- Frank Scalice
Francesco Scalice (also known as Don Cheech and Wacky (as he was called by
Albert Anastasia ;1893 -June 17 ,1957 ) was anItalo-American mobster active inNew York City , who became the early boss of the futureGambino crime family from 1930 to 1931, andunderboss of the Anastasia crime family from 1951 until 1957. He was also a part of theChicago Outfit underAl Capone Scalice was born in
Palermo ,Sicily in 1893, and later emigrated to the US, settling inBrooklyn . He was involved in many crimes, and became Capo in the Brooklyn-based gang ofSalvatore D'Aquila . After the murder of D'Aquila inOctober 10 ,1928 , the power in New York shifted toJoe Masseria Manhattan-based gang. The successor of D'Aquila, Alfred "Al Mineo" Manfredi connected Masseria with the alliance, and came to conflict with Scalice.In
November 5 ,1930 , Mineo and hisunderboss Stefano "Steve" Ferrigno were murdered by Castellammarese Sicilians led bySalvatore Maranzano . Scalice became the new boss of the family and a strong ally and supporter of Maranzano in theCastellammarese War .The
Castellammarese War end inApril 15 ,1931 when Masseria was killed. Maranzano met with New York Bosses in May 1931 to work out a peace plan and establish theMafia Commission . Scalice was given a seat on the Commission and recognized as head of his family. But, Salvatore Maranzano was murdered inSeptember 10 ,1931 , and Scalice was forced to step down as boss because of his connection to Maranzano.Vincent Mangano became the new boss. Scalice served as a follower of Mangano andAlbert Anastasia .In
September 8 ,1945 , Scalice was one of the members that helpedBugsy Siegel open the Flamingo Hotel & Casino in the early days ofLas Vegas . Scalice later on came to find himself involved in the casino business, as he was positioned to be the manager of theMGM Grand Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas shortly before he died.In
June 17 ,1957 , Scalice was assassinated at a vegetable market in theBronx section of New York. After his death,Carlo Gambino became Anastasia's underboss.External links
* [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Scalice&GSfn=Frank+&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSob=n&GRid=5831& Frank Scalice] at
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