Nunzio (Frank) Arra: Queens Hoodlum

For over five decades, Nunzio “Frank” Arra was a key player in New York’s gambling underworld. A made member of the Lucchese family, he ran policy banks and bookmaking operations across Harlem, Queens, and the Bronx.

Nunzio (Frank) Arra was born on January 1, 1910, in East Harlem to parents Francesco (Frank) and Filippa “Fanny” (née Bazzone) Arra. 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 (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 LaSalle, Samuel (Big Sam) Cavalieri, Andimo (Tommy Noto) Pappadio, and Joseph (Joe Brown) Lucchese , among many others, as cronies.

NYPD #B-71945

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, 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,

Frank 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 annually, taking action in the West Harlem and Bronx areas.

In 1968, the Lucchese administration met at the Palm Restaurant on Second Avenue in Manhattan. Although only a soldier, Arra was present along with underboss Stefano LaSalle and captains Anthony Corallo , Paul Vario , and Andimo Pappadio. Unfortunately, federal agents were also 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.

After Tommy Lucchese died in 1967, the Family had been under almost constant pressure by law enforcement. Queens, Nassau, and the Bronx had empaneled grand juries to investigate their operations.

By 1970, Frank was already 70 years old. 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 died on September 14, 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"

Nunzio (Frank) Arra: Queens Hoodlum

Dive Deeper into the Underworld

The Night Lucchese Boss Tommy Pappadio Got Popped!

Lucchese Family Captain: Joseph “Joe Calabrese” Lagano

Bronx-based Lucchese Soldier: Daniel “Danny Cap” Capra

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Nunzio (Frank) Arra: Queens Hoodlum

Often Imitated. Never Duplicated. Button Guys of The New York Mafia...There's Only One!

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Dive Deeper into the Underworld

The Night Lucchese Boss Tommy Pappadio Got Popped!

Lucchese Family Captain: Joseph “Joe Calabrese” Lagano

Bronx-based Lucchese Soldier: Daniel “Danny Cap” Capra

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