Anthony Celantano

Celantano was accused by police in 1917 of leading an interstate illegal lottery syndicate. Detective Amedeo Polignano posed as an illiterate, immigrant bootblack in New York's Little Italy for three years to accumulate evidence against Celantano and his organization. He linked 21 murders to the group, including that of East Harlem racket king Giosue Gallucci in 1916.

For several years, Celantano operated a shoeshine stand at Kenmare Street as he ventured secretly into the policy racket. Det. Polignano reported that Celantano's group received the winning daily lottery numbers by cable from Italy and then forwarded the numbers to agents in New York and other U.S. cities. The police arrested Celantano and 20 members of his gang March 3, 1917.

© 2007 T.Hunt
The American "Mafia"