Freedom and Deportation

In 1942, during World War II, the American government, particularly the Office of Naval Intelligence believed that Luciano could be helpful in the war effort through his strong connections in the Sicilian and Italian mafia. The U.S Navy at the time  was getting increasingly frustrated by unstable labor conditions and sabotage on the New York waterfront, so when the luxury liner Normandie blew up in New York harbor, the navy decided to approach Luciano. Luciano considered himself to be loyal American, who was devoted to Sicily, the Mafia and the United States alike, so when the American government offered him a deal which would free him from prison and see him deported to Rome for his aid in the war effort, he gladly took it.

On 12 May 1942, Luciano was moved to Great Meadow Prison, a far more pleasant penitentiary, as a show of good faith by the American government in order for him to help the U.S Naval Intelligence by influencing the mafia in Sicily.

Luciano’s help was needed in providing Mafia assistance during Operation Avalanche, by helping countering possible Axis infiltration on U.S. Waterfronts and his connections in Italy and Sicily were tapped to provide intelligence and ensure an easy passage for U.S. forces involved in the Italian Campaign. Luciano also controlled the longshoreman’s union so he arranged through Albert Anastasia, who controlled the docks that no dockworkers strikes would arise. Luciano’s Mafia connections were also reportedly used to root out communist influence in labor groups and local governments, during and after the war.

In 1946, as a reward for his wartime cooperation, Luciano was paroled and deported to Rome. Luciano was deeply hurt for having to leave New York. He said that he was native to New York City and therefore should not be subject to deportation. Ironically it was Governor Dewey, who originally prosecuted Luciano, that signed off on Luciano’s release and deportation.

Prosecution and Prison

In 1935, New York special prosecutor Thomas E. Dewey, a future republican presidential candidate singled out Luciano as an Organized Crime ring leader and targeted him along with others. The special prosecutor’s life previously was possibly saved by Luciano, when Luciano and the Commission did not allow Dutch Schultz, who had been repeatedly targeted by Dewey, to kill him. Instead they had Schultz killed.

On the night of February 1, 1936, Special Prosecutor Thomas E. Dewey directed mass raids of New York City Brothels. Over a 100 whores and madams were arrested by vice policemen and they were sent to the women’s house of detention. These women were threatened with jail time for not cooperating. They were told that they would go to prison for seven years if they did not testify against Lucky Luciano and the other defendants. Thomas E. Dewey was able to convince 28 of these women to testify.

When Luciano got wind of Dewey’s plans to indict him, he fled New York City. He went to Hot Springs, Arkansas, a gangster haven at that time, established by famous gangster Owney Madden. On April 1, 1936, New York detectives arrested Dewey. Dewey and his district attorneys then battled with Hot Spring authorities to keep Luciano in custody. Arkansas Governor J. Marion Furtell on April 18, 1936, signed the extradition papers which forced Luciano back to New York.

The trial of “Vice Czar” Lucky Luciano in 1936 for compulsory prostitution saw him get convicted. Special prosecutor Thomas E. Dewey had mad Luciano the poster boy for the trial. Although there were other defendants, the spotlight was on Luciano. Among Luciano’s co-defendants were David “Little Davie” Betillo, Tommy the Bull, Jesse Jacobs, Al Weiner and Willy Spiller.

On June 5, 1936, a jury convicted Luciano on 62 counts of compulsory prostitution. Luciano was sentenced to 30-50 years behind bars by Judge Philip McCook, while his co-defendants were given a prison sentence ranging from 2-4 years for Al Weiner and 25-40 years for David Betillo. Luciano’s sentence was one of the longest in history for the type of crime he was convicted for.

After Luciano was convicted on 62 counts of compulsory prostitution on June 5, 1936, he was sent to Clinton State Prison at Dannemora in Upstate New York to carry out his sentence of 30 to 50 years. Clinton State prison was New York State’s maximum security prison and it was known as the “Siberia” of all American penitentiaries due to its isolation and the way it treated its prisoners, which was far from compassionate.

Lucky was miraculously able to run his empire from his prison cell, by first giving orders through Vito Genovese and then through Frank Costello. At first, after Lucky was incarcerated, Vito Genovese became the acting Boss, so Luciano’s orders were relayed through him. Vito Genovese had a feared reputation for violence, which he lived up to, once he became acting boss by committing a murder. In 1937 Vito fled to Naples to avoid a murder indictment. Frank Costello the family’s consigliere and the third most powerful man now became the acting boss of the family and overseer of Luciano’s interests.