John Factor

John Factor (October 8, 1892 – January 22, 1984), born Iakov Faktorowicz, was a Prohibition-era gangster and con artist affiliated with the Chicago Outfit.

John Factor
Born
Iakov Faktorowicz

(1892-10-08)October 8, 1892
England
DiedJanuary 22, 1984(1984-01-22) (aged 91)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Other namesJake the Barber
OccupationStock investor, casino operator, real estate investor, philanthropist
Spouse(s)Rella
Conviction(s)Stock fraud (United Kingdom);
Mail fraud (U.S.)
Criminal penalty10 years in federal prison (U.S.)

Biography

Factor was born Iakov Faktorowicz on October 8, 1892,[1] in Łódź, Congress Poland, to Avrum (Abraham) Iakov Faktorowicz and his wife, Leah. His father was a rabbi,[1] and he had one sibling, a sister, Dena. Like his more-famous older half-brother, Max Factor, he had trained at an early age in haircare,[2] which led to his mob nickname "Jake the Barber".[3] The family emigrated to the United States in 1906.[4] They joined his elder brother, Nathan, in St. Louis, Missouri.

In 1926, Factor perpetrated a stock scam in England that netted $8 million (equivalent to $94,017,000 in 2019). Some of his victims were members of English royalty.[5] He subsequently fled to Monaco and executed another major scam, rigging the tables at the Monte Carlo Casino and breaking the bank. He then returned to the United States.[5]

1930 Duesenberg Boattail Speedster once owned by John Factor, and on display in the Martin Auto Museum.

While in the United States, he was tried and sentenced in absentia in England to 24 years in prison. He fought extradition all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, which heard oral argument on April 18, 1933.[6] Factor faked the kidnapping of his son, Jerome, for the same day. Eight days later, Factor himself and several members of the Chicago Outfit (with whom Factor was associated) claimed to have seen Jerome in a car. They gave chase and freed him, while the kidnappers got away.[7] With Factor allegedly trying to free his son, the Supreme Court held the case over for reargument on October 9.[6] Fearing he would lose the case, Factor had himself "kidnapped" on June 30, 1933.[8] Factor reappeared on July 12, and his family claimed they had given the kidnappers a $50,000 ransom.[9] Factor, working with the Chicago Outfit and corrupt local law enforcement, framed mobster Roger Touhy (an Outfit competitor) for the kidnapping.[10]

Factor lost his extradition battle when, on December 4, 1933, the U.S. Supreme Court held in Factor v. Laubenheimer, 290 U.S. 276 (Sup.Ct. 1933). that Factor should be turned over to British authorities. He was taken into custody on April 17, 1934.[11] Factor's wife, Rella, then asked a U.S. federal district court to dismiss the extradition on the grounds that Factor had been held for longer than the two months permitted for extradition proceedings under U.S. law. The United States Secretary of State, acting on a request by local law enforcement, intervened in the case, asking the court to release Factor because he might be needed as a witness in further legal proceedings against Touhy. The Secretary of State declined to exercise his discretion under the law to toll the case. The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals ordered Factor released and extradition proceedings quashed in In re Factor's Extradition, 75 F.2d 10 (7th Cir. 1934)..[12]

Factor was convicted of mail fraud in 1942,[13] and served six years of a 10 year sentence.[14][15]

In 1955, Factor took over the Stardust Hotel, though he was probably a figurehead for other Chicago mob figures, such as Paul Ricca, Tony "Big Tuna" Accardo, Murray Humphreys, and Sam "Momo" Giancana. He sold the hotel for $7 million in either 1962 or 1963. It is alleged that he ran the operation on behalf of the mob, with a lifetime take of $50–$200 million.[16] He was also involved in an attempt to bail out Jimmy Hoffa from his real-estate related financial problems.[16]

Factor became politically and philanthropically active, and was the largest donor to John F. Kennedy's 1960 presidential campaign.[14] In late 1962, Factor was scheduled to be deported to the United Kingdom but received a presidential pardon.[15] He became a naturalized American citizen in 1963.[17] He became a major contributor to the gubernatorial campaigns of Pat Brown in California. Brown later called him a close friend.[17]

He lived his later years in Los Angeles, where he made large charitable contributions to enhance the lives of inner city children.[16]

Factor died from a long, undisclosed illness on January 22, 1984, and was interred at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles.[17]

See also

References
  1. Stout 2020, p. 187.
  2. Al 2017, p. 61.
  3. Newton 2007, p. 166.
  4. Steamship Passenger List, S/S Haverford, March 1906. https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8769/images/PAT840_51-0429?treeid=&personid=&hintid=&queryId=acbc7a0d5a4b9da254886b4dd33606b3&usePUB=true&_phsrc=hYI2221&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&_ga=2.22435643.1498679909.1612451459-1093218731.1597084329&pId=524554
  5. Russo 2004, p. 99.
  6. Factor v. Laubenheimer, 290 U.S. 276, 276 (Sup.Ct. 1933).
  7. Russo 2004, p. 100.
  8. "Jake Factor Is Kidnapped By Shotgun Gang". Chicago Tribune. July 1, 1933. p. 1.
  9. "'Jake' Factor, Unharmed, Set Free by Kidnapers; Ransom of $200,000 Reported Paid". The San Francisco Examiner. July 13, 1933. pp. 1, 2; "Factor Admits Kidnapers Got $50,000 in Cash". The St. Louis Star and Times. July 13, 1933. pp. 1, 2.
  10. Eghigian 2005, p. 244.
  11. "Factor Again Held for Extradition". The New York Times. April 18, 1934. p. 16.
  12. Botting, Gary (March 2004). Executive and Judicial Discretion in Extradition Between Canada and the United States (PhD). University of British Columbia. pp. 89–90. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
  13. "Will Sentence Factor Tuesday". The New York Times. January 28, 1943. p. 9.
  14. Russo 2004, p. 102.
  15. Kenworthy, E.W. (December 29, 1962). "Officials Silent on Factor Case". The New York Times. p. 4.
  16. Tuohy 2001.
  17. Jones, Jack (January 24, 1984). "John Factor, Noted Philanthropist, Dies After Long Illness". The Los Angeles Times. pp. 3, 14.

Bibliography
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