Editing Lucky Luciano (section)

==World War II, freedom, and deportation==
During [[World War II]], the U.S. government struck a secret deal with the imprisoned Luciano. In 1942, the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] was concerned about German and Italian agents entering the country through the New York waterfront. They were also worried about [[sabotage]] in these facilities. Knowing that the Mafia controlled the waterfront, the [[U.S. Department of the Navy]] contacted Lansky about a deal with Luciano. To facilitate negotiations, Luciano was transferred to [[Great Meadow Correctional Facility]] in [[Comstock, New York]], which was much closer to New York City.<ref name="Kelly 107">{{cite book|last=Kelly|first=Robert J.|title=The Upperworld and the Underworld: Case Studies of Racketeering and Business Infiltrations in the United States|series=Criminal Justice and Public Safety|year=1999|publisher=Kluwer Academic / Plenum Publishers|location=New York|isbn=0306459698|page=107|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=X-d71WDyABcC&q=luciano+prison&pg=PA107}}</ref>

The Navy, the State of New York and Luciano reached a deal: in exchange for a [[commutation of sentence|commutation of his sentence]], Luciano promised the complete assistance of his organization in providing [[Military intelligence|intelligence]] to the Navy. Anastasia, a Luciano ally who controlled the docks, allegedly promised no dockworker strikes during the war. In preparation for the 1943 allied invasion of Sicily, Luciano allegedly provided the U.S. military with [[Sicilian Mafia]] contacts. This collaboration between the Navy and the Mafia became known as [[Operation Underworld]].<ref name="Newark137" />

The value of Luciano's contribution to the war effort is highly debated. In 1947, the naval officer in charge of Operation Underworld discounted the value of his wartime aid.<ref name="ordinary aid">{{cite news|title=Luciano War Aid Called Ordinary|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1947/02/27/88762167.pdf|access-date=June 21, 2012|newspaper=The New York Times|date=February 27, 1947}}</ref> A 1954 report ordered by now-Governor Dewey stated that Luciano provided many valuable services to Naval Intelligence.<ref name="secret report">{{cite news|last=Kihss|first=Peter|title=Secret Report Cites|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1977/10/09/121550991.pdf|access-date=June 21, 2012|newspaper=The New York Times|date=October 9, 1977}}</ref> The enemy threat to the docks, Luciano allegedly said, was manufactured by the sinking of the [[SS Normandie|SS ''Normandie'']] in [[New York Harbor]], supposedly directed by Anastasia's brother, [[Anthony Anastasio]];<ref>{{cite book |last=Bondanella |first=Peter E. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ube8O40i07wC&dq=%22SS+Normandie%22+mafia+sabotage&pg=PA200 |title=Hollywood Italians: Dagos, Palookas, Romeos, Wise Guys, and Sopranos |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131231073333/http://books.google.com/books?id=ube8O40i07wC&pg=PA200&lpg=PA200&dq=%22SS+Normandie%22+mafia+sabotage&source=web&ots=yHwqommenC&sig=kyTqc9ipb_s_SzibButnHAiZLu0&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=9&ct=result |archive-date=December 31, 2013 |location=New York |publisher=Continuum International Publishing Group |date=2004 |page=200 |isbn=0-8264-1544-X}}</ref><ref name=dcdave>Gosch & Hammer, pp. 260, 268, cited in {{cite web |url=http://www.dcdave.com/article5/101110.htm |first=David |last=Martin |title=Luciano: SS ''Normandie'' Sunk as Cover for Dewey |date=November 10, 2010 |access-date=April 21, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130419031806/http://www.dcdave.com/article5/101110.htm |archive-date=April 19, 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> however, the official investigation of the ship sinking found no evidence of sabotage.<ref name=normandie>{{cite news|last=Trussell|first=C.P.|title=Carelessness Seen in Normandie Fire|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1942/04/16/88501800.pdf|access-date=June 23, 2012|newspaper=The New York Times|date=April 16, 1942}}</ref>

On January 3, 1946, as a presumed reward for his alleged wartime cooperation, Dewey reluctantly commuted Luciano's pandering sentence on condition that he not resist [[deportation]] to Italy.<ref name="dewey commutes">{{cite news|title=Dewey Commutes Luciano Sentence|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1946/01/04/93012913.pdf|access-date=June 16, 2012|newspaper=The New York Times|date=January 4, 1946}}</ref> Luciano accepted the deal, although he still maintained that he was a U.S. citizen and not subject to deportation. On February 2, 1946, two federal immigration agents transported Luciano from Sing Sing prison to [[Ellis Island]] in New York Harbor for deportation proceedings.<ref name="leaves prison">{{cite news|title=Luciano Leaves Prison|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1946/02/03/91607758.pdf|access-date=June 16, 2012|newspaper=The New York Times|date=February 3, 1946}}</ref> On February 9, the night before his departure, Luciano shared a spaghetti dinner on his freighter with Anastasia and five other guests.<ref name="luciano deported US" /> On February 10, Luciano's ship sailed from Brooklyn for Italy.<ref name="luciano deported US">{{cite news|title=Pardoned Luciano on His Way to Italy|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1946/02/11/93047003.pdf|access-date=June 16, 2012|newspaper=The New York Times|date=February 11, 1946}}</ref> On February 28, after a 17-day voyage, the ship arrived in Naples. On arrival, Luciano told reporters he would probably reside in Sicily.<ref name="luciano naples">{{cite news|title=Luciano Reaches Naples|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1946/03/01/88333699.pdf|access-date=June 16, 2012|newspaper=The New York Times|date=March 1, 1946}}</ref>