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John S. McCain POW CIA-Defense Department Documents

 Frank Costello FBI Files

Frank Costello FBI Files

3,045 pages of FBI files covering Frank Costello.

Francesco Castiglia was born in Calabria, Italy 1891. He immigrated to the United States in 1895. At thirteen, having assumed the name Frank Costello, he was a member and later the leader of the 104th Street Gang. At twenty-four he was sentenced to a year in prison for carrying a concealed weapon. During 1920's Frank Costello became associates with Lucky Luciano, and Meyer Lansky. Costello, Luciano, and Lansky's business dealings involved bootlegging and gambling. Frank Costello's reputation for being able to befriend the right police officers, judges and politicians, lead to him to being referred to as the "Prime Minister of the Underworld." When Lucky Luciano went to prison in June 1936, Frank Costello became the acting boss and Vito Genovese became underboss. Genovese soon afterward fled to Italy in fear of being prosecuted for murder. After Luciano was deported to Italy in 1946, Genovese returned to the United States. When Frank Costello was called before the Kefauver Committee, the public attention caused some erosion in Costello's status. The raspy voice of Costello was the inspiration for the voice used by Marlon Brando in film The Godfather. Frank Costello was convicted for contempt of Congress in 1952. In April of 1954, Costello was found guilty of tax evasion and sentenced to 5 years in prison. While out on bail in 1957, an assassin's bullet grazed Costello's head. The shot was believed to have been fired by Vincent "The Chin" Gigante, acting on the behest of Vito Genovese. Afterwards Genovese appointed himself boss. Costello then let it be known that he was willing to move aside for Genovese. Over the next few years, Genovese pushed Costello farther and farther away from the organization. Frank Costello died of a heart attack on February 18, 1973.

The files date from 1935 to 1972. They cover Frank Costello's personal history, background, criminal activities, associates, legitimate business activities, illegitimate business activities, hangouts and places of amusement frequented, and political connections.

Subject matter covered includes: Information from a 1935 telephone tap placed on Frank Costello's apartment telephone. Investigation of perjury before the Kefauver Committee. Costello's 1951 and 1952 contempt of Congress trials. The parole report created after his 1952 contempt of Congress conviction. Investigation in support of having Frank Costello's citizenship revoked. Investigation into the attempted murder of Frank Costello case against Vincent Gigante and Vito Genovese.

Other people named in files include: "Broadway Charlie" Stern, Joe Adonis, Carlos Marcella, Meyer Lansky, Bugsy Siegel, Vincent "The Chin" Gigante, Vito Genovese, and Lucky Luciano.

As a finding aid for this title, all convertible text in the documents have been transcribed and embedded as text. All text capable of being converted can be searched. A search cross auto-index is also included for searching of all convertible material.
 

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John S. McCain POW CIA-Defense Depart Documents

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