1959 In Organized Crime

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1959 In Organized Crime

1958 In Organized Crime ,
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EVENTS

January 1 - Syndicate casinos are seized by Fidel Castro government after Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista flees the country following the Cuban Revolution . Suffering a major financial setback, Meyer Lansky returns to Miami, Florida and begins looking into the possible relocation of syndicate casinos in the Bahamas and Caribbean.

February 26 - New Jersey mobster Abner Zwillman is found dead in his home after apparently hanging himself with a plastic closeline. An investigated ruled suicide as the cause of death as Zwillman was facing federal investigation into his coin operated machine business and tax evasion.

April 17 - Vito Genovese, boss of the Genovese Crime Family is convicted of Drug Trafficking and is sentenced to 15 years. Vincent Gigante , Genovese's driver and bodyguard to 7 years and Bonanno Crime Family lieutenant Natale Joseph Evola is also imprisoned. Thomas Eboli , Jerry Catena , Michele Miranda , Anthony Strollo and Phil Lombardo are placed on a "committee" to run the Genovese Crime Family operations following Genovese's imprisonment.

September 25 - After being called away from a Lexington Avenue restaurant, Anthony Carfano and his companion, Janice Drake are found dead in an abandoned car in Queens . A police investigation ruled both had been shot in the back of the head, possibly by a gunmen hidden in the back seat.

December 18 - Paul Castellano is convicted of Obstructing A Government Investigation and sentenced to five years imprisonment, although he is released after seven months.

ARTS AND LITERATURE

BIRTHS

DEATHS

September 25 - Anthony Carfano "Little Augie Pisano", Genovese crime family Underboss

September 25 - Janice Drake , murder victim