the hands are shown on television agreed.
With a nationwide TV audience looking forward, Costello, heavy in his voice, hesitatingly answered questions from the commission. He tried to verbally sparring with Kefauver and his men, but it was clear to everyone that Kefauver Costello have been exposed for exactly what it was - a big time mafia boss.
Unfortunately for Costello, who is now in the press called him the "minister ofUnderworld ", the hearings do not good for his image and his cohorts. By the time Costello got off the witness stand, standing Costello in the Cosa Nostra was a great success did. And Costello was ripe for an even more. A Hit up.
In exile in Italy Luciano, Vito Genovese was returned to the U.S., with the aim to take the Luciano crime family. To block Costello has been in close contact with Albert Anastasia Mafia murderess. Hatred of AnastasiaGenovese went on for a long time, and so an internal struggle for control of the crowd watching clubs in New York City.
The second Frank Costello in May 1957 was the lobby of his apartment near Central Park. What awaited him was a massive lift from the shadows, a former professional boxer named Vincent "The Chin" Gigante, a close associate of the Genovese. Giant was there to delete from the Genovese, Frank Costello from the local scene, thus giving a clear path Genoveseon the throne.
Giant suddenly came into the light of Costello and shouted: "Hey Frank, this is for you!"
Giant fired a shot that the longest side of the head of Costello. However, since Giant was not the best shooter in the world, and also because it broke the first rule of Giant rubbouts Mafia: "Say your sacrifice, you're going to shut up and shoot him, shoot him myself." The wound was little more than a superficial wound. Costello was taken to hospital, wherecleaned and bandaged the wound. Costello was safe at home later that night.
When Giant left the scene of the shooting, he thought he had killed Costello. Understand his mission was a failure that was 6'2 ", 300 pounds Giant hid. Gigante was finally captured and brought to justice. However, Costello, faithful to the Mafia code of" omerta refused "to testify against he (Costello said he did not even know Giant seen), Gigante came out of a court freePeople.
(Editor's Note: Normally, when a killer crowd blew a shot, then is killed in the same rule for some reason has never been sick Giant, and he was the head of the Genovese crime family in the mid-1980s .. Go figure. )
For practical purposes, ended the influence Costello in the Cosa Nostra. However, Costello was still able to tap into a huge movement to get even with Machiavellian Genovese. In concert with Luciano, who is still in exile in Italy, and Carlo GambinoWho has to climb the ladder to the Mafia boss himself, were able to attract Genovese in a big drug deal. In the knee with a Genovese drug, fell by the police, and Genovese was arrested on charges of narcotics. A bad reputation.
Genovese was indicted and sentenced to 15 years in prison. The Gambino Crime Family: safely behind bars with Genovese, Carlo Gambino was the head of his family.
Having 10 years of his 15 years in prison, died in GenoaPrison, Costello and Gambino very happy.
To accomplish his mission of vengeance, and tired of the daily operations of the business crowd, Costello severely weakened his involvement in organized crime scene. Costello moved to Iceland for a long time and rarely came to New York to be low with his former comrades, who sometimes came to him for advice in an apartment that is still in the Waldorf-Astoria. These include friend Carlo Gambino, Tommy Lucchese and MeyerLansky.
In 1973, Frank Costello died of a heart attack at a hospital in Manhattan. He was buried in the cemetery of San Michele in Queens. His wife, Bobbi insisted that none of his friends Costello Mafia funeral, flower shows or sent to the morgue.
In a display of total lack of respect, mobster Carmine Galante, after being released from prison in 1974, ordered the bombing of the cemetery Costello. If the powder were placed on both doors blown Costello Cemetery Mausoleumcompletely off its hinges.
That's just Galante is back and the control of Cosa Nostra in New York City. What he certainly tried to do, with great cunning and killing her.
