Lucky Luciano

For the 1973 film, see Lucky Luciano (film). For the Mexican-American rapper, see Lucky Luciano (rapper).

Lucky Luciano
1936 mugshot of Luciano
Born
Salvatore Lucania

(1897-11-24)November 24, 1897[nb 1]
Lercara Friddi, Sicily, Kingdom of Italy
DiedJanuary 26, 1962(1962-01-26) (aged 64)
Naples, Campania, Italy
Resting placeSaint John's Cemetery, Queens, New York, U.S.
Known forFirst head of the modern Genovese crime family, establishing the Commission, head of the modern American Mafia, and the first and only head of the National Crime Syndicate
PredecessorGiuseppe Masseria
SuccessorFrank Costello
AllegianceFive Points Gang
Luciano crime family
National Crime Syndicate
Criminal chargeCompulsory prostitution
Penalty30 to 50 years' imprisonment (1936)
Partner(s)Gay Orlova
(1929–1936)
Igea Lissoni
(1948–1959; possibly married 1949)
Signature

Charles "Lucky" Luciano (/ˌluːtʃiˈɑːnoʊ/ LOO-chee-AH-noh,[1] Italian: [luˈtʃaːno]; born Salvatore Lucania [salvaˈtoːre lukaˈniːa];[2] November 24, 1897[nb 1] – January 26, 1962) was an Italian-born gangster who operated mainly in the United States. He started his criminal career in the Five Points Gang and was instrumental in the development of the National Crime Syndicate. Luciano is considered the father of the Italian-American Mafia for the establishment of the Commission in 1931, after he abolished the boss of bosses title held by Salvatore Maranzano following the Castellammarese War. He was also the first official boss of the modern Genovese crime family.

In 1936, Luciano was tried and convicted for compulsory prostitution and running a prostitution racket after years of investigation by District Attorney Thomas E. Dewey. Although he was sentenced to 30 to 50 years in prison, an agreement was struck with the U.S. Department of the Navy through his Jewish Mob associate, Meyer Lansky, to provide naval intelligence during World War II. In 1946, for his alleged wartime cooperation, Luciano's sentence was commuted on the condition that he be deported to Italy. Luciano died in Italy on January 26, 1962, and his body was permitted to be transported back to the U.S. for burial.


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  1. ^ "Say How: I, J, K, L". NLS Other Writings. National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. February 2011. Archived from the original on September 19, 2018. Retrieved August 19, 2012.
  2. ^ "Lucania". Dizionario d'Ortografia e di Pronunzia (in Italian). Archived from the original on September 10, 2020. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
  3. ^ "Birth Record". FamilySearch. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved July 30, 2012.
  4. ^ Critchley, David (2008). The Origin of Organized Crime in America: The New York City Mafia, 1891–1931. London: Routledge. pp. 212–213. ISBN 978-0203889077. Archived from the original on June 27, 2014.
  5. ^ "Charles (Lucky) Luciano". FBI.gov.