Donald Frankos
Encyclopedia
Donald "Tony the Greek" George Frankos, November 10, 1938 Hackensack, New Jersey
, was a Greek
-Italian contract killer and mob associate of the Lucchese crime family
, who later became a government witness.
Donald was born to George Argiri Frango who was born in 1891 in the town of Kardanyla on Chios, Greece. His father left Chios as a young man in 1905 as a crewman on a ship owned by his godfather named Livanos and never returned. His father George arrived in Jersey City in 1919 and worked as a boiler-room supervisor with Bristol-Meyers in Newark, New Jersey
and secured part-time work as a handyman. At the age of forty, George married Donald's mother, Irene who was thirty-five years old and an immigrant from Syracuse, Italy
. He is the brother of Georgia. born 1932 and James in 1935. In 1936, his father established a construction company and built single-family homes in Rutherford, New Jersey
but went broke during the Depression. They divorced in 1938, while Irene was pregnant with Donald and died shortly after Donald was born from complications with his birth. His father remarried and moved to Franklin, Louisiana
in an attempt to make money as an oil well driller but was unsuccessful. His father died in 1943 at 52 years old and he was legally adopted by his paternal uncle Augustine Frangos who was 28-years old and his 17-year-old wife Hope who Donald would later call "Mother." His uncle Gus painted bridges. Although Augustine legally adopted Donald and changed his name from Donald George Frangos to Donald Gus Frangos, he never called him father. He attended classes at a Greek Orthodox faith-based school. In 1949 his uncle moved his family to New York City and they lived in a cold water flat on 47th Street between 10th and 11th Avenues.
In 1974, Frankos murdered Lucchese crime family
associate Richard Bilello. Frankos claimed while he was imprisoned he participated in a number of mob murders outside of prison via the use of phony furloughs provided by corrupt prison officials. He claimed he took part in the murder of Jimmy Hoffa
, with a hit team consisting of himself, Irish-American mobsters John Sullivan and James Coonan
. According to Frankos, Hoffa was lured by his close friend Chuckie O'Brien to a house owned by Detroit mobster Anthony Giacolone. Once there, Hoffa was shot and killed by Coonan and Frankos using suppressed
.22 pistols, then dismembered by Coonan, Sullivan, and Frankos. The body was then left in a meat locker in the basement of the house for a lengthy period of time, while debate raged as to how to dispose of it. It was later picked up by a fourth hitman, Joseph Sullivan, it has been asserted that he sealed the body in an oil drum and buried it underneath Giants Stadium
, however no evidence has ever been found to substantiate this claim.
The television show MythBusters featured an episode involving the possible burial of Hoffa at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Ground-penetrating radar revealed no disturbances beneath the playing field.
Hackensack, New Jersey
Hackensack is a city in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States and the county seat of Bergen County. Although informally called Hackensack, it was officially named New Barbadoes Township until 1921. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 43,010....
, was a Greek
Greeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
-Italian contract killer and mob associate of the Lucchese crime family
Lucchese crime family
The Lucchese crime family is one of the "Five Families" that dominates organized crime activities in New York City, United States, within the nationwide criminal phenomenon known as the Mafia . The family originated in the early 1920s with Gaetano "Tommy" Reina serving as boss up until his murder...
, who later became a government witness.
Donald was born to George Argiri Frango who was born in 1891 in the town of Kardanyla on Chios, Greece. His father left Chios as a young man in 1905 as a crewman on a ship owned by his godfather named Livanos and never returned. His father George arrived in Jersey City in 1919 and worked as a boiler-room supervisor with Bristol-Meyers in Newark, New Jersey
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
and secured part-time work as a handyman. At the age of forty, George married Donald's mother, Irene who was thirty-five years old and an immigrant from Syracuse, Italy
Syracuse, Italy
Syracuse is a historic city in Sicily, the capital of the province of Syracuse. The city is notable for its rich Greek history, culture, amphitheatres, architecture, and as the birthplace of the preeminent mathematician and engineer Archimedes. This 2,700-year-old city played a key role in...
. He is the brother of Georgia. born 1932 and James in 1935. In 1936, his father established a construction company and built single-family homes in Rutherford, New Jersey
Rutherford, New Jersey
Rutherford is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 18,061. It is an inner-ring suburb of New York City, located west of Midtown Manhattan....
but went broke during the Depression. They divorced in 1938, while Irene was pregnant with Donald and died shortly after Donald was born from complications with his birth. His father remarried and moved to Franklin, Louisiana
Franklin, Louisiana
Franklin is a city in and the parish seat of St. Mary Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 8,354 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Morgan City Micropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
in an attempt to make money as an oil well driller but was unsuccessful. His father died in 1943 at 52 years old and he was legally adopted by his paternal uncle Augustine Frangos who was 28-years old and his 17-year-old wife Hope who Donald would later call "Mother." His uncle Gus painted bridges. Although Augustine legally adopted Donald and changed his name from Donald George Frangos to Donald Gus Frangos, he never called him father. He attended classes at a Greek Orthodox faith-based school. In 1949 his uncle moved his family to New York City and they lived in a cold water flat on 47th Street between 10th and 11th Avenues.
In 1974, Frankos murdered Lucchese crime family
Lucchese crime family
The Lucchese crime family is one of the "Five Families" that dominates organized crime activities in New York City, United States, within the nationwide criminal phenomenon known as the Mafia . The family originated in the early 1920s with Gaetano "Tommy" Reina serving as boss up until his murder...
associate Richard Bilello. Frankos claimed while he was imprisoned he participated in a number of mob murders outside of prison via the use of phony furloughs provided by corrupt prison officials. He claimed he took part in the murder of Jimmy Hoffa
Jimmy Hoffa
James Riddle "Jimmy" Hoffa was an American labor union leader....
, with a hit team consisting of himself, Irish-American mobsters John Sullivan and James Coonan
James Coonan
James "Jimmy C" Coonan is an Irish-American mobster and racketeer from Manhattan, New York who is currently serving a 75-year prison term.-Biography:...
. According to Frankos, Hoffa was lured by his close friend Chuckie O'Brien to a house owned by Detroit mobster Anthony Giacolone. Once there, Hoffa was shot and killed by Coonan and Frankos using suppressed
Suppressor
A suppressor, sound suppressor, sound moderator, or silencer, is a device attached to or part of the barrel of a firearm which reduces the amount of noise and flash generated by firing the weapon....
.22 pistols, then dismembered by Coonan, Sullivan, and Frankos. The body was then left in a meat locker in the basement of the house for a lengthy period of time, while debate raged as to how to dispose of it. It was later picked up by a fourth hitman, Joseph Sullivan, it has been asserted that he sealed the body in an oil drum and buried it underneath Giants Stadium
Giants Stadium
Giants Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium, located in East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA, in the Meadowlands Sports Complex. Maximum seating capacity was 80,242. The building itself was 230.5 m long, 180.5 m wide and 44 m high from service level to the top of the seating bowl and 54 m high to...
, however no evidence has ever been found to substantiate this claim.
The television show MythBusters featured an episode involving the possible burial of Hoffa at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Ground-penetrating radar revealed no disturbances beneath the playing field.