Title
Genovese, Vito
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.