Louis Buchalter was born in New York on 12th February, 1897. As a young man he got involved in shoplifting and by 1919 had served two terms in prison. He joined the gang led by Lucky Luciano and took the nickname Lepke (Yiddish for Little Louis). In 1933 Buchalter became the leader of what became known as Murder Incorporated. Buchalter recruited gunmen such as Abe Reles and Albert Anastasia to carry out executions for money.

In August 1939, Buchalter was arrested and sentenced to 14 years in prison for narcotics offences. When Abe Reles agreed to provide evidence against Buchalter, he was tried for murder. Found guilty, Buchalter was executed at Sing Sing State Prison on 4th March, 1944.