Lepke Buchalter

Louis Buchalter
Buchalter in 1939
Born	(1897-02-06)February 6, 1897 New York City, U.S.
Died	March 4, 1944(1944-03-04) (aged 47) Sing Sing Prison, Ossining, New York, U.S.
Cause of death	Execution by electrocution
Other names	Lepke
Occupation(s)	Gangster, hitman, smuggler, racketeer, bootlegger, extortionist
Known for	Member of Jewish-American organized crime
Criminal status	Executed
Spouse	Betty Buchalter ​ (m. 1931)​
Children	1 (adopted)
Conviction(s)	First degree murder
Criminal penalty	Death

Louis Buchalter, known as Louis Lepke or Lepke Buchalter, (February 6, 1897 – March 4, 1944) was a Jewish-American organized crime figure and head of the Mafia hit squad Murder, Inc., during the 1930s. Buchalter was one of the premier labor union racketeers in New York City during that era.

Charles Birger and Buchalter are the only National Crime Syndicate bosses to be executed after being convicted of murder. Buchalter was executed using the infamous "Old Sparky" electric chair after being sent "up the river" to Sing Sing Correctional Facility.^[1]