1940 in organized crime
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See also: 1939 in organized crime, other events of 1940, 1941 in organized crime and the list of 'years in Organized Crime'.
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[edit] Events
- James J. Hines, the political leader of Tammany Hall, is imprisoned for assisting in arranging political protection for Dutch Schultz's policy and numbers rackets in Harlem.
- Brooklyn mobster Seymour "Blue Jaw" Magoon agrees to become a government informant and begins providing federal authorities on activities in Murder, Inc..
- After a failed attempt on his life, New Jersey racketeer Max Rubin turns state's evidence.
- Brooklyn racketeer James "Dizzy" Feraco is murdered by rival gunman.
- February 2 - Abe "Kid Twist" Reles, a member of Murder, Inc., is arrested and charged by District Attorney William O'Dwyer for robbery, assault, possession of narcotics, burglary, disorderly conduct, and eight charges of murder in connection with several unsolved murder cases. In exchange for a reduced sentence, Reles later agrees to testify against the members of Murder, Inc. and provide information on the National Crime Syndicate. Among those convicted included Phil and Martin Goldstein, Emmanuel Weiss, and leader Louis Buchalter.
- April - George Scalise, New York labor racketeer and Union President of the Building Service and Employee's International Union of New York, is indited for extortion.
- May 23 - Murder, Inc. members Harry Maione and Frank Abbandando, based on the testimony of Abe Reles, are convicted of the 1937 murder of Brooklyn loan shark George "Whitey" Rudnick. While the decision was later overturned on appeal, the verdict would be reinstated following the second trial as they were sentenced to death.
- July 31 - Whitey Krakower, a government informant, is murdered by New York mobster Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel.
[edit] Arts and literature
- Black Friday (film) [1] starring Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi.
- Brother Orchid (film) [2] starring Edward G. Robinson, Humphrey Bogart and Ralph Bellamy.
- Castle on the Hudson (film) [3] starring John Garfield and Pat O'Brien.
- It All Came True (film) [4] starring Humphrey Bogart.
- Johnny Apollo (film) [5] starring Tyrone Power, Edward Arnold, Lloyd Nolan and Lionel Atwill.
- Queen of the Mob (film) [6] starring Ralph Bellamy and Jack Carson.
[edit] Births
- March 23 - Thomas Bilotti, Gambino crime family underboss
- May - Alphonso Sgroia "The Butcher", New York mobster
- September 7 - Roy DeMeo, former Gambino Family soldier
- October 27 - John Gotti, Gambino crime family leader
- December 29 - Charles Majuri, DeCavalcante crime family member
