Lucky Luciano

Who Was Lucky Luciano?

Charles “Lucky” Luciano was a prominent American mobster who played a pivotal role in organizing and restructuring the criminal underworld of New York City. He is best known for dividing the city into five major crime families, ultimately leading the Genovese crime family himself. In addition to his influence at the local level, Luciano was instrumental in establishing The Commission, which functioned as a governing body for organized crime across the United States. Later in life, he moved to Havana, Cuba, but was subsequently deported to Italy, where he spent his final years in Naples.

Early Life

Born Salvatore Lucania in Sicily in 1897, Luciano emerged as one of the most infamous criminal figures of the 20th century. His family immigrated to the United States in 1906, settling in New York City. Arriving with limited English skills, Luciano faced challenges in school and quickly gravitated toward the streets of New York’s Lower East Side for his education.

One of his early ventures into organized crime involved extorting money from his schoolmates in exchange for protection; failure to comply often resulted in violence. In 1914, Luciano dropped out of school, choosing instead to focus on his criminal activities. Although he briefly worked as a clerk for a hat company, his burgeoning criminal career took precedence.

During his teenage years, Luciano forged alliances with influential figures in the Jewish underworld, notably Meyer Lansky and Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel, who would become significant allies in his rise to power. He also became associated with the criminal enterprise of Giuseppe “Joe the Boss” Masseria. Luciano’s involvement in drug trafficking led to his first major legal trouble in 1916, when he was arrested for selling heroin and subsequently served six months in a reformatory.

The ‘Big Six’ of Bootlegging

During the 1920s, the prohibition of alcohol created lucrative opportunities for organized crime, leading to the rise of figures such as Charles “Lucky” Luciano. Alongside his childhood friend Meyer Lansky, as well as Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel, Louis “Lepke” Buchalter, Jacob “Gurrah” Shapiro, and Abner “Longy” Zwillman, Luciano emerged as one of the so-called “Big Six” of bootlegging. These individuals dominated the illegal liquor trade on the East Coast, leveraging their connections and influence to secure significant profits. Luciano was also associated with Arnold Rothstein, known as the “Big Bankroll,” who had extensive gambling and bootlegging operations.

Giuseppe “Joe the Boss” Masseria

In 1929, Luciano, living up to his nickname “Lucky,” survived a brutal assassination attempt. Abducted and viciously attacked by a group of assailants, he was left for dead on a Staten Island beach. Discovered by a police officer, Luciano was taken to a hospital for treatment. The motive behind the attack remained unclear, with speculation suggesting involvement from either law enforcement or the crime boss Joe Masseria, who was embroiled in a turf war with rival boss Salvatore Maranzano at the time. Having worked under Masseria for many years, Luciano eventually shifted his allegiance to Maranzano, facilitating Masseria’s demise in April 1931.

Rise to Power

Following Masseria’s assassination, Luciano ascended to the top of the criminal hierarchy, with Maranzano’s endorsement. He became the head of one of New York City’s five crime families, aligning himself with other notorious figures such as Joseph Bonanno, Joseph Profaci, Tommy Gagliano, and Vincent Mangano. However, Luciano’s newfound power soon prompted Maranzano to perceive him as a threat, leading to an order for Luciano’s execution. Demonstrating his cunning, Luciano struck first, orchestrating Maranzano’s assassination in his office in September 1931.

Reorganization of Organized Crime

With Maranzano eliminated, Luciano shifted his focus to reforming the operations of organized crime. He sought to establish a national network to mitigate conflicts, manage disputes, and create operational guidelines among various criminal enterprises. This effort culminated in the formation of what became known as the Commission, which included the heads of the five families and other prominent crime figures, such as Chicago’s Al Capone. This new structure elevated organized crime to unprecedented levels of coordination and influence.

In the early 1930s, Luciano enjoyed a life of luxury, residing in the opulent Waldorf Towers in New York City under the alias Charles Ross. Displaying the lifestyle of a successful businessman, he donned custom-made suits and traveled in chauffeur-driven cars. However, his fortunes began to wane with the appointment of Thomas E. Dewey as a special prosecutor to investigate organized crime in 1935.

Personal Life

In 1948, Luciano met Italian ballerina Igea Lissoni. Despite their 20-year age difference, the couple fell in love, and it was reported in the following year that they had married, although this claim remains disputed. Their life together in Naples was tumultuous, marred by Luciano’s infidelities and instances of abuse. Lissoni was later diagnosed with breast cancer and passed away in 1959.

Final Years and Death

Luciano’s luck ran out in 1936 when he, along with eight members of his vice racket, was brought to trial in May. Convicted on charges of extortion and prostitution in June, he received a sentence of 30 to 50 years in prison, serving his time at Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, New York, often referred to as “Siberia” due to its remote location near the Canadian border. Despite attempts to appeal his conviction, the court upheld the ruling. While incarcerated, Luciano offered his criminal contacts to assist in the war effort during World War II. After serving a portion of his sentence, he was granted parole and subsequently deported to Italy. He briefly returned to Cuba, where he reunited with former associates, including Lansky and Siegel.

In 1947, the Cuban government repatriated Luciano to Italy, where he remained under close surveillance and was prohibited from leaving Naples. Reports suggested that he remained involved in narcotics trafficking. Over the years, Luciano contemplated sharing the details of his life story, but an unexpected turn of fate led to his fatal heart attack at Naples Airport in January 1962, where he had been scheduled to meet a film and television producer.

Burial

After hundreds gathered in Naples for his funeral, Luciano’s remains were returned to the United States. He was interred in the family vault at St. John’s Cemetery in Queens, New York. While he spent much of his life as the notorious Charles “Lucky” Luciano, he was ultimately laid to rest under his birth name, Salvatore Lucania.

Luciano’s criminal empire left a lasting legacy, with his former underboss, Vito Genovese, ultimately taking control of Luciano’s organization, which is now referred to as the Genovese crime family. Genovese passed away in 1969.