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A photo of Mickey Cohen by United States Department of Justice –

10 Notorious Jewish-American Gangsters You Should Know About

Jewish American gangsters have a long and intriguing history in the United States, dating back to the early 20th century. These individuals were often associated with organized crime, particularly in major cities such as New York, Chicago, and Miami.

Jewish American gangsters emerged during a time of great social and economic upheaval in the United States, particularly among immigrant communities. Many of these individuals came from poor backgrounds and turned to criminal activity as a means of survival.

These gangsters were involved in various illicit activities, including bootlegging, gambling, and loan sharking, among others. They formed powerful criminal organizations, often working in conjunction with other ethnic groups, such as Italian and Irish American gangs.

Jewish American gangsters were known for their shrewd business acumen, and many of them became successful businessmen and entrepreneurs. However, their involvement in criminal activities often brought them into conflict with law enforcement and led to their eventual downfall.

Despite their criminal activities, Jewish American gangsters played a significant role in shaping American culture, particularly in the entertainment industry. Many of these gangsters were the inspiration for iconic characters in movies and television shows, immortalizing their legacies in popular culture.

Today, the legacy of Jewish American gangsters continues to be a subject of fascination and intrigue, highlighting the complex intersection of ethnic identity, criminality, and American society.

1. Mickey Cohen

A photo of Mickey Cohen by United States Department of Justice –

 Mickey Cohen was born Meyer Harris Cohen on September 4, 1913, in Brooklyn, New York. He grew up in an Orthodox Jewish family and became involved in street gangs as a teenager. Cohen moved to Los Angeles in the early 1930s and began working for the Jewish-American gangster, Bugsy Siegel.

After Siegel’s death in 1947, Cohen became one of the most powerful gangsters in Los Angeles and was known for his involvement in various illegal activities, including gambling, extortion, and prostitution. Cohen was arrested numerous times throughout his life and spent several years in prison, including a stint in Alcatraz. He was known for his flamboyant personality and connections to Hollywood celebrities, including Frank Sinatra, Marilyn Monroe, and Sammy Davis Jr.

Cohen was the target of several assassination attempts throughout his life, including a bombing at his home in 1950 that killed his longtime girlfriend. In the 1960s, Cohen was arrested for tax evasion and spent four years in prison. After his release from prison, Cohen retired from organized crime and became a speaker on crime prevention and rehabilitation. Cohen died on July 29, 1976, from stomach cancer.

2. Harry Rosen

Harry Rosen was born in 1908 in New York City. He was a member of the Jewish-American mob and was involved in organized crime during the 1920s and 1930s. Rosen became a member of the notorious Murder, Inc. gang, which was responsible for carrying out dozens of contract killings on behalf of organized crime groups.

Rosen was known for his violent and ruthless tactics and was suspected of being involved in the deaths of several rival gangsters. He was arrested several times throughout his criminal career, including for murder and extortion. In 1941, Rosen was convicted of murder and sentenced to death. However, his sentence was commuted to life in prison after he agreed to testify against several other members of Murder, Inc.

Rosen spent several years in prison before being released on parole in 1954. After his release, Rosen moved to Miami, Florida, where he opened a car dealership. He lived a quiet life in Miami and was never again involved in organized crime. Rosen died in 1982 at the age of 74.

3. Irving Cohen

Irvin Cohen was born on March 20, 1909, in Brooklyn, New York. He became involved in organized crime as a teenager and was a member of the notorious Murder, Inc. gang in the 1930s and 1940s. Cohen was known for his ruthless tactics and was involved in dozens of murders on behalf of organized crime groups. He was arrested numerous times throughout his criminal career, including for murder and extortion.

In 1940, Cohen was convicted of murder and sentenced to death. However, his sentence was commuted to life in prison after he agreed to testify against several other members of Murder, Inc. Cohen spent several years in prison before being released on parole in 1961.

After his release, Cohen moved to Los Angeles, where he worked as a carpet salesman. He lived a quiet life in Los Angeles and was never again involved in organized crime. Cohen died on March 14, 1959, at the age of 50. In popular culture, Cohen has been portrayed in several movies and TV shows, including the film “Bugsy” and the TV series “Boardwalk Empire”.

4. Benjamin Siegel

Benjamin Siegel was born on February 28, 1906, in Brooklyn, New York. He became involved in organized crime as a teenager and was a member of the Jewish-American mob. Siegel was one of the founders of Murder, Inc., a notorious gang responsible for carrying out dozens of contract killings.

In the 1940s, Siegel moved to Los Angeles and became involved in the development of the Flamingo Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Flamingo was the first luxury hotel and casino in Las Vegas and was financed by organized crime groups, including Siegel’s associates. However, the project went over budget and was not generating enough revenue to cover its costs.

Siegel was murdered on June 20, 1947, at his girlfriend’s home in Beverly Hills, California. His murder remains unsolved to this day. Siegel was known for his violent and unpredictable behavior and was feared by many in the criminal underworld. He was romantically linked to several Hollywood actresses, including Virginia Hill and Dorothy DiFrasso. Siegel has been portrayed in several movies and TV shows, including the film “Bugsy” and the TV series “Boardwalk Empire”.

5. Louis Buchalter

Louis Buchalter was born on February 6, 1897, in New York City. He became involved in organized crime as a teenager and was a member of the Jewish-American mob. Buchalter was one of the founders of Murder, Inc., a notorious gang responsible for carrying out dozens of contract killings. He was known for his violent and ruthless tactics and was suspected of being involved in the deaths of several rival gangsters.

Buchalter was arrested several times throughout his criminal career, including for murder and extortion. In 1941, Buchalter was convicted of murder and sentenced to death. He was executed in Sing Sing prison on March 4, 1944. Buchalter was the only major mob boss to receive the death penalty in the United States.

He was a notorious labor racketeer and controlled many unions in New York City, using them to extort money from employers. Buchalter was also involved in the drug trade and had close ties to the infamous drug lord, Lucky Luciano. He has been portrayed in several movies and TV shows, including the film “Lepke” and the TV series “Boardwalk Empire”.

6. Abe Reles

Abe Reles was born on May 10, 1906, in Brooklyn, New York. He became involved in organized crime as a teenager and was a member of the notorious Murder, Inc. gang in the 1930s and 1940s. Reles was known for his violent and ruthless tactics and was involved in dozens of murders on behalf of organized crime groups.

He was arrested numerous times throughout his criminal career, including for murder and extortion. In 1940, Reles was arrested and agreed to testify against several other members of Murder, Inc. in exchange for a reduced sentence. Reles provided testimony that led to the conviction of many high-ranking members of the Jewish-American mob, including Louis Buchalter and Albert Anastasia.

Reles was placed in protective custody and was scheduled to testify in several upcoming trials, but he mysteriously fell out of a hotel window to his death in November 1941. The circumstances surrounding Reles’ death remain controversial, with some speculating that he was murdered by organized crime groups to prevent him from testifying. Reles’ testimony was crucial in dismantling the Jewish-American mob and helped to bring an end to Murder, Inc. He has been portrayed in several movies and TV shows, including the film “Murder, Inc.” and the TV series “Boardwalk Empire”.

7. Dutch Schultz

Dutch Schultz, whose real name was Arthur Flegenheimer, was born on August 6, 1902, in the Bronx, New York. He became involved in organized crime as a teenager and was a member of the Jewish-American mob. Schultz was known for his violent and ruthless tactics and was involved in numerous illegal activities, including bootlegging, gambling, and extortion. He was one of the most successful bootleggers during Prohibition, making millions of dollars from the sale of illegal alcohol.

Schultz was also a major political player in New York City and was involved in corruption and bribery of government officials. In 1935, Schultz was targeted by federal law enforcement and was indicted for tax evasion. Fearing that he would be convicted and sent to prison, Schultz hired hitmen to kill the prosecutor in his case. The plot was foiled by law enforcement, and Schultz was ultimately murdered in 1935 in a hit arranged by his own associates.

Schultz was a controversial figure, and his violent and unpredictable behavior made him feared by many in the criminal underworld. He has been portrayed in several movies and TV shows, including the film “Billy Bathgate” and the TV series “Boardwalk Empire”.

9. Arnold Rothstein

Arnold Rothstein was born on January 17, 1882, in New York City. He became involved in organized crime as a young man and was known for his involvement in gambling and bootlegging. Rothstein was one of the most successful and notorious gamblers of his time, and he is rumored to have fixed the 1919 World Series. He was also involved in many other illegal activities, including loan sharking and extortion.

Rothstein was known for his intelligence and cunning, and he was referred to as “the Brain” by his associates. Despite his illegal activities, Rothstein was also involved in legitimate business ventures, including real estate and investments in Broadway productions. In 1928, Rothstein was shot and killed in a dispute over a large gambling debt. His murder remains unsolved to this day, and there are many theories about who was responsible for his death.

Rothstein has been portrayed in several movies and TV shows, including the film “Eight Men Out” and the TV series “Boardwalk Empire”. He is considered to be one of the most legendary and infamous figures in the history of organized crime.

9. Meyer Lansky

Meyer Lansky, born Meier SuchowlaÅ„ski on July 4, 1902, was a major figure in Jewish-American organized crime. Lansky was born in Grodno, in what is now Belarus, and immigrated to the United States as a child. He was a close associate of Lucky Luciano, Bugsy Siegel, and other major figures in organized crime.

Lansky was known for his intelligence and business savvy and was involved in many illegal activities, including gambling, bootlegging, and money laundering. He played a key role in the development of organized crime in Cuba and was involved in the establishment of casinos and other businesses there.

Lansky was also a major investor in legitimate businesses, including hotels and real estate. He was known for his ability to avoid prosecution and was never convicted of a major crime. Lansky was a key figure in the establishment of the National Crime Syndicate, a network of organized crime groups that operated across the United States.

In his later years, Lansky moved to Israel and became involved in philanthropic and charitable activities. Lansky has been portrayed in several movies and TV shows, including the film “Bugsy” and the TV series “Boardwalk Empire”.

10. Bugsy Siegel

Bugsy Siegel was born on February 28, 1906, in Brooklyn, New York. He was a major figure in Jewish-American organized crime and was one of the founders of the National Crime Syndicate. Siegel was known for his involvement in bootlegging, gambling, and other illegal activities, and he was a key figure in the development of organized crime in Las Vegas. He is credited with the development of the Flamingo Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, which was the first major casino to be owned by organized crime.

Siegel was known for his volatile temper and was involved in numerous violent incidents throughout his life. He was also involved in several high-profile murders, including the killing of his former associate, Harry “Big Greenie” Greenberg. Siegel had numerous affairs with Hollywood actresses, including Virginia Hill, who became his mistress and was present with him when he was killed.

On June 20, 1947, Siegel was shot and killed in his Beverly Hills home, in a hit that is believed to have been ordered by his own associates. His murder remains unsolved, and there are many theories about who was responsible for his death. Siegel has been portrayed in several movies and TV shows, including the film “Bugsy” and the TV series “Boardwalk Empire”.