Top Hoodlum : Frank Costello, Prime Minister of the Mafia

The definitive book on the ultimate mob boss—featuring new FBI revelations, rare family photos, and never-before-published material . . . The press nicknamed him “The Prime Minister of the Underworld.” The U.S. Treasury’s Bureau of Narcotics described him as “one of the most powerful and influential Mafia leaders in the U.S.” But to friends and associates, he was simply “Uncle Frank.” Who was Frank Costello really? That’s the question Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Anthony M. DeStefano sets out to answer—in this definitive portrait of one of the most fascinating figures in the annals of American crime . . . Using newly released FBI files, eyewitness accounts, and family mementos, Top Hoodlum takes you inside the Mafia that Frank Costello helped build from the ground up, from small-time bootlegging and gambling to a nationwide racketeering empire. The book’s stunning revelations include: \* Costello’s secret interviews with federal investigators—now released for the first time\* His private meetings with FBI director J. Edgar Hoover\* His partnership with Charlie “Lucky” Luciano and how they brutally displaced the old guard of the Mafia\*Surviving an assassination attempt by Genovese Family hitman Vincent “Chin” Gigante\*His crime family’s role in the now legendary suicide of Abe “Kid Twist” Reles, a Murder, Inc. member who was about to rat out the mob\* His personal involvement in the notorious 1947 “mob summit” in Havana, Cuba\* His secret interests, both real and suspected, in Las Vegas, New Orleans, and Manhattan night clubs like the Copacabana\* His power over politicians, rapport with reporters, and amazing ability to evade the feds\* His refusal to admit his crimes long after he retired—until his death in 1973 Sometimes shocking, sometimes amusing, and always riveting, these are the stories that have inspired American crime classics like The Godfather, Casino, Goodfellas, and The Sopranos. The definitive book on the ultimate mob boss—featuring new FBI revelations, rare family photos, and never-before-published material. To authorities, Frank Costello was "The Prime Minister of the Underworld" and "one of the most powerful and influential Mafia leaders in the U.S." To friends and associates, he was simply "Uncle Frank." Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Anthony M. DeStefano sets out to answer who Frank Costello really was in this definitive portrait of one of the most fascinating figures in the annals of American crime . . . Using newly released FBI files, eyewitness accounts, and family mementos, Top Hoodlum takes you inside the Mafia that Frank Costello helped build from the ground up. These are the riveting stories and stunning revelations that have inspired American crime classics like The Godfather , Casino , Goodfellas , and The Sopranos . This is the man who made the Mafia such a powerful force in our nation's history. The man who refused to admit his crimes long after he retired. This is Top Hoodlum . Praise for Anthony M. DeStefano and his books on the Mafia "Thrilling American crime writing." —Jimmy Breslin on King of the Godfathers s "Terrific . . . A fitting end to the murderous story of the 1978 Lufthansa heist." —Nicholas Pileggi, author of Wiseguy on The Big Heist "The best and last word on the subject . . . DeStefano brings the story to life." —Jerry Capeci, creator of the website GangLandNews "DeStefano tells Costello's story well." — Kirkus Reviews "A master at cutting through the secrecy of the Mafia." — Publishers Weekly Also by Title Page Copyright Page Table of Contents PROLOGUE CHAPTER ONE - “COME TO AMERICA” CHAPTER TWO - NO MORE GUNS, THANK YOU CHAPTER THREE - THE BOOM OF PROHIBITION CHAPTER FOUR - WHISKEY ROYALTY CHAPTER FIVE - A WOMAN SCORNED CHAPTER SIX - “THE GREATEST ROUNDUP” CHAPTER SEVEN - “KING OF THE BOOTLEGGERS” CHAPTER EIGHT - “PERSONALLY, I GOT DRUNK” CHAPTER NINE - THE GREAT BLOODLETTING CHAPTER TEN - “THE MOST MENACING EVIL” CHAPTER ELEVEN - “YOU’RE A HELL OF AN ITALIAN” CHAPTER TWELVE - “I KNOW EVERYBODY” CHAPTER THIRTEEN - “PUNKS, TIN HORNS, GANGSTERS AND PIMPS” CHAPTER FOURTEEN - “I NEVER STOLE A NICKEL IN MY LIFE” CHAPTER FIFTEEN - “WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU FELLOWS DOING HERE?” CHAPTER SIXTEEN - GO WEST, YOUNG MAN CHAPTER SEVENTEEN - CUBA LIBRE CHAPTER EIGHTEEN - TAMMANY TALES CHAPTER NINETEEN - “I’M A NEIGHBOR OF YOURS” CHAPTER TWENTY - THE BALLET OF THE HANDS CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE - “GET FRANK COSTELLO” CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO - “DEAR FRANK” CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE - “SOMEONE TRIED TO GET TO ME” CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR - “THIS MEANS I’M NEXT” CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE - “HE’S GONE” EPILOGUE NOTES BIBLIOGRAPHY ACKNOWLEDGMENTS