An upcoming biography of Frank Sinatra includes recollections from Jerry Lewis that appears to confirm the rumors of Sinatra's involvement in Mafia business. The Guardian (UK) reports that Lewis offers an anecdote revealing that Sinatra nearly got caught while muling $3.5 million through New York customs in the 1940s:

In an interview for a new biography of Sinatra, Lewis is quoted as saying of the Rat Pack member: "He volunteered to be a messenger for them. And he almost got caught once ... in New York."

As he passed through customs, Lewis says, Sinatra was stopped by officials who started to open the suitcase he was carrying. Inside, says Lewis, were notes to the value of "three and a half million in 50s". But the customs officers were distracted by the crowds of people trying to catch a glimpse of the singer and aborted their search.

Had they not, claims Lewis, "we would never have heard of him again".

Sinatra had long been suspected of such ties to organized crime by American law-enforcement agencies, especially by the FBI and J. Edgar Hoover. His Las Vegas holdings intertwined with known mob bosses in an era where such connections only existed by invitation, and Sinatra socialized with such high-profile Mafia figures as Sam Giancana and Lucky Luciano. However, Sinatra and his people have always denied any illegal activity took place as a result of these associations, claiming that Sinatra viewed the bosses only as devoted fans of his music.

Having Jerry Lewis go on record with such stories is quite a coup for Robbyn Swan and Anthony Summers. Sinatra's contemporaries have always remained mum on the subject out of respect for Sinatra, or perhaps for other reasons. The Guardian reports that other sources have further corroboration of Sinatra's Mafia aspirations, practically guaranteeing that the book will fly off of bookshelves once published. As for me, I'll pass. I never really understood the reverence displayed for Sinatra, who may have been a sensation in his youth but whose expert style couldn't quite cover up a weak voice and an ever-present arrogance. At least now we know the source for the latter.

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Tracked on May 5, 2005 12:55 PM