Biography
Abner Zwillman — gangster (nj boss) with roots in the Russian Empire
Abner 'Longy' Zwillman rose from Newark's Third Ward to lead one of America's most powerful organized crime syndicates during Prohibition. Born to Jewish immigrant parents from Russia, he built a bootlegging empire and later invested in legitimate business, becoming a shadowy power broker in New Jersey politics.
Russian Connection
Tracing the roots — Russia (Jewish)
His parents fled the Russian Empire's Pale of Settlement, joining the wave of Jewish immigrants who transformed Newark's underworld. Zwillman's story is inseparable from the Russian-Jewish immigrant experience in early 20th-century America.
Family Tree
Subject
Abner Zwillman🇺🇸 USA
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Parents
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Origin
Russia (Jewish)🇷🇺 Russian Empire
Historical context
Russian Empire · c. 1721–1917
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Russia (Jewish). At the time, this region lay within the Russian Empire, which spanned from Poland to the Pacific.
Map: Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA)
Key Achievements
A career defined by ambition
01
Built dominant bootlegging network in New Jersey during Prohibition
02
Founding member of the National Crime Syndicate
03
Invested illicit profits in Hollywood and legitimate ventures
04
Wielded significant influence over New Jersey politics
"I never did anything I didn't have to do. (attributed)"
Abner Zwillman
Sources