Al Capone

Capone requested a postponement of his appearance before a federal grand jury, claiming to have severe pneumonia. Investigators established that he had nevertheless attended racecourses and public venues and travelled during the period when he claimed to be bedridden. He was arrested for contempt of court and subsequently convicted in 1931.

State of the evidence

Established by a court

Attribution

Accused

Following the attack that seriously injured Johnny Torrio, Torrio withdrew and Capone took control of the organisation. The group consolidated its power during the "Beer Wars", a period of extremely violent criminal rivalry for control of bootlegging and territories.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Capone and a bodyguard were arrested in Philadelphia for carrying concealed weapons. They were sentenced to one year in prison within twenty-four hours; Capone was released after approximately nine months for good behaviour.

State of the evidence

Established by a court

Attribution

Accused

The Chicago Crime Commission placed Capone at the top of a list of twenty-eight "public enemies", in a campaign intended to draw attention to the impunity of major gangsters and the corruption protecting organised crime.

Attribution

Directly implicated

As part of a campaign to drive Capone out of Florida, he was arrested for vagrancy. After accusing police of mistreatment, he was prosecuted for perjury.

Attribution

Accused

Course of the proceedings

1. Formally charged — Formal charge before the current outcome

Seven members or associates of Bugs Moran's gang were shot dead in a Chicago garage by killers disguised as police officers. The massacre is historically and publicly associated with Capone's organisation, although he was in Florida at the time.

Role of the person profiled

Protagonist not prosecuted

Capone was among the principal gangsters present in Atlantic City at a national meeting organised around Nucky Johnson, Johnny Torrio, Lucky Luciano and Meyer Lansky, intended to coordinate the interests of the major criminal networks of the time.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

After arriving in Chicago, Capone became Johnny Torrio's principal lieutenant in a criminal operation based on alcohol smuggling, illegal gambling, prostitution, protection rackets and influence over public officials and trade union leaders.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated