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Luchiano SalvatoreGangster
Date of Birth: 24.02.1897
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Content:
- The Early Life of Lucky Luciano
- Early Gambling Days
- Entry into the Criminal Underworld
- 建立犯罪帝国
- Becoming a Mob Boss
- Rise to Power and Conquest of New York City
- Encounter with Thomas Dewey and Imprisonment
- Exile to Italy and Expansion of his Network
- The Final Years
The Early Life of Lucky Luciano
Salvatore Lucania, better known as Lucky Luciano, was born on February 24, 1897, in Sicily. His family immigrated to the Lower East Side of New York City, a heavily Italian immigrant neighborhood. Growing up in the immigrant enclave, young Luciano struggled with English, while most spoke only Italian. His poor command of English led to frequent quarrels with his brothers, who taunted him for his limited language skills.
By the age of 16, Luciano had become proficient in English and secured a job as a hatmaker for Stent, a small-scale shop on a nearby street. He had gained fluency in English and lost his Italian accent, a significant accomplishment that became his first valuable asset.
Early Gambling Days
Luciano's introduction to the world of gambling began when he overheard a conversation about how to place bets. Intrigued, he decided to save money and ventured into one of the most luxurious gambling houses. Clad in his older brother's ill-fitting clothes, Luciano felt uncomfortable amidst the sophisticated patrons. Nevertheless, he resisted temptation, left without drinking, and managed to win a considerable sum.
Within a week, he returned and was greeted cordially, welcomed back to the gambling table. Again, he emerged victorious and used his winnings to purchase a fashionable suit, brown shoes, and a fedora. The path was clear for him: Luciano resigned from his job at the hat shop and immersed himself in the world of gambling.
Entry into the Criminal Underworld
One unfortunate day, Luciano suffered a significant loss at the gambling table. He and a friend were subsequently offered the opportunity to deal drugs, a venture that seemed foolproof. However, a few months later, Luciano and his associates were arrested. At just 18 years old, he was sentenced to three years in a reformatory for drug distribution and robbery (later found to be a false accusation fabricated by the police).
Far from being a setback, his time in the reformatory proved beneficial. There, Luciano forged connections and learned the intricate workings of organized crime. He befriended influential figures linked to the shadowy underbelly of the American economy, individuals who would later become his partners in building his own criminal empire.
建立犯罪帝国
Upon his release from prison, Luciano proposed to his newfound acquaintances the establishment of a recruitment company that would target unemployed women and lesser-known dancers. Luciano's modus operandi involved wooing potential victims, drugging them, and exploiting them for financial gain. By morning, the young women would awaken with incriminating evidence, unknowingly signing an unspoken contract for their employment.
However, Luciano envisioned himself as more than just a recruiter; he aspired to become the director of a formidable enterprise. After setting the recruitment mechanism in motion, he dedicated himself to managerial duties, conducting meetings, expelling unruly elements, and addressing complaints from the prostitutes. His transformation from a young immigrant to a sophisticated and well-dressed figure was remarkable. He became a tastemaker, influencing the style of New York City's burgeoning wealthy class.
According to a 1929 federal investigation, Luciano's annual income stood at $200,000. His empire was taking shape, spanning the realms of prostitution, casinos, and narcotics, all shielded by his well-placed connections within law enforcement. The foundation for a modern criminal corporation had been laid.
Becoming a Mob Boss
Luciano's influence extended beyond his criminal operations. After surviving an assault by three unknown assailants who cut his back and beat him nearly to death, his reputation grew even further. He capitalized on the incident and, with the support of his ally Costello, launched a profitable bootlegging enterprise. Later, leveraging his prison friendship with "Dandy Phil," he orchestrated a racketeering scheme in New Orleans.
The American Mafia underwent a reorganization in 1929. Luciano proposed a division of powers and the establishment of rules for competition. The same meeting also witnessed the genesis of a shared security force. Murder Incorporated emerged, headed by the skilled Albert Anastasia, who had previously carried out delicate tasks for Luciano.
Subsequent meetings, akin to a board of directors with two dozen mob bosses, solidified the transformation of the mafia into a highly organized commercial entity. It became increasingly evident that Luciano was the true mastermind behind the organization, eclipsing the former leader, Masseria.
Rise to Power and Conquest of New York City
Luciano eventually orchestrated a plan to eliminate Masseria, inviting him to an Italian restaurant and ordering his men to execute him in the restroom. With Masseria's demise, Luciano ascended to the leadership of the American Mafia, a testament to his cunning and determination.
The narcotics trade flourished under Luciano's control, propelling his empire to unprecedented heights. His fellow bosses reaped substantial rewards.
Encounter with Thomas Dewey and Imprisonment
The threat to Luciano's reign came in the form of Thomas Dewey, a New York prosecutor who had been meticulously gathering evidence against him. Despite Luciano's careful distancing from direct involvement in the drug trade, Dewey shifted his focus to prostitution as a means of implicating him. In April 1936, an arrest warrant for "Lucky" was issued.
Dewey resorted to a desperate measure, bribing a witness, a respectable woman, to testify against Luciano. As a result, Luciano was sentenced to 50 years in prison in June 1936.
Exile to Italy and Expansion of his Network
On February 2, 1946, Luciano was released from prison and welcomed with parties and celebrations by his friends. Despite the festivities, he was barred from residing in the United States and sailed to Italy. His mission was to establish an international network that would dominate the Mediterranean region.
To this end, Luciano traveled to Argentina and then Cuba, where he was warmly received by Fulgencio Batista, a future dictator who relied on both local and international criminal contacts. At the famed Tropicana nightclub, Luciano forged strategic alliances with local mafiosi who controlled casinos, nightclubs, hotels, taxis, and wholesale trade. In turn, Luciano's extensive connections helped secure a lucrative contract for the Cuban government to export exotic goods to the United States.
Luciano eventually settled in Rome, obtaining permission in 1949 to open a candy factory that became a launching pad for the development of a local drug network. The outcome mirrored his success in America: the emergence of a modern mafia in Sicily, thriving on cocaine trafficking.
As a strategic move, Luciano replicated his US model by creating numerous legitimate businesses with impeccable accounting practices.
The Final Years
In late 1961, Lucky Luciano received a letter from screenwriter and producer Martin A. Gosch, expressing interest in scripting and producing a film based on his legendary life. The prospect of gaining fame intrigued Luciano, and he agreed, albeit with the condition of reviewing the script thoroughly. On January 26, 1962, Luciano traveled to the Naples airport to meet Gosch. Tragically, Luciano suffered a heart attack and collapsed, passing away at the age of 64.
Luciano's legacy extended far beyond his lifetime. By the time of his death, there were approximately 300 mafia clans in Sicily and Calabria. In Italy alone, the mafia employed an estimated 20,000 individuals. His pioneering role in the evolution of organized crime secured his place in the annals of criminal history as one of the most influential figures in the American Mafia.
