Frank Erickson lived in Forest Hills, Queens. In 1950 Erickson, Frank "the Prime Minister" Costello and Joe Adonis were the biggest names in betting in New York City. Mayor Fiorella La Guardia considered Erickson a pariah to the NY metropolitan area. La Guardia and the New York Police Department led a campaign to rid the city of Erickson. In 1938 Erickson's Forest Hills home was raided by the NYPD. A revolver and gun permit were taken from the gambler. Erickson claimed he'd obtained the permit and revolver because he feared for his life.