Anthony Salerno

Anthony Salerno was a notorious American mobster and member of the Genovese crime family, who rose to prominence in the New York City underworld during the mid-20th century, alongside other infamous figures like Vito Genovese, Lucky Luciano, and Meyer Lansky. Salerno's life and career were marked by his involvement in various organized crime activities, including racketeering, extortion, and gambling, which brought him to the attention of law enforcement agencies like the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the New York City Police Department (NYPD). His connections to other notable mobsters, such as John Gotti, Paul Castellano, and Carlo Gambino, further solidified his position within the Genovese crime family. As a key figure in the American Mafia, Salerno's activities were also closely monitored by the Commission (American Mafia).

● Early Life and Career

Anthony Salerno was born on August 15, 1911, in Palermo, Sicily, to a family of Italian-American descent, and later moved to the United States, settling in New York City's Little Italy neighborhood, where he became acquainted with other future mobsters, including Charles Luciano and Dutch Schultz. Salerno's early life and career were shaped by his involvement with the Genovese crime family, which was then led by Charles Luciano and later by Vito Genovese, who would become a mentor to Salerno. As he rose through the ranks, Salerno developed relationships with other prominent mobsters, such as Meyer Lansky, Bugsy Siegel, and Albert Anastasia, who played important roles in shaping the American Mafia during the mid-20th century. Salerno's activities during this period also brought him into contact with law enforcement officials, including Eliot Ness and the Untouchables, who were tasked with combating organized crime in New York City.

● Rise to Power

Salerno's rise to power within the Genovese crime family was facilitated by his connections to other prominent mobsters, including Vito Genovese, Carlo Gambino, and Paul Castellano, who would later become key figures in the American Mafia. As he gained more influence, Salerno became involved in various racketeering and extortion schemes, targeting businesses and individuals in New York City's Little Italy and other neighborhoods, including Greenwich Village and Chinatown. His activities also brought him into conflict with other mobsters, such as John Gotti and the Gambino crime family, who were vying for control of the New York City underworld. Salerno's rise to power was further facilitated by his relationships with corrupt officials, including Tammany Hall politicians and New York City Police Department (NYPD) officers, who were often bribed or coerced into turning a blind eye to his activities.

● Indictment and Conviction

In the 1980s, Salerno's activities attracted the attention of law enforcement agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the New York City Police Department (NYPD), who launched a series of investigations into his activities, including the Commission case, which targeted the leadership of the American Mafia. Salerno was eventually indicted and convicted of racketeering and conspiracy charges, alongside other prominent mobsters, including Paul Castellano and Carmine Persico, who were also members of the Genovese crime family. The trial, which was widely publicized in the media, including The New York Times and The New York Daily News, marked a significant turning point in the American Mafia's history, as it highlighted the organization's involvement in organized crime and led to increased scrutiny from law enforcement agencies. Salerno's conviction was also facilitated by the testimony of former mobsters, including Salvatore Gravano and John Alite, who had turned informant and were cooperating with the authorities.

● Imprisonment and Later Life

Following his conviction, Salerno was sentenced to 100 years in prison and fined $240,000, a significant penalty that reflected the severity of his crimes. He was incarcerated at the United States Penitentiary in Marion, Illinois, where he was held in a maximum-security facility, alongside other notorious inmates, including John Gotti and Robert Hanssen. Despite his imprisonment, Salerno continued to exert influence over the Genovese crime family, which was then led by Vincent Gigante and Venero Mangano. However, his health began to decline, and he was eventually transferred to a federal prison medical facility in Springfield, Missouri, where he received treatment for his various ailments. Salerno's imprisonment also had significant implications for the American Mafia, as it marked a decline in the organization's power and influence, and paved the way for the rise of other mobsters, including John Gotti and the Gambino crime family.

● Death and Legacy

Anthony Salerno died on July 27, 1992, at the age of 80, while serving his sentence at the federal prison medical facility in Springfield, Missouri. His death marked the end of an era in the American Mafia, as he was one of the last remaining links to the organization's heyday in the mid-20th century. Salerno's legacy is complex and multifaceted, reflecting both his involvement in organized crime and his role as a significant figure in the American Mafia. His life and career have been the subject of numerous books, films, and documentaries, including The Godfather and Goodfellas, which have helped to cement his place in popular culture. Despite his notorious reputation, Salerno remains a fascinating figure, whose life and career continue to captivate historians and scholars, including Nicholas Pileggi and Selwyn Raab, who have written extensively about the American Mafia and its history. Category:American mobsters