Meyer "Mickey" Cohen, the infamous Los Angeles mobster, passed away July 29, 1976, at the age of 62. Born in New York in1913, Cohen began his life of crime while growing up in the city's tough Jewish ghetto. After a stint in the Army, he worked his way up the ranks of the organized crime syndicate in Los Angeles, eventually becoming an enforcer for mobster Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel. After Siegel's demise in 1947, Cohen took control of the LA underworld, consolidating power through bribery, intimidation, and violence. Mickey Cohen had numerous run-ins with the law throughout his career, facing charges ranging from assault to tax evasion. Although convicted on numerous occasions, he was never successfully prosecuted for any major crimes and spent most of his later years in exile, returning to Los Angeles shortly before his death. He will be remembered for his colorful personality and hard-nosed approach to organized crime. He was never a "Kingpin" of the LA underworld as some have claimed, but his place in the history of organized crime will be forever remembered.