Moses Polakoff(1896-1993)
Moses Polakoff was a New York attorney who represented Salvatore Lucania, better known as Charles "Lucky" Luciano, the man who formed the modern Mafia. Polakoff was his attorney during Luciano's 1935 trial for running the prostitution racket in NYC. Luciano was convicted and sentenced to 35-50 years in prison. At the start of WWII, the Navy wanted to place agents on the mob-controlled New York docks and, through Meyer Lansky and Polakoff, they turned to Luciano for help which he gave. Following the war, Polakoff represented him when Luciano had to appeal to Governor Dewey-the man who had prosecuted him-to have his sentence commuted for his war help, the Navy turning their back on him to avoid having to admit using the mob to assist them in the war effort. Dewey had the matter investigated and Luciano was released and deported.