Charles "Lucky" Luciano (born Salvatore Lucania) (November 24, 1897 – January 26, 1962) was a Sicilian-American mobster who grew to be one of the most powerful men in organized crime. To this day his influence over the gangster activity in the U.S. still exists.
He was the first person to challenge the "old Mafia" by breaking through ethnic barriers and creating a network of gangs, which made up the national crime syndicate and controlled organized crime long past his death.
See Also:
Profile of Charles "Lucky" Luciano
Glossary of Common Mafia Terms