Luciano crime family
- Costello and Luciano together built a crime family of their own. Charlie Luciano was the head of the organization, for the time being, while Costello served as his top advisor, or Consigliere. Frank always managed to keep the family running by maintaining happy relationships with the politicians, police men, judges, and other officials that were in the way of their operations. Things continued to go well for a short while until 'Lucky' Luciano's luck finally ran out. In 1952, Luciano is officially deoprted. 10 years later, Charlie 'Lucky' Luciano would die in Naples, Italy of a heart attack, when meeting with a filmographer interested in creating a video biography of Luciano's life.
A CHange in Direction
Frank Costello at his testimoney. 1958
After Luciano's deportation, Frank took over the Luciano crime family, holding it's name in honor of his friend. Costello ran the family quite succesfuly for a time being, until he was ordered to serve one unfortunate subpoena.
In 1958, Frank Costello was ordered to testify on organzied crime in America. At first, Frank continualy denies the existence of organzied crime, as well as makes a mockery of his testimoney with his famous one-liner seen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JH88H7lxJHM
Frank, growing tired of this routine, eventually refused to testify further. Knowing fully the risks he was taking he left the courtroom, landing himself behind bars for 18 months as a result.
In 1958, Frank Costello was ordered to testify on organzied crime in America. At first, Frank continualy denies the existence of organzied crime, as well as makes a mockery of his testimoney with his famous one-liner seen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JH88H7lxJHM
Frank, growing tired of this routine, eventually refused to testify further. Knowing fully the risks he was taking he left the courtroom, landing himself behind bars for 18 months as a result.
retirement
Vito Genevese c.1960
Frank's time in prison significantly weakened his influence as the head of the Luciano family. Vito Genvese, Franks rival, saw this as an oppurtunity to take over as the head of the Luciano family. In 1959, Vito Genevese ordered an assassination on Costello, his man found Costello in a park and opened fire shouting, "This one's for you Frank!". A bullet grazed the side of Frank's head and he hit the ground. The assassin, having thought himself succesful, fled the scene.
Frank quickly recovers and slowly begins backing off of his criminal operations. In 1960, Frank 'the Prime Minister' Costello officially reitres from organzied crime. He then goes on to live out the rest of his life in Manhattan with his wife, Loretta Costello, and died peacefuly of natural causes at the age of 82 on February 18, 1973.
Throughout his retirement, old friends and collegues still refered to him as 'the Prime Minister' and paid him visits often. Even up until the day he died, Frank Costello held power and significant influence in the New York Mafia.
Frank quickly recovers and slowly begins backing off of his criminal operations. In 1960, Frank 'the Prime Minister' Costello officially reitres from organzied crime. He then goes on to live out the rest of his life in Manhattan with his wife, Loretta Costello, and died peacefuly of natural causes at the age of 82 on February 18, 1973.
Throughout his retirement, old friends and collegues still refered to him as 'the Prime Minister' and paid him visits often. Even up until the day he died, Frank Costello held power and significant influence in the New York Mafia.