Frank “The Dasher” Abbandando: Murder, Speed, and the Machinery of Murder, Inc.Frank “The Dasher” Abbandando looked like the kind of man who enjoyed violence.That terrified people.He was handsome in a…
Anthony Strollo: The Smiling Traitor Who Vanished Into the NightAnthony “Tony Bender” Strollo smiled like a man who knew secrets.And he knew plenty.In the smoky back rooms of New York’s…
Martin "Buggsy" Goldstein: The Quiet Killer of Murder, Inc.The most dangerous gangsters are not always the loudest men in the room. Some command attention with flashy suits, expensive cars, and…
Louis “Little New York” Campagna: Chicago’s Quiet ExecutionerLouis Campagna never needed headlines. That was one of the reasons he lasted so long.While louder gangsters turned themselves into newspaper legends through…
Johnny “The Fox” Torrio: The Professor of the UnderworldJohnny Torrio did not look like a gangster. That was part of his genius.He dressed conservatively, spoke calmly, avoided unnecessary violence, and…
Joe Valachi: The Man Who Broke OmertàJoseph Valachi did something the Mafia considered unforgivable.He talked.Not in whispers behind closed doors. Not secretly to save himself during a quiet plea negotiation.…
Emanuel “Mendy” Weiss: The Quiet Butcher of Murder, Inc.Emanuel “Mendy” Weiss did not look frightening.That made him frightening.He appeared soft-spoken, almost forgettable at times—a stocky man with heavy features and…
Frankie Yale: The Elegant Butcher of BrooklynFrankie Yale looked like success. Tailored suits. Diamond rings. Perfect grooming. Expensive restaurants. Luxury cars gliding through Brooklyn streets while politicians, businessmen, boxers, and…
Anthony "Fat Tony" Salerno: The Last Old-School Boss of East HarlemAnthony "Fat Tony" Salerno looked more like a neighborhood shopkeeper than one of the most powerful gangsters in America.He smiled…
Charles "Lucky" Luciano: The Man Who Organized the Underworld New York in the early twentieth century was a city built on appetite. Men wanted liquor, gambling, sex, protection, influence, and…
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