Albert Anastasia
Kefauver Committee witness in New York, described in a 1950s FBI memorandum as a waterfront racketeer. New York police testified in 1963 that he was the last predecessor of Carlo Gambino and was shot to death in a barber shop in 1957.
- Died
- 1957
- Aliases
- Umberto Anastasia
- Family
- The family later led by Carlo Gambino (testimony, 1963)
- Role
- "the last predecessor to Gambino," as NYPD testimony confirmed counsel's question (testimony, 1963)
- Rights
- Biography on this page is limited to what the cited federal records state.
On the record
- 1951 — Before the Kefauver Committee (Part 7), under the heading "Testimony of Umberto (Albert) Anastasia," he gave his name as "Umberto Anastasia," his age as 47, and his birthplace as Italy. Testimony.
- 1951–1953 — An FBI memorandum in Part 01 of his file (62-98011, p. 3) says he was "born at Calabria, Italy, date unknown," was believed to be naturalized, and had been reported as a notorious racketeer on the New York City waterfront. FBI memo.
- 1957 — Shanley (printed p. 295): "He was shot to death in a barber shop in 1957 in New York." Testimony, 1963.
- 25 September 1963 — Attorney General Kennedy (printed p. 7) said the Apalachin meeting was called by a leading racketeer "in an effort to resolve the problem created by the murder of Albert Anastasia" (the OCR reads "leadlllg"). Attorney General's statement.
- 8 October 1963 — Counsel: "And Albert Anastasia was the last predecessor to Gambino?" Shanley: "That is correct." Testimony, confirming counsel's question.
The year of death is from Shanley’s testimony. No federal record opened for this page names the barber shop or the day, so neither is given.
Records
itemKefauver Committee hearings, Part 7: New York-New Jersey (1950–1951)Printed hearings of the Senate Special Committee to Investigate Organized Crime in Interstate Commerce, Part 7, New York-New Jersey: sessions in Washington and New York, July 1950 to March 1951.
itemFBI Vault: Albert Anastasia, Part 01 (file 62-98011)A 21-page part of 1951–1953 serials, including a memorandum stating that Anastasia was born in Calabria, Italy, and had been reported as a racketeer on the New York waterfront. Nothing in it concerns his 1957 killing.
itemOrganized Crime and Illicit Traffic in Narcotics, Part 1 (September 25 to October 9, 1963)The first printed volume of the 1963 Senate hearings: Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy's opening testimony, Joseph Valachi's public testimony, New York police witnesses, Exhibit 8 and Charts A to E.