Frank Costello | |
|---|---|
 Costello testifying before the Kefauver Committee | |
| Born | Francesco Castiglia January 26, 1891 Cassano allo Ionio, Calabria, Italy |
| Died | February 18, 1973 (aged 82) New York City, U.S. |
| Resting place | Saint Michael's Cemetery |
| Occupations | |
| Predecessor | Lucky Luciano |
| Successor | Vito Genovese |
| Spouse |
Lauretta Geigerman (m. 1918) |
| Allegiance | Luciano crime family |
| Conviction(s) | Contempt (1951) Tax evasion (1952) |
| Criminal penalty | 18 months' imprisonment Five years' imprisonment |
Frank Costello (Italian: [koˈstɛllo]; born Francesco Castiglia[1] [franˈtʃesko kaˈstiʎʎa]; January 26, 1891 – February 18, 1973) was an Italian-American crime boss of the Luciano crime family.
Born in Italy, he moved with his family to the United States as a child. As a youth he joined New York City gangs. Working with Charlie "Lucky" Luciano, Costello was involved in bootlegging operations during Prohibition. In 1929 they joined the National Crime Syndicate. From 1937, Costello was acting boss of the Luciano crime family. In the 1950s, he spent several years in prison for tax evasion. Costello retired in 1957 after he had survived an assassination attempt ordered by Vito Genovese.