Meyer Lansky

Meyer Lansky (born Meier Suchowlański; July 4, 1902 – January 15, 1983), known as the "Mob's Accountant", was an influential figure in the development of organized crime in the United States. Associated with the Jewish Mob, he also had strong ties to the Italian-American Mafia and played a key role in the development of the National Crime Syndicate in the United States.

Early Life

Lansky was born in 1902 in Grodno, then part of the Russian Empire (now in Belarus). He immigrated to the United States in 1911 and settled in New York's Lower East Side. Lansky met Charles "Lucky" Luciano when they were teenagers. They became lifelong friends, and together they began to build what would become a vast organized crime network.

Criminal Career

In the 1930s, Lansky and his associates, including Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel, became involved in gambling operations. He was instrumental in the development of the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas, which marked the beginning of the city's transformation into a gambling mecca.

During World War II, Lansky was involved in Operation Underworld, a cooperation between the U.S. government and organized crime figures to counter Axis spies and saboteurs along the U.S. East Coast and ensure labor peace in the war-critical shipping industry.

In the post-war years, Lansky became a prominent figure in Cuba's gambling operations until the revolution led by Fidel Castro in 1959. After being expelled from Cuba, he focused his efforts on expanding gambling operations in other parts of the Caribbean, such as the Bahamas and Haiti.

Later Life and Death

In the 1970s, Lansky faced a series of legal troubles. He was indicted on federal tax evasion charges but was acquitted. He spent his later years living quietly in Miami Beach, Florida, where he died of lung cancer in 1983.

Legacy

Lansky's life and character have been depicted in numerous books and films. Despite his criminal activities, he is often portrayed as a complex and somewhat sympathetic figure, a man who used his intelligence and business acumen to rise from poverty to become one of the most powerful figures in the American underworld.