Al Capone, whose real name is Alphonse, was born on January 17 1899 in Brooklyn
New York. He was the son of Gabriel and Teresa Capone, who migrated from
Naples, Italy
in 1893. He
was the fourth child of nine. Capone received the nickname “scarface” after being cut
across the cheek by a knife. Then after the 6th grade he quit school to begin his life of
crime by joining the gang of Johnny
Torrio.
In
1925 Torrio decided to give up his life of crime and retire. This let Capone become the crime
czar of Chicago, running gambling, prostitution, and bootlegging of alcohol.
Alcohol was illegal at the time because of the prohibiton.
Capone was estimated to be worth more than $100 million in 1927. Just two years after taking over.
Capone
was responsible for one of the bloodiest gang shootings ever,
The St. Valentine's Day Massacre.
Which took place on February 14, 1929.
In Spring of 1931, Al
was indicted for federal income-tax evasion. Then in October he was found guilty of the charges. He was sentenced to serve 11 years in prison
plus $30,000 in court costs and a $50,000 fine. (The worst penalty given for tax-evasion at the time)
Capone
served
his time
at Alcatraz. He served only eight years and was
then released because he suffered from a case of syphilis. Which was probably given to him
by one
of his
many prostitutes. He moved back to his Florida home where he then died in 1947. He is now
buried in Chicago at the Mt. Carmel Cemetery.
Page By:
Nick
Schmutte
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