Stephen Armone
Encyclopedia
Stephen Armone also known as "14th Street Steve", was a New York gangster with the Gambino crime family
who ran gambling operations in Lower Manhattan
. He was the older brother of Gambino capo Joseph Armone
. Armone moved to the United States with his family to Queens. A small-statured man with black-gray hair, he limped due to a previous hip fracture
. His arrest record included assault and battery with intent to kill, burglary, and narcotics laws violations. Armone was a leader of Gambino operations in the Lower East Side
of Manhattan. He engaged in large-scale narcotics smuggling and distribution.
On September 6, 1944, Armone was indicted on charges of attempting to smuggle morphine
and opium
into the United States from the Bahamas.
In 1957, Armone allegedly participated in the assassination of family boss Albert Anastasia
. Family underboss Carlo Gambino
and Luciano crime family capo Vito Genovese
had been plotting to assume power in their respective families. Gambino capo Joseph Biondo
selected Armone to head a hit squad that included family heroin dealers Stephen Grammauta
and Arnold Wittenburg. On October 25, 1957, Armone and his hit squad ambushed Anastasia at a Manhattan hotel barber shop. While Anastasia was in the chair having a shave and haircut, his bodyguards disappeared. The hit squad entered the shop and shot him to death.
Armone died in 1960.
Gambino crime family
The Gambino 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 group is named after Carlo Gambino, boss of the family at the time of the McClellan hearings in 1963...
who ran gambling operations in Lower Manhattan
Lower Manhattan
Lower Manhattan is the southernmost part of the island of Manhattan, the main island and center of business and government of the City of New York...
. He was the older brother of Gambino capo Joseph Armone
Joseph Armone
Joseph "Piney" Armone was a gangster in the Gambino crime family from 1986 to 1990.-Biography:Born on the Upper East Side, Manhattan, Armone earned his nickname "Piney" in the 1930s by extorting money from Christmas tree vendors. He was the younger brother of mobster Stephen Armone, a Gambino...
. Armone moved to the United States with his family to Queens. A small-statured man with black-gray hair, he limped due to a previous hip fracture
Hip fracture
A hip fracture is a femoral fracture that occurs in the proximal end of the femur , near the hip.The term "hip fracture" is commonly used to refer to four different fracture patterns and is often due to osteoporosis; in the vast majority of cases, a hip fracture is a fragility fracture due to a...
. His arrest record included assault and battery with intent to kill, burglary, and narcotics laws violations. Armone was a leader of Gambino operations in the Lower East Side
Lower East Side
The Lower East Side, LES, is a neighborhood in the southeastern part of the New York City borough of Manhattan. It is roughly bounded by Allen Street, East Houston Street, Essex Street, Canal Street, Eldridge Street, East Broadway, and Grand Street....
of Manhattan. He engaged in large-scale narcotics smuggling and distribution.
On September 6, 1944, Armone was indicted on charges of attempting to smuggle morphine
Morphine
Morphine is a potent opiate analgesic medication and is considered to be the prototypical opioid. It was first isolated in 1804 by Friedrich Sertürner, first distributed by same in 1817, and first commercially sold by Merck in 1827, which at the time was a single small chemists' shop. It was more...
and opium
Opium
Opium is the dried latex obtained from the opium poppy . Opium contains up to 12% morphine, an alkaloid, which is frequently processed chemically to produce heroin for the illegal drug trade. The latex also includes codeine and non-narcotic alkaloids such as papaverine, thebaine and noscapine...
into the United States from the Bahamas.
In 1957, Armone allegedly participated in the assassination of family boss Albert Anastasia
Albert Anastasia
Albert Anastasia was boss of what is now called the Gambino crime family, one of New York City's Five Families, from 1951-1957. He also ran a gang of contract killers called Murder Inc. which enforced the decisions of the Commission, the ruling council of the American Mafia...
. Family underboss Carlo Gambino
Carlo Gambino
"Don" Carlo Gambino, was a Sicilian mafioso who became Boss of the Gambino crime family, that still bears his name today. After the 1957 Apalachin Convention he unexpectedly seized control of the Commission of the American Mafia. Gambino was known for being low-key and secretive...
and Luciano crime family capo Vito Genovese
Vito Genovese
Vito "Don Vito" Genovese was an Italian mafioso who rose to power in America during the Castellammarese War to later become leader of the Genovese crime family. Genovese served as mentor to future mob boss Vincent "The Chin" Gigante...
had been plotting to assume power in their respective families. Gambino capo Joseph Biondo
Joseph Biondo
Joseph Biondo , also known as "Joe Bandy", "Joe the Blonde", and "Little Rabbit", was a New York mobster with the Gambino crime family who was heavily involved in gambling activities. Biondo was also the family underboss for approximately eight years.-Career:Born in Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto in...
selected Armone to head a hit squad that included family heroin dealers Stephen Grammauta
Stephen Grammauta
Stephen "Stevie Coogan" Grammauta is a caporegime with the Gambino crime family who allegedly participated in the murder of mob boss Albert "Mad Hatter" Anastasia.- Early life & crime :...
and Arnold Wittenburg. On October 25, 1957, Armone and his hit squad ambushed Anastasia at a Manhattan hotel barber shop. While Anastasia was in the chair having a shave and haircut, his bodyguards disappeared. The hit squad entered the shop and shot him to death.
Armone died in 1960.