Frank Erickson (1896 – March 2, 1968) was an American mobster and

bookmaker A bookmaker, bookie, or turf accountant is an organization or a person that accepts and pays out bets on sporting and other events at agreed-upon odds In probability theory, odds provide a measure of the probability of a particular outco ...

, known for his association with businessman, gambler and

racketeer Racketeering is a type of organized crime in which the perpetrators set up a coercive, fraudulent, extortionary, or otherwise illegal coordinated scheme or operation (a "racket") to repeatedly or consistently collect a profit. The term "racket ...

Arnold Rothstein Arnold Rothstein (January 17, 1882 – November 6, 1928), nicknamed "The Brain", was an American racketeer, crime boss, businessman, and gambler who became a kingpin of the Jewish Mob in New York City. Rothstein was widely reputed to have orga ...

Biography

He was born in

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

to parents of Swedish and Irish descent. After the death of his father, he grew up in an orphanage. Frank Erickson was

's right-hand man and New York's largest bookmaker during the 1930s and 40s. Eventually, Erickson became very well known among bookmakers nationwide for handling " lay-off" bets. With Chicago's Moses Annenberg, Erickson developed a country wide wire service, making possible for the first time nationwide synchronized betting. Erickson never saw any of these profits because soon after, bookmaking became illegal and the government took over. In Robert Lacey's book on Meyer Lanksy, Erickson was named "the largest book maker on the East Coast, if not in all America." Additionally, it is a little-known fact that many of Erickson's profits went to charity. Along with many other ventures, he was a major contributor to the construction of a children's hospital in NYC. He allegedly had connections with the mob. He died on March 2, 1968, from cardiac arrest while undergoing surgery on a bleeding ulcer.

Brushes with the Law

Between the years of 1919 to 1926 Erickson was arrested five times for gambling only to have the charges dismissed each time. He was arrested again in 1939 for vagrancy and was so insulted by the charge, he arrived to court in an armoured car, escorted by Brink's guards. He showed the presiding body securities worth $125,000 to prove he wasn't a vagrant. That case, too, was dismissed. Erickson served 10 months on Riker's Island after eventually being convicted by District Attorney Frank Hogan.Katz, L. (1973). "Uncle Frank." Drake Publishers, New York, NY.

References

Eisenberg, D., Dan, U., and Landau, E. (1979). "Meyer Lansky: Mogul of the Mob." New York: Paddington Press. , Katz, L. (1973). "Uncle Frank." New York, NY: Drake Publishers. Kefauver Committee Interim Report #1 Aug. 18, 1950 http://www.onewal.com/kef/kef1.html Lacey, R. (1991). ''Little Man: Meyer Lansky and the Gangster Life.'' Canada: Little, Brown and Company. 1896 births 1968 deaths American people of Swedish descent American people of Irish descent Criminals from New York City American gangsters of Irish descent American gangsters {{US-crime-bio-stub