Long before Albert Anastasia forms Murder Incorporated in 1919, he and his brothers arrived in New York City, working on a freighter. Jumping ship, the brothers stayed in the United States, working as longshoremen on the Brooklyn waterfront.
It was not long before Anastasia was convicted of murdering a brother longshoreman, George Turino, as the result of a quarrel. Anastasia was sentenced to death and sent to Sing Sing State Prison
Charles “Lucky” Luciano
in Ossining, New York to await execution. Due to a legal technicality, however, Anastasia won a retrial in 1922. Because four of the original prosecution witnesses had disappeared in the meantime, Anastasia was released from custody in 1922. Anastasia was convicted of illegal possession of a firearm and sentenced to two years in prison in 1923.
During the 1920s, Anastasia had become a top leader of the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA), controlling six union local chapters in Brooklyn. Anastasia allied himself with Giuseppe “Joe the Boss” Masseria, a powerful gang leader in Brooklyn. Anastasia soon became close associates with future Cosa Nostra bosses Joe Adonis, Charles “Lucky” Luciano, Vito Genovese, and Frank Costello. In what would become a pattern, in 1928, Anastasia was charged with a murder in
Joe the Boss Masseria
Brooklyn, but the witnesses either disappeared or refused to testify in court.
In 1930, Lucky Luciano finalized his plans to take over the organized crime rackets and form a National Crime Syndicate in New York. Luciano plotted to kill the two old-line Mafia factions headed by Masseria and Salvatore Maranzano. Luciano joined with Anastasia, Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel in the plot. Anastasia reportedly assured Luciano that he would kill everyone for Luciano to reach the top. Anastasia knew his future as a mobster was assured if Luciano’s plans were completed and he created the National Crime Syndicate. Luciano then secretly gave his support to Maranzano.
Luciano lured Masseria to a meeting at a Coney Island, Brooklyn restaurant. During their meal, Luciano excused himself to go to the restroom. As soon as Luciano was gone, Anastasia, Vito Genovese, Joe Adonis, and Bugsy Siegel rushed into the dining room and shot Masseria to death. No one was ever indicted in the Masseria murder. In Maranzano’s subsequent reorganization of New York’s mafia into its current Five Families, Anastasia was appointed underboss of the Vincent Mangano, crime family which will become the modern Gambino crime family.
In September 1931, Maranzano was himself murdered and Luciano became the preeminent mobster in America or Boss of Bosses. To avoid future power struggles and turf disputes, Luciano established the National Crime Syndicate, consisting of the major family bosses from around the country and the so-called “five families” of New York. The Syndicate was meant to serve as a deliberative body to solve disputes, carve up and distribute territories, and regulate lucrative illegal activities such as racketeering, gambling, and bootlegging (which came to a close with the repeal of Prohibition in 1933). The Italian-American Mafia had their own body, known as the Commission. Anastasia’s Murder Incorporated will become the enforcement arm of the Commission.
Thanks to Mafia Wiki for help with this account of events.
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To rent Gangland Wire, the documentary, click here.
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It was not long before Anastasia was convicted of murdering a brother longshoreman, George Turino, as the result of a quarrel. Anastasia was sentenced to death and sent to Sing Sing State Prison
Charles “Lucky” Luciano
in Ossining, New York to await execution. Due to a legal technicality, however, Anastasia won a retrial in 1922. Because four of the original prosecution witnesses had disappeared in the meantime, Anastasia was released from custody in 1922. Anastasia was convicted of illegal possession of a firearm and sentenced to two years in prison in 1923.
During the 1920s, Anastasia had become a top leader of the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA), controlling six union local chapters in Brooklyn. Anastasia allied himself with Giuseppe “Joe the Boss” Masseria, a powerful gang leader in Brooklyn. Anastasia soon became close associates with future Cosa Nostra bosses Joe Adonis, Charles “Lucky” Luciano, Vito Genovese, and Frank Costello. In what would become a pattern, in 1928, Anastasia was charged with a murder in
Joe the Boss Masseria
Brooklyn, but the witnesses either disappeared or refused to testify in court.
In 1930, Lucky Luciano finalized his plans to take over the organized crime rackets and form a National Crime Syndicate in New York. Luciano plotted to kill the two old-line Mafia factions headed by Masseria and Salvatore Maranzano. Luciano joined with Anastasia, Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel in the plot. Anastasia reportedly assured Luciano that he would kill everyone for Luciano to reach the top. Anastasia knew his future as a mobster was assured if Luciano’s plans were completed and he created the National Crime Syndicate. Luciano then secretly gave his support to Maranzano.
Luciano lured Masseria to a meeting at a Coney Island, Brooklyn restaurant. During their meal, Luciano excused himself to go to the restroom. As soon as Luciano was gone, Anastasia, Vito Genovese, Joe Adonis, and Bugsy Siegel rushed into the dining room and shot Masseria to death. No one was ever indicted in the Masseria murder. In Maranzano’s subsequent reorganization of New York’s mafia into its current Five Families, Anastasia was appointed underboss of the Vincent Mangano, crime family which will become the modern Gambino crime family.
In September 1931, Maranzano was himself murdered and Luciano became the preeminent mobster in America or Boss of Bosses. To avoid future power struggles and turf disputes, Luciano established the National Crime Syndicate, consisting of the major family bosses from around the country and the so-called “five families” of New York. The Syndicate was meant to serve as a deliberative body to solve disputes, carve up and distribute territories, and regulate lucrative illegal activities such as racketeering, gambling, and bootlegging (which came to a close with the repeal of Prohibition in 1933). The Italian-American Mafia had their own body, known as the Commission. Anastasia’s Murder Incorporated will become the enforcement arm of the Commission.
Thanks to Mafia Wiki for help with this account of events.
To purchase premium podcast click here.
To rent Gangland Wire, the documentary, click here.
To subscribe on iTunes click, give me a review and I will send you a link to see the film for free.
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