"THE STORY OF NOTORIOUS CRIMINAL MAFIA DON - STEPHEN '14TH STREET STEVE' ARMONE - OF U S"

   

 

The story of Stephen "14th Street Steve" Armone is a classic example of the mid-century American Mafia's transition from street-level violence to high-stakes international narcotics trafficking. A key figure in what would become the Gambino crime family, Armone operated in the shadows of the Lower East Side for decades.

 

1. Background & Grooming

Childhood: Born Stephen Armone on November 17, 1899, in Palermo, Sicily, he immigrated to the United States as a young child. He grew up in the Italian tenements of Manhattan's Lower East Side.

Grooming: Armone was a "pioneer" of the New York mob. He was mentored by early Neapolitan and Sicilian gang leaders who controlled the Manhattan waterfront and garment district.

The Armone Dynasty: He was the older brother of Joseph "Piney" Armone, who would later become the underboss of the Gambino family under John Gotti. Together, the brothers established a reputation for being disciplined, "old-school" soldiers.

 

2. Criminal Activities & Rise to Power

Armone earned his nickname, "14th Street Steve," because he headquartered his operations near 14th Street and Avenue A in Manhattan. He was a high-ranking member (caporegime) in the family then led by Vincent Mangano and later by Albert Anastasia.

The French Connection (Narcotics)

Unlike some mobsters who focused on gambling, Armone was a specialist in narcotics.

The Scheme: He was one of the early architects of the French Connection, a smuggling route that brought heroin from Turkey to Marseille, France, and then into New York City.

Motive: High-profit margins. Armone saw narcotics as the ultimate revenue stream for the family, despite the official (though often ignored) Mafia ban on drug dealing.

The Murder of Albert Anastasia (1957)

Armone is most infamous for his alleged involvement in the assassination of his own boss, Albert Anastasia, at the Park Sheraton Hotel barbershop.

The Motive: Carlo Gambino and Vito Genovese wanted to seize control of the Mafia Commission.

The Role: Many historians and informants claim Armone was the leader of the "hit squad" (composed of his own crew) that carried out the execution to pave the way for Carlo Gambino’s rise.

 

3. Victims & Crimes

While his primary "business" was heroin trafficking, his criminal record was extensive:

Assault and Armed Robbery: His early rap sheet in the 1920s and 30s was filled with street-level violence as he established control over his territory.

The Victims: Most of Armone’s victims were either rival gang members or associates suspected of cooperating with the government.

 

4. Investigations & Arrests

The federal government, particularly the Federal Bureau of Narcotics (FBN), spent years tracking Armone. He was a primary target of the McClellan Committee hearings, which sought to expose the structure of organized crime.

The 1944 Arrest:

Armone was convicted of operating a large-scale heroin distribution ring. This was one of the first times a high-ranking New York mobster was successfully prosecuted for drugs. He served a significant prison sentence during the 1940s.

The 1957 Scrutiny:

Following the Anastasia murder, the NYPD and FBI placed heavy surveillance on Armone. However, "14th Street Steve" was notoriously tight-lipped and rarely spoke on telephones or in bugged rooms.

 

5. Verdicts & Sentencing

Armone spent a total of nearly 15 years in prison across various stints for the following:

1. Narcotics Conspiracy: Convicted in the mid-1940s.

2. Parole Violations: Frequently returned to prison for associating with known criminals.

3. Grand Larceny: Convicted in the late 1930s.

 

6. Aftermath & Current Status

Unlike many of his contemporaries who died by the gun, Armone’s end was more mundane but marked by a loss of influence.

Final Years: By the late 1950s, his health began to fail. Despite his high rank, he was eclipsed in fame by his younger brother, Joseph, who took over many of Steve's responsibilities.

Death: Stephen Armone died of natural causes on May 14, 1960.

Current Status: He is buried in St. John Cemetery in Queens, New York—a cemetery famous for being the final resting place of dozens of Mafia bosses, including Lucky Luciano and Vito Genovese.

Historical Significance

"14th Street Steve" is remembered as a bridge between the "Black Hand" era of his youth and the sophisticated, international crime syndicates of the mid-20th century. He was essential in establishing the Gambino family's dominance in the heroin trade, a legacy that would eventually lead to the family's downfall in the late 1980s.

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