Alfred Criscuolo was one of the most active, yet largely unknown mafioso to ever operate in New York. A key soldier in the old Vito Genovese Family serving under capo Mike Miranda, Criscuolo gained his unique, underworld moniker of “Good Lookin’ Al” as a young East Harlem hood. It was a nod to his appearance.
But authorities had a different description for “Good Looking Al” – a serious narcotics trafficker who was affiliated with some of the most notorious dope peddlers in the entire United States at the time.
Alfred Frank (Good Lookin’ Al) Criscuolo – aka Alfonso Criscuoli, Alphonse Criscolo, Albert Criscolo, Frank Romano, Ralph Esposito, Alfred Rocca, Alfred Tente, Frank Russo, Al Criscuolo, and Alphonso Francesco Criscuolo (TN) – was born in Italian East Harlem in New York City on January 22, 1911. He was the oldest of five children born to Italian-born parents Francesco and Maria (nee’ Bello) Criscuolo.
Al had three brothers named Stefano, Antonio, and Alberto as well as a sister named Carmela, whom everybody called Millie. Frank and Maria raised their kids in a walk-up tenement apartment building located at 437 Pleasant Avenue in the heart of East Harlem’s Italian district, an area rife with gangsters and mafiosi.
