Mob Boss Frank Costello was an iconic figure in the American Mafia in general who was the consigliere and acting boss of the Genovese Family. Widely known as The Prime Minister of the Underworld, he was one of the most influential and powerful Mafia leaders to ever operate in this country.
His activities included liquor bootlegging, slot machines, bookmaking, shylocking, diamond smuggling, bribery-official corruption, and business infiltration. I must preface his biography by saying that Frank was not an inherently vicious or dangerous mafioso. He was nobody’s fool of course, and I’m certain that he did what had to be done if you crossed him or you had to “go.”
But he was a very logical and intelligent man and did not always resort to violence as a method of first resort. He used his brain and would typically figure out a way to accomplish his goals without killing. And I think this was one of the primary differences between him and a lot of his mob brethren. It served him very, very well in life.