The Untold Story of Albert Anastasia: From Hitman to Mob Boss

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imagine a world where power is absolute and betrayal is a daily
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occurrence welcome to the story of Albert Anastasia The Man known as the
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Lord High executioner of the American Mafia in the shadowy realm of organized
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crime few names struck as much fear as Albert Anastasia from his humble beginnings as
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a young immigrant to his reign as one of the most feared mob bosses in history
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Anastasia's life was a testament to the brutal and unforgiving nature of the
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criminal underworld but how did a poor Italian boy rise to become the head of murder
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Incorporated the mafia's infamous enforcement arm and what led to his dramatic downfall in a barber's chair at
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the park Sheran Hotel join us as we delve into the dark and twisted tale of
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Albert an staia a story of power violence and ultimate betrayal that
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shaped the face of organized crime in America in the late 1920s the infamous
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calamares War erupted within the mafia pitting two influential bosses against
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each other Joe the Boss Mia and Salvatore maranzano by
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1931 a rising mob figure lucky luchano saw sought to quell the escalating
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violence and unwanted scrutiny on the mafia by eliminating both powerful leaders and restructuring the
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organization's operations luchano devised a meticulous
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plan to remove the bosses recognizing the urgent need to curb excessive
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Bloodshed and growing public attention his first move targeted Joe the Boss Mia
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a task he entrusted to one of his most reliable Hitmen Albert anast AIA the pivotal moment came on April
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15th 1931 at noova Villa Tamaro a seafood restaurant in Coney Island a
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frequent haunt of Mia during a card game with luchano and
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his bodyguards Mia excused himself for a restroom visit a pre-arranged
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signal this cued the Hitmen including Anastasia Bugsy seagull vitto genovesi
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and Joe Adonis who was strategically positioned Outside The Establishment the Ambush unfolded
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swiftly more than 20 gunshots from 32 and 38 caliber pistols echoed through
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the air four bullets struck Mia's back
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while another found its Mark in his head ending his Reign of Power in the
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following months another hit team targeted maranzano effectively ending the war between the factions with the
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elimination of the Waring bosses lucky luchano and his associates seized the
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opportunity to reconstruct the mafia's structure they established a governing
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body known as the commission aiming to streamline operations and maintain order
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however to execute the commission's directives an enforcement Wing was yet
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to be organized a crucial element missing from the revamped Mafia
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structure in the power vacuum left by the fall of established Mafia bosses a menacing
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Force emerged on New York streets murder Incorporated at its Helm stood Albert
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Anastasia a figure who struck fear throughout the criminal underworld
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Anastasia a notorious Hitman wielded significant control over New York's
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Waterfront and the influential dock worker unions the Press
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recognizing his formidable reputation dubbed him the Lord High
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executioner Anastasia's Roots traced back to the quaint fishing Village of tropea on calabria's East Coast in
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southern Italy born Umberto Anastasio on September 29th
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1902 his upbringing shaped his ruthless trajectory in organized crime Umberto
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Anastasio known for his his fiery temper and violent tendencies climbed the mob
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ranks he transformed into Albert Anastasia etching his name in history as
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one of murder incorporated's most feared leaders raised in a family of 12
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siblings eight brothers and three sisters Albert faced early adversity
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when his father rafhaela a railroad worker died when Albert was just 10 to
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support his family young Albert quit school and began working as a deck hand on steamers
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at the local shipping yard his mental fortitude and physical strength proved
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invaluable in this dangerous work at 15 displaying remarkable
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audacity and determination Albert stowed away on a ship Bound for New York with
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his brother Anthony Anastasio later known as tough Tony and Anthony like
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Albert entered the world of organized crime becoming the only other family
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member to make significant inroads in this perilous realm Albert Anastasia's
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transformation from a humble deck hand to the feared head of murder
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Incorporated exemplifies his unwavering determination resilience and willingness
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to use violence to climb the treacherous ladder of organized crime in New York
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City arriving in New York in 1917 with meager resources tattered clothing and
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little formal education Anastasia faced a daunting start yet his Iron Will and
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physical prowess led him to secure work as a long shoreman on Brooklyn's
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bustling docks in this gritty environment Anastasia not only grew in
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stature but also amassed significant influence and Authority ironically this same setting
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would later witness his contribution to the war effort in
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1942 the mafia controlled Brooklyn docks were a double-edged sword for workers
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while employees were forced to pay Kickbacks to the Mob they were tacitly allowed to piler Cargo without severe
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repercussions though occasional squabbles over stolen goods erupted among workers none compared to the
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Fateful incident of 1920 an argument between 18-year-old
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Anastasia and a fellow worker Joe Torino over cargo escalated from verbal
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sparring to physical violence the confrontation turned deadly when
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Anastasia displaying chilling ruthlessness drew a knife and fatally
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stabbed Torino Witnesses later recounted the bone chilling expression on
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Anastasia's face describing his eyes as cold and
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emotionless a trait that would become his hmark in years to
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come convicted of murder Anastasia was sentenced to death by electric chair at
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Sing Sing prison however fate intervened when his conviction was overturned after
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18 months a key figure in this Twist of Fortune was Jimmy the shiv D Stefano a
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sing sing inmate with connections to the rising lucky luchiano who recognized
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Anastasia's potential DeStefano who served as both prison Barber and Aid to
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the Future mob boss Luciano recommended Anastasia as a prime candidate for
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lano's growing Cadre of young Mobsters a valuable asset for the aspiring crime
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Lord this endorsement marked a pivotal moment in Anastasia 's life propelling
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him from Death Row to becoming a central figure in New York City's burgeoning
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organized crime scene lucky lano's intervention proved
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crucial in Saving Albert Anastasia's life before a new trial lano's Hitmen
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eliminated the witnesses leading to Anastasia's release from prison on a
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technicality this experience taught Anastasia a vital lesson in the mafia
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eliminating Witnesses was a key strategy a principle he would soon adopt and
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perfect emerging from Sing Sing as a free man Anastasia entered a changed
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world the prohibition era which began in 1920 offered lucrative opportunities for
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the mob opportunities they would exploit for years at just 20 years old Albert
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Anastasio made a pivotal decision to change his name to Anastasia cementing
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his ties to the underworld immersed in organized crime
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Anastasia rubbed shoulders with influential figures like lucky luchano Maya Lansky Frank Costello and Lepa
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bukala returning to the Waterfront he took control of local gambling operations and managed the mob's lone sh
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sharking activities throughout the 1920s Anastasia's power within the long
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shaan's Union grew rapidly linked to about 30 assassinations between 1920 and
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1923 he evaded indictment or conviction for any of these crimes however in April
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1923 a targeted attack left bagio Jordana dead and Anastasia seriously
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injured later that year Anastasia faced legal trouble when arrested on a gun
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possession charge Landing him back in prison until 1925 as the 1920s Drew to a close
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tensions in the Underworld erupted into the castal Lamar war between powerful
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bosses Joe the boss miseria and Salvatore Marano both hailing from Calamar Del
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gulfo in Sicily these figures represented the Old Guard mustache Pete
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era of the mafia clinging to traditional practices rooted in Old World values
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their escalating conflict set the stage for a major shift in Mafia power
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dynamics the calamares wars aftermath ushered in one of the mob's most violent
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periods for 2 years New York streets became a Battleground as miseria and
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Marano fought for Supremacy however it was lucky luchano who
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ultimately ended this brutal conflict in 1931 Paving the way for a restructured
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mafia Luciano orchestrated the Strategic elimination of Joe the Boss Mia with the
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crucial help of Hitman Albert Anastasia Mia's demise unfolded during a seemingly
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ordinary lunch with luchano at his favorite Cone Island Seafood restaurant
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luchano excused used himself signaling the hit team's assault over 20 gunshots
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rang out fatally striking Mia multiple times and ending his
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Reign after Mia's demise his rival Marzano met a similar fate later that
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year Anastasia however chose not to participate in this particular hit
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Marzano was attacked in his Manhattan office Paving the way for Lucky lucano's
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rise to power in New York's under world to prevent future gang conflicts luchano
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established the commission a Consortium of five influential mob bosses this
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Collective aimed to distribute power equally among its members using a voting
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system to settle disputes and avoid further gang wars the commission's
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creation marked a shift from the old hierarchical monarchy style structure
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that luchano and his associates despised instead it embraced a more
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democratic approach including top figures from both Italian and Jewish
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criminal circles the commission's formation signaled a paradigm shift within the
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mafia moving from traditional autocratic leadership toward a more collaborative
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and structured governance system this laid the groundwork for a new era in
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organized crime in 1929 luchano and his trusted confidants
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established the mafia commission a governing body of New York's top mob
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bosses the commission mediated conflicts among families and authorized targeted
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assassinations to carry out these sanctioned hits they needed an enforcement Wing this necessity birthed
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a fearsome new faction in New York's underworld murder Incorporated operating
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in covertly from a Brooklyn candy store Lepa Balter a notorious labor
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racketeer and Contract Killer LED Murder Inc alongside Albert Anastasia who
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controlled the New York Waterfront and dock worker unions Murder Inc terrorized
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the mob reportedly carrying out about 1,000 hits during its active years
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Anastasia relishing his pivotal role in executing the commission's orders took a
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chilling pleasure in orchestrating these meticulously planned
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executions under Anastasia's leadership Murder Inc assembled a team of Ruthless
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disciplined and efficient Hitmen meny Weiss born in July 1906 was one of bta's
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most reliable Associates actively involved in several key operations his life ended in Sing Sing
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prison's electric chair in March 1944 Harry happy my own born in October 1908
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earned his ironic nickname due to his perpetually Sullen expression in
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1931 mayong and abandando aided ab rais and Martin Goldstein in eliminating the
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three Shapiro Brothers my own's life ended at sing sing's electric chair in
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February 1942 at the age of 33 Martin Bugsy Goldstein born in
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October 1905 Rose to prominence within Murder Inc a shootout with the Shapiro Brothers cost
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him the tip of his nose but didn't hinder his Ascent Goldstein played a
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significant role in Murder inc's operations until his career met an Abrupt end these men formed the core of
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Murder Inc a highly organized and ruthlessly effective group of Hitmen
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under Anastasia's command They carried out the commission orders with deadly
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Precision cementing murder inc's fearsome reputation in New York City's
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criminal underworld Charles the bug Workman born
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in October 1908 in New York gained infamy for his role in the 1935 Dutch
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Schulz murder unlike many of his associates Workman escaped the electric chair receiving a life sentence instead
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remarkably he was released in 1964 and lived until 1979 dying of natural causes at
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70 Harry Pittsburgh Phil Strauss born in 1909 in New York was one of the gang's
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most prolific and versatile Killers his methods ranged from shooting to ice pick
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stabbings drownings live burials and strangulation Strauss met his end in the
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electric chair in 1941 at age 31 Frank the Dasher abandando born in 1910 in New
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York favored fatally stabbing his victims through the heart with an ice pick reports described him as Fearless
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displaying a maab humor about his impending fate abandando was executed in
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the electric chair in February 1942 at age 31 AB kid twist Rees born in
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1906 in New York gained notoriety as an informant he was instrumental in
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bringing down several key Murder Inc members including boss Lepa buala before
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he could implicate Albert Anastasia Rees died mysteriously in November 1941 at
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age 35 allegedly falling from a window Lepa Balter born in February 1897 in New
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York was a central figure in Murder Inc his leadership significantly shaped the
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Gang operations until his downfall precipitated by informants and law
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enforcement efforts these individuals each with their distinct methods and roles shaped
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murder inc's Dark Legacy their lives of violence and crime were inextricably
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linked to the organization's rise and fall in New York City's mid 20th century
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criminal landscape during his tenure With Murder Inc Anastasia applied a
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crucial lesson from his prison days eliminate Witnesses this strategy proved
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effective in multiple cases in 1932 a murder indictment involving an ice pick
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was dropped due to lack of Witnesses in 1933 when Joe Santoro a defiant
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laundryman refused to pay mob Kickbacks Anastasia gunned him down in front of
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witnesses who later conveniently suffered Amnesia or disappeared in
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1939 Pete panto a long shoreman intent on purging the union of racketeering met
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a grim fate at Anastasia's hands strangled and buried in a lime pit his
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resistance permanently silenced however 1935 presented a
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significant challenge for Murder Inc following Dutch schulz's assassination
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Anastasia played a key role in plotting against Thomas dwey who threatened Mafia
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operations he meticulously studied Dewey's routines even posing as a father
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with a borrowed baby carriage to surveil Dewey's Fifth Avenue apartment when the
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commission learned of Anastasia's plan to eliminate Dewey they intervened
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warning him against an action that could bring unwanted attention to the mob's
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leadership these events underscored Anastasia's strategic prowess and his
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integral role within Murder Inc revealing the intricate and often perilous interplay between organized
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crime power struggles and the efforts to maintain a delicate balance within the
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underworld amidst the tension between Dutch Schulz and Thomas dwey schulz's
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desperate attempt to eliminate dwey who was closing in on a conviction for tax evasion was met with a resounding denial
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from the commission aware of the potential repercussions and the excessive attention it would draw the
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commission refused schulz's request however Schulz known for his fiery
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temperament sought an alternative route and approached Albert Anastasia for
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Aid understanding the gravity of the situation Anastasia promptly informed
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lucky luchano and the commission prompting an urgent meeting the consensus among the leaders was clear a
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contract was put out on Dutch Schulz Schulz found himself shot in the
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bathroom of the palace Chop House Restaurant sustaining a critical wound below the heart despite staggering out
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and sitting at a table the hit carried out by members of Murder Inc Charles Workman and Mendy Weiss led to schulz's
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demise however the aftermath took an unexpected turn instead of alleviating
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enforcement interest the incident backfired Dewey redirected his Focus to
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another key figure lucky luchano lano's subsequent conviction on charges related
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to forced prostitution in 1936 resulting in a 30 to 50-year
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sentence sent shock waves through the criminal Underworld the apprehension of
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the mob's chairman signified the vulnerability of even the most influential figures within organized
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crime amidst this upheaval Anastasia seized a period of relative calm in 1937
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to enter into matrimony with Elsa banzi a 19-year-old who had relocated from
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Canada to New York together they built a family of two sons and two daughters
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despite Anastasia's deep involvement in the New York underworld Elsa steadfastly
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maintained the facade of her husband being an industrious law-abiding citizen
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vehemently denying any connections to criminal activities this juxtoposition between Anastasia's public Persona and
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his clandestine life within organized crime underscored the complexity and
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duality of his existence Anastasia despite his deeply
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rooted ties to the underworld presented a starkly different Persona to the
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public eye he claimed ownership of a dress Factory and P P trayed himself as
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a mattress salesman in tandem with his fabricated professional image his wife
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Elsa painted a picture of Anastasia as a devout churchgoer who abstained from
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alcohol and was always home by 9 sou p.m. their marriage endured until
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Anastasia's assassination in 1957 following his death rumors surfaced
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alleging that Elsa reverted to her maiden name bar and relocated to Canada in the late
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1950s the sanctity of marriage didn't deter Anastasia from being involved with
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organized crime he was frequently summoned back into the criminal
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fold Lepa bu calter a prominent figure in Murder Inc sought Anastasia's
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assistance when faced with looming racketeering and narcotics charges Anastasia obliged orchestrating The
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Disappearance of over a dozen Witnesses crucial to balter's case despite a
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nationwide and international Manhunt buala remained concealed reportedly
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cited in Poland and the UK astonishingly Anastasia had kept Balta hidden in plain
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sight right within Brooklyn's boundaries in 1939 a critical moment
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emerged when a Murder Inc associate Jack The Dandy paresi was tasked with
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eliminating Morris Diamond a Teamster official and key witness against bu
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halter as Diamond walked along his usual route at 6:15 p.m. paresi concealing his
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gun behind a newspaper approached from the opposite side of the street lowering
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the newspaper paresi swiftly eliminated Diamond crucially removing a vital
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obstacle in bu calta's legal battles this event underscored the ruthless
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efficiency of Anastasia's Network and the meticulous execution of criminal
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agendas orchestrated by Murder Inc Anastasia observing the escalating heat
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from law enforcement Authorities on the mob found himself at a
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Crossroads the commission pressured him to reveal the whereabouts of book alter
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forcing him to make a tough choice between his loyalty to his friend and
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his allegiance to the Mob opting for the latter Anastasia arranged a clandestine meeting with bu calter who after 3 years
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in hiding looked drastically altered sporting a mustache and a noticeable
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weight gain Anastasia assured buchalter that a deal had been broken with the FBI
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allowing him to serve only a few years in prison eventually on August 24th
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1939 bu calter turned himself in facilitated By Radio Broad Caster Walter
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Winchell who publicly negotiated the surrender deal via a broadcast under Winchell's Direction bu Colter was
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instructed to be at a specific location at a designated time purportedly to
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surrender peacefully unbeknownst to Winchell federal agents discreetly
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monitored the rendevu when Winchell arrived with bu calter at the agreed upon spot they were picked up by Jay
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Edgar Hoover's car seemingly heading toward a resolution however this marked the
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termination for bu calter he was subsequently charged with the 1936 murder of Joseph Rosen a Brooklyn candy
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store owner who resisted leaving town as instructed by buchalter the decision to
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eliminate Rosen was inadvertently heard by Abe Rees a mob
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informant bu Colter's legal proceedings ended with his conviction and notably
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his execution in 1944 becoming the first mob boss to face
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capital punishment the downfall of Murder Inc materialized in 1940 when one
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of Anastasia's top Hitmen became a government informant disclosing comprehensive details about murder inc's
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operations including unsolved murders as part of a plea to evade the electric
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chair this betrayal signaled the unraveling of the once formidable criminal organization orchestrated by
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Anastasia and his associates the chilling Saga of murder
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inc's downfall saw its key members including Lepa bukala meet their fate in
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the electric chair due to the testimonies provided by informant Abe relis however Albert Anastasia the
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infamous Murder Inc boss seemed to possess a shield of protection thanks to
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his significant connections and influence within the mob this Aura of power would prove pivotal for him in the
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turbulent year of 1941 Anastasia often referred to as the
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prime minister of the underworld was renowned for his strategic approach
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seeking diplomatic resolutions to problems whenever plausible within the realm of organized crime however
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navigating the treacherous underworld often demanded alliances with formidable figures and Anastasia was no stranger to
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forging associations with powerful individuals like Frank Costello This
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strategic Alliance provided muscle to Anastasia while reciprocally offering
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political support and cover to Costello and his associates by November 1941 Abe Reis the
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ex Murder Inc Hitman turned government informant found himself ensconced in the
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half moon Hotel on Coney Island under the strict surveillance of the FBI
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tasked with testifying against Anastasia Rees was under Constant Guard to ensure
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his safety however rees's mysterious death on November 12th
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1941 at the hotel's restaurant roof sparked controversy officially labeled a
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suicide attempt by jumping from his fifth floor window speculation swirled
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that he might have been pushed and the scene staged to appear as
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suicide the circumstances surrounding rees's demise were shrouded in suspicion
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despite the FBI's rigorous surveillance and the presence of gods his fatal fall
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raised eyebrows in a peculiar turn of events all five policemen entrusted with
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reis's safety claimed to have inexplicably fallen asleep professing
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complete ignorance of the incident the untimely demise of realis the key
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witness against Anastasia fueled conspiracy theories and doubts about the
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authenticity of the official narrative leaving an indelible mark on the already
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murky landscape of organized crime and law enforcement's role in curbing it
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amidst the murky circumstances surrounding AB rees's mysterious demise the lack of concrete evidence led to the
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dropping of charges against Albert Anastasia however suspicions lingered
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given the understanding that any attempt to eliminate reles would likely have required Anastasia's authorization the
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collapse of the case against him was a matter of immense scrutiny prompting district attorney William OWI to remark
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on the perfect case against Anastasia disintegrating Without a Trace
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[Music] in 1942 Anastasia enlisted in the Army
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assuming the role of a tech sergeant this strategic move was geared towards
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bolstering his application for naturalized citizenship which was
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granted in 1943 his military tenure was short-lived
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ending in 1944 due to age related discharge by
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1945 Anastasia had relocated to a fortress-like mansion nestled on the
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Palisades cliffs at 75 Bluff Road in Fort Lee New Jersey this opulent estate
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sprawled across 1.3 Acres boasting 34 rooms five bathrooms and a perimeter
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fortified with barbed wire complemented by Vigilant Doberman a stark contrast to
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his earlier residence in red hooks Little Italy on Pioneer Street during the 1920s and 1930s following his
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release from sing sing this new Abode provided sweeping views of Manhattan and
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marked a significant shift in his lifestyle however this palatial Haven
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eventually emerged as a focal point of a looming tax evasion scandal in the 1950s
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drawing attention from law enforcement Anastasia's purported income as a dress
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contractor for the Madison dress company alongside other listed occupations
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including a stint in the cheese business from 1936 to 1940 raised eyebrows the
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discrepancy between his reported earnings and the acquisition of a $
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100,000 of property piqued the interest of the FBI intensifying their
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scrutiny as the pressure mounted Anastasia harked back to his earliest
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lesson in the Underworld eradicated ate potential Witnesses the looming Spectre
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of the law and the FBI's Relentless inquiries spurred Anastasia to resort to
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the methods that had often served him in the past shrouding his actions in secrecy and generating an aura of
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impenetrability in April 1954 Vincent MRE Albert Anastasia's
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bodyguard met a grim fate his demise was perceived as an attempt to silence him
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due to his intimate knowledge of Anastasia's Financial dealings potentially making him a pivotal witness
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in the impending tax evasion trial a year later in May
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1955 Charles Ferry a plumber and his wife were brutally murdered Ferry was on
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the brink of divulging details regarding the services he had rendered to
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Anastasia at the Fort Lee Mansion services that reportedly amounted to
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approximately $9,000 the fairy couple's residence was
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discovered drenched in blood yet Charles Fair's whereabouts remained unknown with
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only blood soaked shoes as tangible evidence the suspicious series of events
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including the death or disappearance of key Witnesses prompted a reduction in
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Anastasia's charges resulting in a lenient one-year prison sentence
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following the disbandment of Murder Inc Anastasia found himself reverting to the
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role of an under boss to Vincent Mangano however his history as a formidable gang
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leader rendered him reluctant to settle for a subordinate position under a boss
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he neither respected nor shared common ground with the simmering discontentment
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within the mafia was about to reach a boiling point setting the stage for a
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seismic power shift within the criminal underworld and once again Anastasia
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stood at the heart of the impending upheaval Vincent Mangano who had
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presided over what would eventually become the gambino crime family since
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the restructuring orchestrated by Lucky Luciano in 1931 found himself at odds with
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Anastasia over the course of two decades tensions mounted between the two Mobsters exacerbated by Mangano's
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growing resentment toward Anastasia's close affiliations with lucky luchano
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and Frank Castello the strained relationship finally reached its Breaking Point fusing personal enmity
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with the long-standing rift in April 1951 The Disappearance of
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mob boss Vincent Mangano and his brother Philip Mangano sent shock waves through
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the criminal underworld signifying a pivotal moment of transition and turmoil
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within the organized crime syndicate The Disappearance of the Mangano Brothers marked the Prelude to a turbulent
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chapter in the annals of Mafia history instigated by internal power struggles
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and lingering animosities in the wake of Vincent Mangano's disappearance and the
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discovery of Philip's body in a Brooklyn swamp Albert Anastasia was confronted
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with a dire predicament his presumptive act of seizing control by declaring himself boss of the family following
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Vincent's disappearance was a direct breach of an implicit Mafia protocol a
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rule deemed worthy of capital punishment the assassination of a mob
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boss however Anastasia didn't tread lightly when summoned by the commission
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he offered a staunch defense asserting that he had acted in self-defense
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contending that the Mangano Brothers intended to kill him supported by Frank
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Costello and other influential figures within the ruling panel Anastasia's
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narrative was validated and he was officially sanctioned as the new head of
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the crime family nevertheless the new mantle of leadership didn't shelter Anastasia from
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further entanglements a few months into his ascendency he found himself once
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again in the commission's crosshairs this time alongside Willie
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Moretti then underboss to Frank Costello head of the luchano family acting as
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emissaries Anastasia and Moretti were tasked with managing a substantial
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payment to silence a convicted bookmaker Moretti entrusted with handling the
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$200,000 payment faced a critical discrepancy the commission questioned
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the disparity between the sum already dispersed and the expected
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total Anastasia swiftly distanced himself from the dubious transaction asserting his innocence to
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evade retribution but Moretti wasn't as fortunate on October 4th
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1951 during a lunchtime gathering at Joe's Elbow Room restaurant in New
38:18
Jersey Moretti met a tragic demise gunfire erupted at 11:28 a.m. leading to
38:25
Moretti's lifeless body sprawled on the restaurant floor bearing fatal wounds to
38:31
his face and head the episode underscored The volatile Dynamics within
38:37
the mafia highlighting Anastasia's ability to navigate treacherous Waters
38:43
simultaneously cementing his grip on power while navigating the perilous pitfalls of mob politics where
38:51
allegiances could be fickle and survival depended on a careful dance of strategy
38:57
and alliances Albert Anastasia's role as a crime boss placed him back under the
39:04
spotlight yet not for the righteous reasons in the intricate web of Mafia
39:09
dealings Anastasia found himself entangled in a situation that breached
39:15
another cardinal rule the killing of a citizen by 1952 Anastasia resided in a fortified
39:23
Mansion in New Jersey resurrecting his position as a mob boss reminiscent of his murder ink days
39:31
however with power came a volatile demeanor an uncontrollable streak that
39:38
threatened to seal his own fate the backdrop to this was the
39:43
capture of Willie Sutton a notorious bank robber connected to the mafia by
39:49
the police in February 1952 Sutton's capture gained widespread attention with
39:56
headlines splashed across Ross newspapers and news of the event hitting National
40:01
TV Arnold Schuster a 24-year-old clothing salesman an amateur detective
40:08
played a pivotal role in the capture Schuster interviewed on television near
40:13
his residents discussing Sutton's arrest inadvertently angered the
40:18
underworld reports suggest that the Lord High executioner allegedly Anastasia
40:24
himself felt outrage at Schuster's role in ratting out Willie Sutton according
40:30
to government informant Joe valaki during the 1963 mlen hearings Anastasia
40:37
allegedly ordered the Silence of Schuster less than a month after his televised appearance on March 9th
40:45
1952 Schuster met a brutal demise a Grizzly mob punishment for squealing he
40:52
was ruthlessly shot twice in the groin and once in each eye a stark reminder of
40:59
the merciless repercussions within the mafia for those perceived as informants
41:04
XS amidst the murky circumstances surrounding Abe reis's mysterious demise
41:10
the lack of concrete evidence led to the dropping of charges against Albert
41:16
Anastasia it not only underlined his Reign's volatility but also soed seeds
41:21
of dissent within the criminal underworld setting the stage for escalating tensions and potential
41:29
retribution in the turbulent world of organized crime in May
41:35
1955 the Lord High executioner Albert Anastasia faced the consequences of his
41:42
financial misdeeds found guilty of tax evasion for Under reporting his income
41:47
from the late 1940s despite employing tactics to eliminate Witnesses and evade the
41:54
mounting legal case against him Anastasia was ultimately sentenced to a year Behind Bars however during the
42:02
initial two months of his imprisonment the government pursued additional measures aiming to strip Anastasia of
42:10
his citizenship to facilitate his deportation to Italy by late
42:15
1955 this deportation ruling was overturned allowing Anastasia to remain
42:22
in the United States upon Anastasia's release from his tax evasion sentence in
42:28
1956 he emerged amidst a shifting power Dynamic the landscape had changed
42:35
significantly figures like lucky luano and LEP were no more and Murder Inc had
42:41
dissolved only Anastasia and Frank Costello remained prominent but
42:46
Costello's position was soon threatened by a formidable and ambitious mobster
42:51
veto genvis May 1957 marked a critical
42:58
juncture when veto genovesi alongside Anastasia's underboss Carlo Gambino
43:04
plotted a power move against Frank Costello genovesi patiently biing his time for 10
43:11
years orchestrated an attempt on Costello's life Vincent chin Gigante
43:18
received orders from genovesi to assassinate Costello as Costello walked toward the elevator in his Manhattan
43:24
apartment Lobby Gigante approached him shouting this is for you
43:30
Frank reacting swiftly Costello turned narrowly escaping a fatal bullet that
43:37
grazed his head causing minor injury believing his mission accomplished
43:43
Gigante fled the scene the startlingly close call prompted Costello to reassess
43:49
his position as the family's boss feeling vulnerable and aware that lucky luchano remained imprisoned and Power to
43:57
intervene Costello made the decision to step down relinquishing control of the
44:03
family to genovesi this pivotal event marked the passing of leadership from Costello to
44:10
genovesi reshaping the power dynamics within the mafia Anastasia having
44:16
survived his own legal battles found himself positioned within a landscape
44:21
undergoing seismic shifts where allegiances shifted and ambitious
44:26
mobsters VI for dominance and control the events leading up to Albert
44:32
Anastasia's demise portrayed a convoluted web of Shifting loyalties
44:37
intricate power plays and conflicting accounts regarding his role in the mob's
44:43
internal conflicts after relinquishing control of the family to veto genovesi
44:49
Anastasia found himself increasingly isolated having lost the support of his
44:54
former allies conflicting narratives emerged regarding the attempted assassination of Frank Costello in 1957
45:03
a pivotal moment often clouded by varying reports and historical
45:08
perspectives early accounts suggested Anastasia's involvement in orchestrating
45:14
Costello's hit while subsequent narratives asserted that it was actually geneves who orchestrated the attack some
45:22
theories even proposed that genovesi eliminated Anastasia to weaken Costello
45:28
before targeting the latter geneves maneuvering within the mob's ranks
45:33
turned Mobsters against Anastasia creating fishes in his position at the top as geneves gaed more followers
45:42
Anastasia's Authority became increasingly precarious amidst this turmoil
45:48
Anastasia's attempts to encroach on Maya ly's territory particularly in Havana's
45:53
Casino operations further aggravated tensions within the criminal underworld
45:59
Lansky a longtime Ally felt affronted by Anastasia's territorial Ambitions with
46:06
genovesi and Carlo Gambino consolidating power Anastasia's fate was sealed the
46:14
stage was set for the former Murder Inc boss to be ousted and Gambino poised to
46:19
ascend as the new leader of the Anastasia family on the eve of his death on
46:27
October 26th 1957 Anastasia met with Santo trafficante a formidable mob boss
46:34
entrenched in Florida operations the purpose of their rendevu was to discuss joint ventures particularly investments
46:42
in a new hotel in Cuba a realm where trafficante already held substantial
46:48
interests the intricate entanglement of mob politics rivalries and shifting
46:53
alliances painted a tumultuous backdrop to Anastasia's ultimate downfall
46:59
revealing a world where loyalties were transient Ambitions Cutthroat and
47:05
treachery a constant Peril the circumstances surrounding Albert Anastasia's demise on that fateful Day
47:12
in 1957 were steeped in intrigue and historical Echoes of past mob related
47:20
incidents his meeting with Santo trafficante a prominent mob boss was
47:26
shrouded in speculation and potential ulterior motives some conjectured that
47:32
trafficante aimed to persuade Anastasia to invest in a casino Venture at the
47:37
Hilton hotel in Havana however other rumors insinuated traffic an's
47:44
involvement in a plot against Anastasia driven by resentment over territorial
47:49
disputes and the latter's incursions into Cuban interests on October 27th 1956 7 the
47:57
morning was chilly in Manhattan when Anastasia arrived at the park Sheran Hotel alongside his bodyguard Anthony
48:05
Copa the Historic Park Sheran known for its opulent pre-depression era Origins
48:13
had previously been the backdrop of a notorious mob shooting in 1928 that
48:19
claimed the life of mob Kingpin Arnold Rothstein over unpaid gambling debts
48:25
entering Arthur Grasso's bar shop within the hotel for his routine grooming session Anastasia settled in for a
48:32
customary haircut shave and hot towel treatment meanwhile Copa parked the car
48:39
in the underground garage leaving Anastasia alone with the barber as the barber attended to him two Mast gunmen
48:48
abruptly entered the shop directing the barber aside seizing the moment of
48:54
vulnerability while Anastasia was in the midst of the relaxing hot towel shave
49:00
the as salant concealed behind scarves Unleashed a hail of bullets toward the
49:06
mob boss startled and in a State of Shock Anastasia instinctively lunged
49:12
forward believing the attackers were in front of him however the reflection in
49:17
the mirror portrayed a disorienting scene and in the frenzy Anastasia
49:23
inadvertently lunged toward his own reflection ction not the gunman tragically amidst the chaos and
49:31
confusion bullets tore through Anastasia's back hip and hand in the
49:38
aftermath of the chaotic scuffle a final fatal shot ended the life of the once
49:43
dominant mob figure marking the violent end of the Lord High
49:49
executioner The Echoes of mob history reverberated once more through the park sherian an establishment with a Grim
49:57
Legacy intertwined with organized crime and tragic events the aftermath of
50:03
Albert Anastasia's assassination was marked by an eerie silence that lingered
50:08
in the air of Arthur Grasso's Barber Shop the scene painted a grim
50:14
picture Anastasia lay motionless on his back a stark contrast against the white
50:21
towels surrounded by a pool of his own blood life extinguished
50:28
a mere day after his tragic demise Anastasia's funeral took place at Greenwood Cemetery in South Brooklyn
50:35
however the turnout was notably sparse with only a small gathering of 12
50:40
individuals attending the ceremony including his eldest son Albert
50:46
Jr the absence of key figures and prominent Mobsters signaled a somber
50:52
reality Anastasia had been cast out and abandoned by the once loyal Circles of
50:58
the criminal underworld even among the ranks of organized crime his passing was
51:04
not commemorated with the Fanfare typically accorded to significant mob figures the void left by Anastasia's
51:12
demise swiftly became a Battleground reports emerged in February 1958 of a
51:20
clash between the Irish mob and other factions vying for control of the
51:26
Brooklyn War Waterfront escalating into a power struggle over territory
51:31
allegedly orders from Carlo Gambino to Joe prachi prompted two Hitmen to
51:38
eliminate Anastasia speculation swirled around the Gallow crew led by the
51:44
notorious crazy Joe Gallow being assigned the contract for the hit
51:51
following the barbershop incident the alleged Hitmen sought refuge in Cleveland and rumors suggested that
51:58
their fate might have been discussed at the notorious Appalachian meeting months
52:03
later however the identities of these Hitmen remain shrouded in mystery their
52:10
roles in Anastasia's demise never conclusively revealed in the wake of Anastasia's
52:17
death veto genovesi convened a pivotal Gathering of top tier mob leaders at
52:24
appalachin this assembly wasn't just a show of authority but served as the
52:29
platform for geneves to announce his ascendancy as the leader of his own
52:34
crime family and deliberate on crucial Mafia operations setting the stage for a
52:40
new era in the organized crime landscape the infamous Appalachian
52:46
meeting in 1957 signaled a turning point in the history of organized crime over 100
52:54
high-profile mobsters congregated attracting the attention of local law enforcement triggering a swift FBI
53:02
intervention resulting in 58 arrests contrary to the intended effect
53:08
of bolstering veto genovese's position as the new boss of bosses The Raid
53:14
served as the Catalyst for his downfall The Unwanted publicity and increased
53:19
scrutiny on the mafia stemming from the police raid Drew blame upon geneves from
53:24
within the mob itself amid mounting dissatisfaction and internal strife veto
53:31
genovese's reign as a powerful mob leader faced a downward spiral his
53:36
association with narcotics conspiracies led to his eventual Downfall with lucky
53:41
luchano allegedly orchestrating his setup culminating in jov's indictment
53:47
and imprisonment in 1959 for 15 years he passed away in
53:53
1969 due to a heart attack marking the end of a tumultuous era in organized
54:00
crime in contrast Carlo Gambino navigated the turbulent aftermath of
54:06
Anastasia's demise and the subsequent chaos within the crime family to secure
54:13
a successful tenure at the helm under his leadership he rebranded the crime
54:18
family as the gambino crime family guiding it to prominence Gambino's
54:24
astute leadership and calculated maneuvers ensured the family's enduring Legacy and he lived until
54:31
1976 reaching the age of 74 the assassination of Albert Anastasia
54:38
in the barber shop at the park Sheran in 1957 marked the conclusion of a violent
54:44
chapter in organized crime however it also opened the doors to a new phase in
54:51
Mafia history signaling the beginning of a transformative period for the
54:57
underworld reflecting on the intricacies of mob politics there have been speculations regarding lucky lucho's
55:04
possible involvement in setting up veto genovesi given the Betrayal of genovesi
55:11
against Frank Costello a once close Ally such a turn of events wouldn't have been
55:17
surprising there are murmurs suggesting that lucky luano and Maya Lansky might
55:23
have had a hand in orchestrating or aiding law enforcement in maneuvering
55:28
against veto genovesi further shaping the intricate web of mob rivalries and
55:36
alliances there exists a fascinating debate regarding the relationship between Albert Anastasia and Frank
55:43
Costello within the underworld while some narratives paint them as adversaries a prevailing sentiment
55:50
suggests that they were more likely allies the insights from individuals
55:55
close to them shed intriguing light on this Dynamic consider George wolf whose book
56:03
prime minister of the underworld delves into the intricate underworld connections wolf also a lawyer for both
56:11
Anastasia and Costello presents a perspective that leans towards them
56:16
being friends his intimate involvement with both figures could have offered
56:22
insights into any animosity between them however rather than portraying enmity
56:29
his narrative hints at a harmonious relationship similarly Ed Bennett
56:34
Williams another lawyer with ties to both Anastasia and Costello Echoes this
56:41
sentiment in his book there are accounts of the two mob figures spending time
56:46
together and seemingly maintaining an amicable Rapport Williams's
56:51
Recollections further reinforce the notion that Anastasia and Costello were more aligned as allies than
56:59
adversaries these accounts from individuals closely associated with the underworld figures carry weight in
57:08
deciphering their relationship Dynamics the absence of stories highlighting
57:13
intense rivalry or conflicts between Anastasia and Costello seems to suggest
57:20
a camaraderie rather than hostility thus based on these insights
57:26
it's plausible to consider that they operated as allies within the complex landscape of organized
57:34
crime if you've enjoyed this thrilling Journey Through The Dark and twisted
57:39
tale of Albert Anastasia don't let the story end here hit that like button to
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58:04
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58:11
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58:19
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