Frank Costello

Francesco Castiglia (January 21, 1891 - February 18, 1973), known as Frank "Prime Minister" Costello, was a Prohibition gangster and eventual leader of the Genovese crime family.

Assassination attempt

In 1957 a powerful figure in the family loyal to Costello, Joe Adonis, was deported. Albert Anastasia was brutal to members of his family, even one time slapping Carlo Gambino, at a dinner in front of Joe Bonanno (Bonanno talks about this in his first book). Genovese had found his ally. Also in 1957 Costello won his appeal and was released. Genovese had to strike now. An attempt was made on Costello's life soon after his release, when, one night, he was walking to the elevator in order to go up to his house, and was shot in the head by hitman Vincent Gigante, who supposedly warned him by shouting "Frank, this is for you!" before taking his shot. Costello turned around, and ducked when he realised what was happening. Because of that defensive reaction, he survived the attack. Gigante left him for dead and ran away, but the bullet had done little more than graze his head, passing through his right ear and slightly touching his neck. So many police came after Gigante that he later turned himself in; never in the history of the mafia has this happened. Genovese went on to appoint himself as boss, even though his attempt on Costello had failed.

Related Topics:
1957 - Joe Adonis - Vincent Gigante

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Some time after that, Costello had had enough and made it clear to Genovese that he no longer wanted to be a boss and wanted to make peace. Genovese agreed to leave Costello alone. In return, Costello gave up all of his gambling connections and once again became a soldier for the organization. Eventually, Genovese made Costello agree to leave and forego any future involvement with organized crime.

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Genovese, still scared of the murderous Albert Anastasia, made an alliance with Carlo Gambino "Get Anastasia I'll back you to be boss". The former Murder, Inc. leader was shot down in the barbershop of the Park Sheraton Hotel on October 25, 1957.

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Costello later got his revenge by framing Genovese, Gigante, and others, including future Bonanno Family boss Carmine Galante, in a drug bust with the help of Luciano and Meyer Lansky. Genovese eventually died in prison

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