Vito Genovese, mob boss and influential figure in American organized crime, passed away on February 14th 1969 in Spring Valley, New York, at the age of 71. Originally hailing from Naples, Italy, Genovese arrived in the United States at the age of twenty-five in the year 1913, eventually settling in Naples, New York. He began his criminal career under mob boss Charles "Lucky" Luciano, becoming heavily involved in prostitution and drug operations, and eventually rising to the rank of underboss in the Luciano crime family. In the 1940s, Genovese was charged with the murder of mob boss Ferdinand Boccia, allegedly under orders from Luciano. Although Genovese was convicted of the crime and initially sentenced to fifteen years in prison, he was able to appeal the charge and get the sentence overturned. In the 1950s, Genovese re-established himself as a powerful and influential force in the New York underworld. In 1959, Genovese was the suspected mastermind behind the death of an enemy, leading to his arrest in 1960 for tax evasion. He was sentenced to fifteen years in prison, where he died in 1969.