QUIZ Anastasia, Luciano, Mangano, The 3 Power Mobsters

Study Notes – QUIZ Anastasia, Luciano, and Mangano

• Evolution of Organized Crime with Key Mobsters

  • Albert Anastasia, Lucky Luciano, and Vincent Mangano were pivotal figures in shaping the dark history of the Mafia, including notable families like the Gambino family.
  • Albert Anastasia (born Umberto Anastasio, 1902–1957) led Murder, Inc., a contract killing organization for the National Crime Syndicate, earning nicknames like “The Mad Hatter” and “Lord High Executioner.”
  • Anastasia became boss of the Mangano family, which later evolved into the Gambino crime family, and was responsible for 400 to 1,000 murders.
  • Charles “Lucky” Luciano (born Salvatore Lucania, 1897–1962) was the architect and benefactor of Murder, Inc., and the top leader of the American Mafia after the Castellammarese War.
  • Luciano created the National Crime Syndicate and delegated Murder, Inc. as its enforcement arm, relying on Anastasia and Louis “Lepke” Buchalter for operations.
  • Vincent Mangano (1888–1951) was the first official boss of what became the Gambino crime family, resisting some of Luciano’s modernization efforts.
  • Murder, Inc. was established by powerful mobsters to eliminate rivals, with Albert Anastasia playing a significant role in its setup due to his ruthless methods.
  • The organization operated from locations like the back room of Midnight Rose’s Candy Store, carrying out assassinations ordered by The Commission.

  Albert Anastasia’s Brutality and Influence

  • Anastasia was the operational head of Murder, Inc., transforming it into a disciplined killing organization that handled contract murders nationwide.
  • He co-led Murder, Inc. alongside Louis “Lepke” Buchalter after proving loyal to Luciano during the Castellammarese War, supervising Italian hitmen.
  • Anastasia’s reputation was so fearsome due to his brutality that he personally participated in killings, reinforcing his image as a commander and executioner.
  • Conflict with Vincent Mangano grew due to Anastasia’s increasing influence, leading to power struggles within mob families.
  • High-profile murders attributed to Anastasia or Murder, Inc. from the 1920s to the 1950s often targeted witnesses, rivals, or those disloyal to Mafia interests.
  • In 1921, Anastasia was arrested for the murder of George Turino but his conviction was overturned, a pattern of witnesses vanishing or refusing to testify.
  • He was linked to the 1939 murder of labor organizer Peter Panto, who campaigned against dockside corruption, solidifying Anastasia’s reputation for silencing dissent.
  • In 1952, Anastasia allegedly ordered the killing of Arnold Schuster, a civilian who helped police, which outraged other Mafia bosses.
  • Anastasia is widely believed to have orchestrated the disappearances of Vincent Mangano and the murder of Philip Mangano in 1951 to seize control of the family.

  Lucky Luciano’s Reforms and Legacy

  • Lucky Luciano is widely regarded as the architect of the National Crime Syndicate and The Commission system that governs the Mafia.
  • He orchestrated the murders of his bosses, Joe Masseria and Salvatore Maranzano, during the Castellammarese War (1930–1931), ending decades of violence.
  • In 1931, Luciano established The Commission, a council of family bosses, to resolve disputes and coordinate national crime operations, replacing the “boss of bosses” concept.
  • He extended this model into the multi-ethnic National Crime Syndicate, integrating Italian, Jewish, and Irish mob groups under one cooperative network.
  • Luciano’s empire included racketeering, gambling, narcotics, and prostitution, leading to his conviction in 1936 on 62 counts of compulsory prostitution and a 30–50 year sentence.
  • During World War II, the U. S. Navy secretly enlisted Luciano’s help (Operation Underworld) to prevent sabotage on the New York waterfront, leading to the commutation of his sentence.
  • In 1946, Luciano was deported to Italy, and later held the Havana Conference in Cuba to reorganize the Syndicate’s operations before being expelled back to Italy.
  • Luciano preserved and strengthened the code of omertà (silence), demanding absolute loyalty and secrecy, and codified rules for behavior and conflict resolution.
  • His reforms brought unprecedented order, efficiency, and profitability to American organized crime, defining the Mafia’s corporate structure for decades.
  • Luciano died of a heart attack in 1962 at Naples’ Capodichino Airport and was buried in St. John’s Cemetery in Queens under his birth name, Salvatore Lucania.

  Vincent Mangano’s Role and Downfall

  • Vincent Mangano was the first official boss of what became the Gambino crime family, operating sternly from Brooklyn for over two decades.
  • He built a powerful criminal organization rooted in New York’s waterfront through control of the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA), Local 1814.
  • Mangano presented himself as an “Old World” don, valuing tradition and hierarchy, and established the City Democratic Club as a political front.
  • Tensions arose between Mangano and Albert Anastasia due to Anastasia’s violent tendencies and independent dealings, which undermined Mangano’s authority.
  • Vincent Mangano disappeared on April 19, 1951, shortly after his brother Philip was murdered, with his body never recovered.
  • Most Mafia historians believe Albert Anastasia orchestrated the double murder to seize control of the family.

  Impact of Organized Crime Figures

  • Landmark trials highlighted clever defense strategies by mob lawyers, sometimes leading to “not guilty” verdicts for figures like Albert Anastasia and Lucky Luciano.
  • The trials demonstrated the difficulty of convicting organized crime figures due to witness fear or disappearance.
  • The actions of Albert Anastasia and Lucky Luciano led to a more structured, business-like approach to illegal activities within the American Mafia.
  • The RICO Act was created to combat organized crime by allowing prosecution of entire groups rather than individuals, becoming a significant tool against mobsters.
  • Stories of Anastasia, Luciano, and Mangano influenced media, with films like “Goodfellas” and TV shows like “The Sopranos” portraying mob life and shaping public perception of crime families.
  • Notorious Italian-American gangsters such as Carlo Gambino, John Gotti, Joseph Bonanno, and Paul Castellano worked alongside Anastasia, Luciano, and Mangano.
  • Key figures interacted with personalities from different families, including Louis Lepke from the Buchalter family, Tommy Lucchese from the Lucchese family, and Salvatore “Sammy The Bull” Gravano linked to the Bonanno crime family.