The year 1946 was a busy one for
Mafia chieftain Charles `Lucky`
Luciano. He was released from prison after serving 10 years, deported and paroled to his native Sicily, and, within eight months, had made it all the way to
Havana, Cuba as part of his plan to get back to the United States. This stopover, on the way to his intended final destination New York City would be the site of an important mob summit the `
Havana Conference` and would bring the wrath of the U.S. government down on the island. The Feds made it clear that having
Luciano just 90 miles from the U.S. mainland was too close and demanded that
Cuban officials send him back to Italy.
The following is a concise chronology of events regarding Thomas E. Deweys pursuit of
Luciano until
Lucianos arrival in
Havana, Cuba:
January 31, 1936 Special Prosecutor Dewey, who built his political career around prosecuting high-profile mob figures, begins making raids and arrests on New York Citys houses of prostitution.
February to March 1936 The investigation continues, culminating with a 90-count indictment against
Luciano and 15 others.
Luciano flees New York City for Hot Springs, Ark., where he is under the protection of Owney Madden.
April 1, 1936 Lucky
Luciano is arrested in a Hot Springs gambling club. After legal proceedings are completed,
Luciano is extradited to New York City.
May 13, 1936
Lucianos trial gets underway. The defense learns that three fellow defendants have agreed to testify for the government against
Luciano.
June 7, 1936 A jury finds
Luciano guilty on 62 counts of compulsory prostitution. He is sentenced to a prison term of 30-to-50 years.
June 18, 1936 Lucky
Luciano enters Dannemora Prison in upstate New York.
June 1936 to May 1942
Luciano languishes in Dannemora, known as the Siberia of the New York prison system. In 1938 and 1942 he is turned down for parole.
February 9, 1942 The transatlantic liner S. S. Normandie is sabotaged in New York harbor.
May 12, 1942 Lucky
Luciano is transferred to Great Meadow Prison, close to New York City, after agreeing to provide protection from German saboteurs on the New York docks. He also helps by getting word to his
Mafia counterparts in Sicily to help during the Allied invasion there.
May 7, 1945 With the
war in Europe over, a petition for executive clemency and freedom for
Luciano is sent to now Gov. Thomas Dewey, who agrees to a reduction of sentence, not a pardon.
January 3, 1946 Dewey announces that
Luciano will be released, but deported. He will be paroled to his native Sicily.
February 2, 1946
Luciano is released from Great Meadow Prison. He is taken to Ellis Island.
February 9, 1946
Luciano boards the Laura Keene to set sail for Genoa, Italy. A huge party is held for him on board. After a two-week voyage, the boat arrives in Italy.
February to October 1946 Lucky
Luciano is first moved to his hometown of Lercara Friddi, Sicily. His travels then take him to Palermo, Sicily; to Naples, Italy; and finally Rome.
October 1946 After obtaining two passports,
Luciano secretly boards a freighter, which takes him to Caracas, Venezuela. He flies to Mexico City and then books a private plane for a flight to
Havana, Cuba.