What Crimes Did Al Capone Commit?
Al Capone committed many crimes, including bootlegging, tax evasion and murder. He was a known mobster who was involved in every aspect of street crime, but was only tried and sentenced for income tax evasion.
Al Capone was a gangster in Chicago during Prohibition. Despite a seemingly normal childhood with a stay-at-home mother and a close family, Capone turned to street life at an early age.
Capone became involved in the mob life at age 18 when he went to work for Frankie Yale as a bouncer, waiter and bartender. He used this time to watch and learn the business. This is also when he earned the nickname “Scarface,” after being slashed across the face for making vulgar comments to a lady.
By 1924, Capone was leaving his mark on the Chicago streets. When mobster Johnny Torrio left Chicago to return to Italy, Capone was left to run the city. He soon developed a reputation for violence and senseless murder. In 1929, Capone ordered the massacre of rival “Bugs” Moran and his men. Although Moran survived, seven men were gunned down in what became known as the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre.
This massacre was the beginning of the end for Capone. The government stepped up efforts to indict him on tax evasion, and indicted him on 22 counts. Although he was only sentenced to 11 years in prison, failing heath would prevent him from ever returning to the mob life.
