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.

Crime business

After his release, he began dealing in the underworld, and teamed up with Lucky Luciano. Together, they prospered in such business areas as bootlegging, gambling and slot machines (Prohibition in the U.S. was from 1919 to 1933). Costello was considered by his fellow gangsters as an important link between the Mafia and politicians, judges, and the police, and he earned the respect of many of his gangmates, including Luciano, as a man who could pay off anyone. He had particularly strong links with Tammany Hall, a Democratic Party organization, and with "Big" Bill Dwyer. Costello was responsible for having Abe "Kid Twist" Reles thrown out of the window when he became a witness against the mob.

Related Topics:
Lucky Luciano - Bootlegging - Gambling - Slot machine - Prohibition - 1919 - 1933 - Tammany Hall - Democratic Party - Bill Dwyer - Abe "Kid Twist" Reles - Witness

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When Luciano went to prison in 1936, he was sent to Dannemora in upstate New York, almost at the border with Canada. Luciano attempted to rule his crime family from jail, but, being so far removed, he had to name an acting boss, and so chose Costello, with Vito Genovese acting as Underboss. The period that Costello ruled as a boss of Luciano's family was the most profitable one. Costello was a cash register with rackets from coast to coast (slot's in New Orleans with Carlos Marcello, Florida gambeling with Lansky, The Racewire with Bugsy Siegal in L.A., National bookmaking with Frank Erickson) aside from running the family and had more political strength than any mobster in history. After Genovese fled to Italy in fear of a murder prosecution, Costello had the whole operation under his control, and he expanded the crime family's operations, the casinos in Las Vegas and Cuba happened under Costello's rule, he even owned buildings on Wall Street.

Related Topics:
1936 - Dannemora - Canada - Vito Genovese - Murder - Las Vegas - Cuba - Wall Street

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After Luciano was deported to Italy in 1946, Genovese wanted to return to the States. To this end Costello had the witnesses against Genovese poisoned while they were in protective custody. Upon his return, Genovese came to feel he should have been the boss all these years, but he had to move softly. Genovese was displeased at the way things had changed during Costello's period as boss; Costello had his soldier's respect and the police on his payroll. Genovese also hated the fact that Costello was good friends with Albert Anastasia. With Anastasia on his side, it was hard to challenge Costello but things started to change with the Kefauver hearings. Mafia leaders from across the country were interviewed as part of these investigations, and Costello became the most well-known gangster of the time. The hearings were called by the Kefauver commission, which wanted to investigate organized crime in the States.

Related Topics:
1946 - Albert Anastasia - Kefauver hearings

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By 1951, Genovese wanted to get rid of Costello but he was still too strong, so Genovese had to wait. Costello knew Genovese wanted to be the Boss, but Costello could not go to war to kill Vito Genovese. If Costello went to war, the government would jail him. Costello spent the 1950s in and out of court and government crime hearings. A clean hit on Genovese was impossible: as underboss, Genovese commanded a loyal crew. War was inevitable. Costello was first sentenced to 18 months of jail, accused of contempt of the Senate. He started serving that sentence in August, 1952, but was released after only 14 months, in October, 1953. In 1954, he was accused of tax evasion and sentenced to five years in jail, but didn't have to serve any time from that sentence. In 1956, he was once again convicted, and this time went to prison. However, he won his appeal and was released the next year.

Related Topics:
1951 - 1950s - 1952 - 1953 - 1954 - Tax evasion - 1956

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