The responsibility of hosting this massive gathering fell to mobster Joseph Barbara, who in preparation for so many guests ordered $200 worth of meat. Such a large order from a mobster drew the attention of police sergeant Edgar Croswell, who had prior run-ins with Barbara and decided to watch the household (via All That’s Interesting). He and other state troopers began to notice a massive influx of expensive Cadillacs and other cars from out of state heading to the Barbara residence (via Slate). As the meeting was underway police raided the property, apprehending 62 prominent mafia figures from New York, California, and Florida, as well as Cuba and Italy. 

Despite their efforts to plead ignorance and claim they were there for a barbecue, several were removed from society (many could not be prosecuted due to a lack of evidence). The fact that the raid happened as a direct result of Genovese’s plans cost him his reputation. He was not missed when he died in prison years later, as this event left permanent scars in the mafia hierarchy (via NY Daily News). Ironically, until his death in 1962 it was the exiled Luciano (whose vacant position led to the crisis) that helped the mafia embrace narcotics as a new source of revenue and curtail further degradation (via History).