(Barricade)

After learning that his great-grandfather had done a “stretch” in Sing Sing, the author explored why his ancestor had committed crimes that landed him in jail. Soon, Arons expanded the topic, studying all the Jews who served time in the prison. This book traces the histories of both famous gangsters and lesser-known inmates, examining their childhoods and the lives of the people around them. A former marketing executive, Arons has given numerous presentations on genealogy and Jewish criminals.