Steven Franse
Encyclopedia
Steven Franse was a New York mobster with the Genovese crime family
who was a close associate of mob bosses Charles "Lucky" Luciano
and Vito Genovese
.
Franse was born in Istria
and grew up in Roxbury
, Massachusetts
, before moving to New York in 1934, settling in the East Harlem section of Manhattan
.
When Genovese fled to Italy in 1937 to escape a murder indictment, he left Franse to watch his business interests. Franse was a partner with Genovese in some nightclubs in the Greenwich Village
section of Manhattan. In addition, Genovese asked Franse to watch over his wife, Anna. Franse eventually became partners with Anna in some legitimate business interests. In 1952, Anna sued for divorce. In court, she embarrassed Genoevse by revealing information about his legal and illegal business interests. A furious Genovese blamed Franse for his wife’s defection.
Genovese tasked one of his lieutenants, Anthony Strollo
, to set up the murder. In turn, Bender ordered future mob witness Joseph Valachi to run the hit. Bender told Valachi that Franse had become an informer (which was not true). On June 18, 1953, Valachi lured Franse to Valachi's restaurant in the Bronx
. Franse was strangled to death by Pasquale Pagano and his nephew Fiore Siano.
Genovese crime family
The Genovese 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 Genovese crime family has been nicknamed the "Ivy League" and "Rolls Royce" of organized crime...
who was a close associate of mob bosses Charles "Lucky" Luciano
Lucky Luciano
Charlie "Lucky" Luciano was an Italian mobster born in Sicily. Luciano is considered the father of modern organized crime in the United States for splitting New York City into five different Mafia crime families and the establishment of the first commission...
and 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...
.
Franse was born in Istria
Istria
Istria , formerly Histria , is the largest peninsula in the Adriatic Sea. The peninsula is located at the head of the Adriatic between the Gulf of Trieste and the Bay of Kvarner...
and grew up in Roxbury
Roxbury
Roxbury may refer to:United States*Roxbury, Boston, Massachusetts*Roxbury, Connecticut*Roxbury, Kansas*Roxbury, Maine*Roxbury, New Hampshire*Roxbury Township, New Jersey*Roxbury, New York...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, before moving to New York in 1934, settling in the East Harlem section of Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
.
When Genovese fled to Italy in 1937 to escape a murder indictment, he left Franse to watch his business interests. Franse was a partner with Genovese in some nightclubs in the Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village, , , , .in New York often simply called "the Village", is a largely residential neighborhood on the west side of Lower Manhattan in New York City. A large majority of the district is home to upper middle class families...
section of Manhattan. In addition, Genovese asked Franse to watch over his wife, Anna. Franse eventually became partners with Anna in some legitimate business interests. In 1952, Anna sued for divorce. In court, she embarrassed Genoevse by revealing information about his legal and illegal business interests. A furious Genovese blamed Franse for his wife’s defection.
Genovese tasked one of his lieutenants, Anthony Strollo
Anthony Strollo
Anthony C. Strollo , aka "Tony Bender", was a New York mobster who served as a high ranking member of the Genovese crime family.-Early years:...
, to set up the murder. In turn, Bender ordered future mob witness Joseph Valachi to run the hit. Bender told Valachi that Franse had become an informer (which was not true). On June 18, 1953, Valachi lured Franse to Valachi's restaurant in the Bronx
The Bronx
The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated...
. Franse was strangled to death by Pasquale Pagano and his nephew Fiore Siano.