The Quiet Lucchese Soldato – Nunzio (Frank) Arra

Nunzio Arra was a respected “inducted” member for many years. Although only a soldier, he associated at the highest levels of the Family listing Stephen La Salle, Samuel (Big Sam) Cavalieri, Andimo (Tommy Noto) Pappadio, and Joseph (Joe Brown) Lucchese, among many others as cronies.

Nunzio (Frank) Arra was born in 1910 in East Harlem. He was a longtime resident of Harlem, residing at 1559 Lexington Ave. By the 1940s, Arra had moved to the Jackson Heights, Queens area.

He was primarily a gambler, running a policy bank and horse bookmaking operations. Arra operated in Queens as well as in upper Manhattan and the Bronx.

Nunzio Arra

Nunzio Arra was a respected “inducted” member for many years. Although only a soldier, he associated at the highest levels of the Family listing Stephen La Salle , Samuel (Big Sam) Cavalieri, Andimo (Tommy Noto) Pappadio, and Joseph (Joe Brown) Lucchese, among many others, as cronies.

NYPD #B-71945

Finding His Niche

His arrest record starts in 1928 and includes robbery, malicious mischief, assault, coercion, conspiracy, bookmaking (twice), felonious operation of a policy bank, possession of policy slips, conspiracy to contrive a lottery, and contempt of court.

His first arrest in 1928, at the age of 18, was for the robbery of a slot machine from a candy store during which he and an associate had a running gun battle with police who pegged 18 shots at them.

In 1933, Arra was one of more than seven young hoodlums who were indicted in the strong-arm “shakedown” of large purveyors in the poultry markets operating in the Bronx.

Using threats, beatings, and destroying various poultry shops with bats and sawed-off billiards cues, etc., the 23-year-old Arra worked in tandem with several young Jewish hoods who obviously were “sent” by the Lucchese Family for this purpose.

The hoodlums included Arra, Joe Weiner, Hyman and Harry Dratt, John (Big John) Petrucelli, Jack Roth, and Anthony Wilk.

Viewed in hindsight, this was a pivotal time when the mob was just starting the infiltration and takeover of various industries, the “poultry markets” being one,

Mugshot of Nunzio Arra

By 1940, Arra had moved into the gambling rackets, partnering with several hoodlum friends over the years running small “handbooks.” He was arrested in 1942 with Thomas McMenamin and again in the early 1950s for booking horses in Astoria and Flushing, Queens.

In 1962, Arra was among five men arrested in a policy bank raid on a residential house in the Bronx. Frank Morandi, Richard DeLuca, Angelo Alberto, and Michael Rocco were all arrested with him. The ring grossed $2,000,000 a year, taking action in the West Harlem and Bronx areas.

The Meeting at The Palm

In 1968, the Lucchese administration held a meeting at the Palm Restaurant on Second Avenue in Manhattan. Although only a soldier, Arra was present along with Underboss Stefano La Salle and captains Anthony Corallo, Paul Vario, and Andimo Pappadio.

Unfortunately, federal agents were also present - surveilling the hoods from a distance.

Later, a Nassau County grand jury hearing evidence on the Family subpoenaed everyone. Frank and the others got 30 days in jail for refusing to answer questions about “The Palm” sitdown.

Taking a Step Back

Since Tommy Lucchese's death in 1967, the Family had been under almost constant pressure by law enforcement. Grand juries were empaneled in Queens, Nassau, and the Bronx to investigate their operations.

By 1970, Frank was 70 years old already. He had successfully run the race, having been active in the streets since about 1925.

He chose to slow down, still keeping a profitable hand in a small gambling operation some underlings were operating. But for the most part, he retired.

Frank Arra

Frank Arra died in 1990 at the comfortable age of 80. I don’t believe he ever served any serious prison time aside from the contempt term and maybe a small “bit” in his youth.

Until next time..."The Other Guy"

The Quiet Lucchese Soldato – Nunzio (Frank) Arra

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The Quiet Lucchese Soldato – Nunzio (Frank) Arra

Unlock This Door to the Underworld

Take the Journey!

You May Also Enjoy

Racketeer Snapshot: Connecticut’s Frank (The Cigar) Piccolo

The Anthony Strollo Regime of NY/NJ

The Day Charlie (the Bug) Workman Saved a Horse

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