Genovese, Vito

Authors

David G. Schwartz, University of Nevada, Las VegasFollow

Editors

Wilbur R. Miller

Document Type

Chapter

Publication Date

8-2012

Publication Title

The Social History of Crime and Punishment in America: An Encyclopedia

Publisher

Sage

Publisher Location

Thousand Oaks, CA

Edition

1st

First page number:

689

Last page number:

690

Abstract

Born in Risiglianio, near Naples, Italy, Vito Genovese (1897–1969) immigrated with his family to the United States as a young man and became one of the most powerful American organized crime figures of his era. He was a member the ambitious cohort of criminals born between 1892 and 1900 that historian Mark Haller identifies as ascending in power in the criminal underground during Prohibition, courtesy of their youth and determination. Within this group of predominantly Italian and Jewish immigrants and first-generation American slum-dwellers, Genovese assumed an influential position, though he was decidedly a rung below leaders like “Lucky” Luciano and Frank Costello. During Prohibition, Genovese proved a brutal and effective enforcer, and his star rose along with those of his peers. Following Luciano's 1931 rise to power, Genovese was, some observers believed, third in the underworld hierarchy, behind Luciano and Costello. Following Luciano's 1936 imprisonment on prostitution-related charges, Genovese expected to occupy a position of greater influence. However, Genovese faced indictment for a gangland murder the following year and fled the United States rather than stand trial.

Keywords

Genovese; Vito; 1897-1969; History; Mafia; Organized crime; Prohibition; United States

Disciplines

American Studies | Criminal Law | Criminology and Criminal Justice | Social History | United States History

Language

English

Permissions

Use Find in Your Library, contact the author, or use interlibrary loan to garner a copy of the item. Publisher copyright policy allows author to archive post-print (author’s final manuscript). When post-print is available or publisher policy changes, the manuscript will be deposited.

Publisher Citation

Schwartz, D. (2012). Genovese, Vito. In Wilbur R. Miller (Ed.), The social history of crime and punishment in America: An encyclopedia. (pp. 689-690). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc. doi: 10.4135/9781452218427.n267

Repository Citation

Schwartz, D. G. (2012). Genovese, Vito. In Wilbur R. Miller, The Social History of Crime and Punishment in America: An Encyclopedia 689-690. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.