Vito Genovese FBI Files

Vito Genovese FBI Files

537 pages of FBI files covering Vito Genovese. Genovese was referred to as a top mafia officer and whose record included arrests for homicide, assault, robbery, carrying a concealed weapon, narcotics, alcohol, gambling, and garment industry shakedowns. Some material was not declassified until November 2017.

In the 1920's and 1930's Genovese was Lucky Luciano's right-hand man. In 1937, he fled to Italy to escape a murder charge. While in Italy, he befriended Benito Mussolini. After the war, he was returned to the United States to face trial. In 1945, the key witness in the case, Peter La Tempa, was poisoned while in protective custody and Genovese was released. He is reputed to have become "boss of all the bosses" through the murders of several competing bosses including Willie Moretti and Albert Anastasia. He is also believed to have made an attempt on the life of Frank Costello in 1957. In 1958, he was convicted on narcotic charges and sentenced to 15 years in federal prison. In 1969, Genovese died of a heart attack while housed at the Medical Center for Federal Prisoners, in Springfield, Missouri.