Frank Scalice
Encyclopedia
Francesco "Frank" Scalice (1893–June 17, 1957) (also spelled Scalise) also known as Don Cheech and Wacky, was an Italian-American mobster active in New York City
, who led the future Gambino crime family
from 1930 to 1931, and was underboss
from 1951 to 1957.
, Sicily
in 1893, and later emigrated to the US, settling in The Bronx
. He operated his business from the Little Italy area in the Bronx. He also lived and raised his family in the City Island
section of the Bronx. He was involved in many crimes, and became Capo
in the Brooklyn-based gang of Salvatore D'Aquila
. After the murder of D'Aquila on October 10, 1928, the power in New York shifted to Joe Masseria
Manhattan-based gang. The successor of D'Aquila, Alfred "Al Mineo" Manfredi
connected Masseria with the alliance, and came to conflict with Scalice.
On November 5, 1930, Mineo and his underboss
Stefano "Steve" Ferrigno
were murdered by Castellammarese Sicilians led by Salvatore Maranzano
. Scalice became the new boss of the family and a strong ally and supporter of Maranzano in the Castellammarese War
.
The Castellammarese War
ended on April 15, 1931 when Masseria was killed. Maranzano met with the New York bosses in May 1931 to work out a peace plan and establish the Mafia Commission
. Scalice was given a seat on the Commission and recognized as head of his family. However, after the murder of Maranzano on September 10, 1931, new boss Lucky Luciano
forced Scalice to resign as family boss. He was replaced with Vincent Mangano
.
On September 8, 1945, Scalice helped mobster Bugsy Siegel
open the Flamingo Hotel & Casino
in Las Vegas
. Scalice later on came to find himself involved in the casino business, as he was positioned to be the manager of the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas shortly before he died.
section of New York.
Scalice's funeral was held at the Scocozza Funeral Home in the Bronx. Police and federal agents attended funeral and the Bronx District Attorney subpoenaed all the visitor records. Scalice was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx.
After his death, Carlo Gambino
became Anastasia's underboss.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, who led the future Gambino crime family
Gambino crime family
The Gambino crime family is one of the "Five Families" that dominates organized crime activities in New York City, United States, within the nationwide criminal phenomenon known as the Mafia . The group is named after Carlo Gambino, boss of the family at the time of the McClellan hearings in 1963...
from 1930 to 1931, and was underboss
Underboss
Underboss is a position within the leadership structure of Sicilian and American Mafia crime families. The underboss is second in command to the boss...
from 1951 to 1957.
Boss
Scalice was born in PalermoPalermo
Palermo is a city in Southern Italy, the capital of both the autonomous region of Sicily and the Province of Palermo. The city is noted for its history, culture, architecture and gastronomy, playing an important role throughout much of its existence; it is over 2,700 years old...
, Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
in 1893, and later emigrated to the US, settling in The Bronx
The Bronx
The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated...
. He operated his business from the Little Italy area in the Bronx. He also lived and raised his family in the City Island
City Island
City Island may refer to:*City Island, Bronx, New York**City Island , 2009 film by Raymond De Felitta set on the island*City Island *City Island *City Island , an island...
section of the Bronx. He was involved in many crimes, and became Capo
Caporegime
A caporegime or capodecina, usually shortened to just a capo, is a term used in the Mafia for a high ranking made member of a crime family who heads a "crew" of soldiers and has major social status and influence in the organization...
in the Brooklyn-based gang of Salvatore D'Aquila
Salvatore D'Aquila
Salvatore "Toto" D'Aquila was a New York City mobster from the Mustache Pete-era and the first boss of the Gambino crime family....
. After the murder of D'Aquila on October 10, 1928, the power in New York shifted to Joe Masseria
Joe Masseria
Giuseppe "Joe the Boss" Masseria was an early Mafia don in the United States. He was boss of what is now called the Genovese crime family, one of the New York Mafia's Five Families, from 1922 to 1931.-Early days:...
Manhattan-based gang. The successor of D'Aquila, Alfred "Al Mineo" Manfredi
Alfred Mineo
Alfredo "Al Mineo" Manfredi was a Brooklyn based New York mobster, who headed a strong American Mafia crime family during the Castellammarese War. Mineo's organization would eventually become the present-day Gambino crime family....
connected Masseria with the alliance, and came to conflict with Scalice.
On November 5, 1930, Mineo and his underboss
Underboss
Underboss is a position within the leadership structure of Sicilian and American Mafia crime families. The underboss is second in command to the boss...
Stefano "Steve" Ferrigno
Steve Ferrigno
Stefano "Steve" Ferrigno was a New York mobster of Sicilian origin who led an important Italian criminal gang in the 1920s. Ferrigno was assassinated along with Alfred Mineo during the so-called Castellammarese War....
were murdered by Castellammarese Sicilians led by Salvatore Maranzano
Salvatore Maranzano
Salvatore Maranzano was an organized crime figure from the town of Castellammare del Golfo, Sicily, and an early Cosa Nostra boss in the United States. He instigated the Castellammarese War to seize control of the American Mafia operations, and briefly became the Mafia's "Boss of Bosses"...
. Scalice became the new boss of the family and a strong ally and supporter of Maranzano in the Castellammarese War
Castellammarese War
The Castellammarese War was a bloody power struggle for control of the Italian-American Mafia between partisans of Joe "The Boss" Masseria and those of Salvatore Maranzano. It was so called because Maranzano was based in Castellammare del Golfo, Sicily...
.
The Castellammarese War
Castellammarese War
The Castellammarese War was a bloody power struggle for control of the Italian-American Mafia between partisans of Joe "The Boss" Masseria and those of Salvatore Maranzano. It was so called because Maranzano was based in Castellammare del Golfo, Sicily...
ended on April 15, 1931 when Masseria was killed. Maranzano met with the New York bosses in May 1931 to work out a peace plan and establish the Mafia Commission
The Commission (mafia)
The Commission is the governing body of the American Mafia. Formed in 1931, the Commission replaced the "Boss of all Bosses" title, with a ruling committee, consisting of the New York Five Families bosses and the boss of the Chicago Outfit...
. Scalice was given a seat on the Commission and recognized as head of his family. However, after the murder of Maranzano on September 10, 1931, new boss Lucky Luciano
Lucky Luciano
Charlie "Lucky" Luciano was an Italian mobster born in Sicily. Luciano is considered the father of modern organized crime in the United States for splitting New York City into five different Mafia crime families and the establishment of the first commission...
forced Scalice to resign as family boss. He was replaced with Vincent Mangano
Vincent Mangano
Vincent Mangano , born Vincenzo Giovanni Mangano, also known as "The Executioner" as he was named in a Brooklyn newspaper, was the head of the Mangano crime family from 1931 to 1951. His brother Philip Mangano was his right hand man and de facto, or substituto, underboss of the crime family which...
.
On September 8, 1945, Scalice helped mobster Bugsy Siegel
Bugsy Siegel
Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel was an American gangster who was involved with the Genovese crime family...
open the Flamingo Hotel & Casino
Flamingo Las Vegas
The Flamingo Las Vegas is a hotel casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada and is owned and operated by Caesars Entertainment Corp.. The property offers a casino along with 3,626 hotel rooms...
in Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
. Scalice later on came to find himself involved in the casino business, as he was positioned to be the manager of the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas shortly before he died.
Death
On June 17, 1957, Scalice was assassinated by two gunmen at a vegetable market in the BronxThe Bronx
The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated...
section of New York.
Scalice's funeral was held at the Scocozza Funeral Home in the Bronx. Police and federal agents attended funeral and the Bronx District Attorney subpoenaed all the visitor records. Scalice was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx.
After his death, Carlo Gambino
Carlo Gambino
"Don" Carlo Gambino, was a Sicilian mafioso who became Boss of the Gambino crime family, that still bears his name today. After the 1957 Apalachin Convention he unexpectedly seized control of the Commission of the American Mafia. Gambino was known for being low-key and secretive...
became Anastasia's underboss.