Charles "Lucky" Luciano closed case files

Collection REC0062 - RG 007. New York County District Attorney

Abstract

This collection contains materials from the New York County (Manhattan) District Attorney files pertaining to the trial of organized crime boss Charles "Lucky" Luciano and several other defendants in 1936. It contains notes, memorandums, and court records, and photographs.

Extent

35 cubic feet (70 boxes)

Dates

1929-1943, bulk 1935-1937

Creators

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research. Grand Jury minutes and related material may be restricted under New York State law. Other portions of this collection, such as wiretaps, may be restricted under State and Federal privacy laws. Advance notice is required for using original material. Please contact us to arrange access.

Physical Location

Materials are stored at 31 Chambers Street in Manhattan.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The Charles "Lucky" Luciano closed case files were transferred to the New York City Municipal Archives from the New York County District Attorney's office, date unknown.

Processing Information

The collection was processed by New York City Municipal Archives staff, date unknown. In 2022-2023, staff archivists Katie Ehrlich and Patricia Glowinski revised existing collection description and the updated finding aid was published in 2023.
This collection contains materials from the New York County (Manhattan) District Attorney records pertaining to the trial of organized crime boss Charles "Lucky" Luciano and several other defendants in 1936 for operating a prostitution ring. The investigation files were compiled by the New York District Attorney's Office, under the direction of special prosecutor Thomas E. Dewey and Assistant District Attorney Eunice Carter. Included are police reports, Grand Jury minutes, trial transcripts, trial notes, witness statement summaries, memorandums, correspondence, identification photographs and other court records.
Charles "Lucky" Luciano, born Salvatore Lucania in 1897 in Sicily, became one of the most infamous crime figures in New York City. After immigrating to the United States in 1906, his family settled in the Lower East Side neighborhood of Manhattan. As a teenager he became involved in petty crime and gangs. By the early 1930s, Luciano was the head of a crime syndicate involved in a wide variety of illegal activities. Thomas E. Dewey was an Assistant District Attorney in New York City at that time. Dewey oversaw a special task force that was attempting to eliminate organized crime in the city. Because of the work of this task force, Dewey learned that organized crime controlled virtually all of New York’s prostitution rings. On February 1, 1936, Dewey launched a raid on all known houses of prostitution in New York. Over 125 sex workers, madams, and bookers were apprehended. As a result of this raid, Dewey was able to build a case against Luciano and eleven of his subordinates. The Luciano trial began on May 11, 1936. On June 6, 1936, after almost four weeks of testimony, the jury returned its verdict. Charles Luciano was found guilty on 61 counts of prostitution and sentenced to prison for 30-50 years. Eight of his co-defendants, Thomas Pennochio, Dave Betillo, James Frederico, Abraham Wahrman, Jesse Jacobs, Benny Spiller, Myer Berkman, and Ralph Liguori were also found guilty but on fewer counts. This trial is a landmark in United States law enforcement history. The conviction of Charles Luciano was the first conviction of a major underworld figure for anything other than tax evasion. For Thomas Dewey, the conviction was the apex of his work against organized crime in New York City.
This collection is organized into five series.
Title
Guide to the Charles "Lucky" Luciano closed case files, 1929-1943
Status
Completed
Author
EAD finding aid created by Katie Ehrlich and Patricia Glowinski.
Date
2023
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description