Frank Costello was born in Cosenza, Italy on 26th January, 1891. His family moved to the United States four years later and settled in East Harlem, New York. Costello became head of the notorious 104th Street Gang. In 1915 he was arrested and found guilty of carrying a concealed weapon.

On his release from prison he became involved in more serious crime. Costello joined the Lucky Luciano gang, and after he was deported to Italy, Costello ran his interests in the United States.

In 1951 Costello was convicted and sentenced to 18 months for contempt of court. This was followed by five years in prison for income-tax evasion. Out on bail, Costello was shot in his hotel lobby. It was believed that a rival gang leader, Vito Genovese, had taken out a contract on Costello's life. Costello survived and served another spell in prison for contempt of court, before dying of a heart attack on 18th February, 1973.