Abe Sarkis

Abraham Bashara Sarkis (December 9, 1914 – June 5, 1991) was an American bookmaker who oversaw Boston's numbers racket for the Patriarca crime family.

Early life Abraham Bashara Sarkis was born on December 9, 1914 to Bashara Sarkis and Mrs. Hamama, Melkite Catholic immigrants from Aammiq, Lebanon. He and his wife, Dorothy, had two children – Charles Sarkis and Dorothy Morkis.

Criminal activity Sarkis' first arrest for bookmaking came in 1935. In 1955, he was summoned to appear before the Massachusetts Crime Commission, but refused to testify.

By 1967, Sarkis was supervising Boston's numbers racket in partnership with Patriarca underboss Gennaro Angiulo. That year, he and his brother, Charles, were arrested on gambling charges at the 411 Lounge, which was managed by Sarkis. In 1968, Sarkis pleaded guilty to tax evasion and was sentenced to nine months in jail.

The following year, Sarkis was arrested for possession of a handgun. He was given a one-year suspended sentence and two additional years of probation. The complaint was dismissed by Judge John A. Pino on the grounds that the prosecution was unprepared to present its case. Later that year, Sarkis, Ilario "Larry Baione" Zannino, Richard Assad, and Edward Lewis were arrested for allegedly running a three-county gambling ring. In 1990, Sarkis and Wonderland Greyhound Park general manager and former Massachusetts State Police head Americo Sousa were indicted for running an illegal bookmaking operation that allegedly took in $100,000 a day in bets on races at the track, which was owned by Sarkis' son. Sarkis died before the case against him could be resolved.

Attempts on Sarkis' life In 1960, two men, one dressed as priest, arrived at Sarkis' home. His wife saw that one of the men had a gun and alerted her husband, who escaped by jumping out of a second story window.

Death Sarkis died on June 5, 1991 at the New England Deaconess Hospital. His funeral service was held at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Annunciation.