Joseph Michael Valachi was a member of Lucky Luciano's crime family from the 1930s until 1959 when he was convicted on narcotics charges and sentenced to 15 years.
In 1963, Valachi became a key witness for Arkansas Senator John L. McClellan's congressional committee on organized crime. His testimony confirmed the existence of the Mafia and exposed the names of several members of the five New York crime families and gave graphic details of their criminal activities.
In 1968, with author Peter Maas, he published his memoirs, The Valachi Papers, which was later turned into a movie starring Charles Bronson as Valachi.
See Also: Glossary of Common Mafia Terms
