How Vito Genovese Killed Frank Costello And Became America's Most Dangerous Gangster

00:00:00 - 00:45:00In the YouTube video titled "How Vito Genovese Killed Frank Costello and Became America's Most Dangerous Gangster," the assassination of Frank Costello, the head of the Luciano crime family, is discussed. Vito Genovese, a notorious Sicilian Mafia boss, masterminded the hit on Costello on May 2, 1957, in the lobby of his Upper West Side apartment building, The Majestic. Genovese, who grew up in New York's slums and had a violent criminal record, rose to power through intimidation under Lucky Luciano. When Luciano was convicted and sent to prison, Genovese was poised to take over, but a murder charge sent him into exile. Frank Costello, a powerful figure in the underworld, was brought in as the new boss. However, Genovese saw an opportunity when Costello neglected his soldiers and began to undermine his leadership. Genovese began to strengthen his position by building up his rackets and gaining the loyalty of his soldiers. When Senator Estes Kefauver headed a committee to investigate organized crime in America, Costello agreed to testify, exposing the criminal underworld to the public. Costello's downfall led to Genovese eliminating his rivals, including Frank Costello, and taking control of the largest Mafia Family in New York. Genovese's ambition led him to order hits on two Mafia leaders without the commission's approval and engage in drug trafficking, which worried other Mafia bosses. To explain his actions, Genovese requested a meeting of the commission in Upstate New York, which turned out to be a significant mistake. The infamous Appalachin Meeting of 1957 was the largest gathering of Italian-American mobsters ever rumbled by American police. The arrests exposed the existence of a national crime syndicate to the public and the FBI, leading to the crackdown on organized crime in America. Genovese was finally arrested in 1959 for masterminding an international narcotics syndicate and sentenced to 15 years in prison. His departure left behind the most powerful mafia organization in America, but his more damaging legacy was exposing the mafia to the FBI, marking the beginning of the crackdown on organized crime in America.See more00:00:00 In this section of the YouTube video titled "How Vito Genovese Killed Frank Costello and Became America's Most Dangerous Gangster," the assassination of Frank Costello, the head of the Luciano crime family, is discussed. On May 2, 1957, Costello was killed in the lobby of his Upper West Side apartment building, The Majestic, by a large man who emerged from the shadows and shot him. Vito Genovese, a homicidal maniac and one of the most despicable gangsters in New York City history, was the mastermind behind the hit. Genovese, who arrived in New York from Naples when he was 15 years old, grew up in the city's slums and was involved in violent street games. His police records show that over the next ten years, he was charged with various crimes, including shooting a man in Queens, running down and killing a man in Brooklyn, and having a loaded revolver on the Lower East Side. Genovese's appetite for killing did not go unnoticed, and by the mid-1920s, he was a hitman for the greatest mafia boss of them all, Charles "Lucky" Luciano. Genovese rose to the top of the criminal underworld through intimidation, with Luciano allowing him to do so. By 1931, Genovese was acknowledged as Luciano's right-hand man and underboss and was one of the key hitmen sent by Luciano to kill rival boss Joe Masseria.00:05:00 In this section of the YouTube video titled "How Vito Genovese Killed Frank Costello And Became America's Most Dangerous Gangster," the narrative shifts to the rise of Frank Costello as the new boss of the New York mafia following Vito Genovese's exile to Italy due to a murder charge. Genovese, known as "Don Vito the Great," had been poised to take over the family when Lucky Luciano was convicted and sentenced to prison. However, Genovese's ascension was derailed when an informer implicated him in a murder from the early 1930s. With Genovese on the run to avoid prosecution, Luciano called upon Frank Costello, born in Italy and a powerful figure in the underworld, to step in as boss. Costello, who despised his humble upbringing and chose the streets over his father's grocery shop, had made a name for himself as a "gentleman gangster" and the "king of the slots," earning millions from illegal gambling operations. Costello's intelligence and business acumen allowed him to lead the New York mafia, adding billions of dollars to its fortunes while avoiding the violent reputation of his predecessors. Meanwhile, Genovese struggled to make a living in Italy, having brought $750,000 with him.00:10:00 In this section of the YouTube video titled "How Vito Genovese Killed Frank Costello And Became America's Most Dangerous Gangster," it is revealed that Vito Genovese, a notorious Sicilian Mafia boss, gained favor with Italian dictator Benito Mussolini through financial contributions and a hit on a critic. Mussolini rewarded Genovese with an Italian Knighthood, but as World War II began, Genovese saw an opportunity to switch sides and became an interpreter and adviser to the US military government in Sicily. However, Genovese was still wanted for the murder of Frank Costello's associate, and a key witness, Peter Lemper, was held in protective custody. When Genovese was brought back to New York to face the murder charge, he was acquitted after Lemper was mysteriously killed in prison, likely by Genovese's men. Despite this, Genovese was not yet the boss, as Frank Costello continued to thrive and fashion himself as a non-gangster and businessman.00:15:00 In this section of the YouTube video titled "How Vito Genovese Killed Frank Costello And Became America's Most Dangerous Gangster," the narrator discusses Frank Costello's reputation as a powerful mob boss who had connections with politicians, judges, and other influential figures. Vito Genovese, feeling intimidated by Costello's intelligence and power, watched from the sidelines as Costello rose to become a major New York player. However, Genovese saw an opportunity when Costello neglected his soldiers and began to undermine his leadership. Genovese, who never lost sight of the fact that he was a criminal, began to strengthen his position by building up his rackets and gaining the loyalty of his soldiers. When Senator Estes Kefauver headed a committee to investigate organized crime in America, Costello agreed to testify, providing a revelation to the public about the well-organized criminal underworld and its influence on American politics.00:20:00 In this section of the YouTube video titled "How Vito Genovese Killed Frank Costello And Became America's Most Dangerous Gangster," the narrative focuses on Frank Costello's downfall during his testimony before the Kefauver Committee in 1951. Costello, who had previously been seen as a gentleman and a real businessman, believed he could maintain his image while testifying. However, he made a miscalculation when he requested that his face not be shown on television. The committee allowed the television crews to film only his hands, leading to the infamous "hand ballet" where Costello would fidget and crumple papers when questioned about his criminal activities. In contrast, photographers had no such restrictions, and Costello was forced to face them. During the hearing, Costello's answers were lackluster, and he refused to answer further questions, producing a doctor's certificate. The public humiliation and exposure led to Costello becoming the Justice Department's number one target. He was eventually indicted for tax evasion and lying to Congress. Vito Genovese, a mobster, saw an opportunity in Costello's downfall and began eliminating Costello's associates, starting with one of his top hitmen. Costello's appearance before the Kefauver Committee marked the beginning of the end for him and brought the attention of the general public to the mob's activities.00:25:00 In this section of the YouTube video titled "How Vito Genovese Killed Frank Costello And Became America's Most Dangerous Gangster," the execution of Frank Costello, a New York mob boss, is discussed. Vito Genovese, who had been bumped down to captain after Costello promoted Moretti to underboss, saw an opportunity to eliminate his rival due to Moretti's advanced syphilis, which was affecting his speech and raising concerns about him talking to the press. Genovese approached the commission, the governing body of the mob, for permission to carry out the hit. Despite initial denials, Genovese persisted and eventually received approval. Costello, who was in and out of jail due to legal troubles, was an easy target as he continued his routine without bodyguards or bulletproof cars. Genovese hired Vincent Giganti, a former prizefighter and ruthless killer, to carry out the contract hit. On the evening of May 2, 1957, Costello was killed after enjoying a dinner with friends. Despite knowing the danger, Costello's overconfidence led him to believe he was safe in his upscale apartment, ultimately leading to his downfall.00:30:00 In this section of the YouTube video titled "How Vito Genovese Killed Frank Costello And Became America's Most Dangerous Gangster," it is detailed how Vito Genovese orchestrated the assassination of his rival, Frank Costello. After Genovese's hitman, Gigante, missed an attempt on Costello's life, Genovese knew he had to act fast before Costello could retaliate. With Anastasia, another dangerous adversary, still alive, Genovese saw an opportunity to eliminate both threats. Genovese approached Carlo Gambino, an ambitious Anastasia lieutenant, and convinced him that they would both benefit from Anastasia's demise. On October 25, 1957, Anastasia was lured to a barber shop in Midtown Manhattan, where he was brutally assassinated. With Anastasia out of the picture, Genovese seized the opportunity to take control, stripping Costello of all his gambling assets and interests in Las Vegas. Costello, realizing the gravity of the situation, surrendered to Genovese to avoid being assassinated.00:35:00 In this section of the YouTube video titled "How Vito Genovese Killed Frank Costello And Became America's Most Dangerous Gangster," Vito Genovese had taken over the largest Mafia Family in New York from Frank Costello under the condition that Costello would leave the rackets. However, Genovese's ambition led him to order hits on two Mafia leaders without the commission's approval and engage in drug trafficking, which worried other Mafia bosses due to the potential consequences. To explain his actions, Genovese requested a meeting of the commission in Upstate New York, which turned out to be a significant mistake. Over 60 senior Mafia bosses from all over the United States, including Joe Bonanno, Carine Galante, Sam Giancana, and Joe Profaci, gathered at a hilltop estate in Appalachin, New York, to address these developments. However, local detective Edgar Crosswell of the New York State Police had been monitoring the situation and suspected something unusual with the influx of out-of-towners and numerous cars arriving at the farmhouse.00:40:00 In this section of the YouTube video titled "How Vito Genovese Killed Frank Costello and Became America's Most Dangerous Gangster," the transcript discusses the infamous Appalachin Meeting of 1957, which was the largest gathering of Italian-American mobsters ever rumbled by American police. Frank Costello, the then-boss of the Genovese crime family, had supposedly fallen ill, leading to a large convention of mobsters paying their respects. However, when New York law enforcement, led by Robert Moses and Edward Crosswell, surrounded the Apple Lake, New Jersey, house where the meeting was taking place, they were met with resistance. Sixty mob members were arrested, including notable figures such as Carlo Gambino, Joe Profaci, and Stefano Magaddino. The arrests exposed the existence of a national crime syndicate to the public and the FBI, who had previously denied its existence. The ensuing investigation led to the indictment and conviction of 20 mob members for conspiracy to commit perjury and obstruct justice. However, these convictions were later overturned due to insufficient evidence. Despite this setback, the Appalachin Meeting marked a turning point in the FBI's approach to organized crime in America.00:45:00 In this section of the YouTube video titled "How Vito Genovese Killed Frank Costello and Became America's Most Dangerous Gangster," the discussion shifts to the aftermath of the Appalachin meeting and the institutionalization of intelligence gathering about organized crime within the FBI. The FBI, galvanized by the realization of the mafia's existence and power, commissioned a special report to confirm their suspicions. After the Appalachin raid, the Federal Bureau of Narcotics was instructed to target Vito Genovese in their fight against drugs. Genovese, who had gotten away with murder for so long, was finally arrested on April 17, 1959, and sentenced to 15 years in prison for masterminding an international narcotics syndicate. Genovese's departure left behind the most powerful mafia organization in America, which continues to make millions from criminal activities to this day. However, his more damaging legacy was exposing the mafia to the FBI, marking the beginning of the crackdown on organized crime in America.