This Day in History: Al Capone Goes to Prison 1931

October 17, 1931

On this day in history, notorious gang member Al Capone was finally detained after a year on the F.B.I's "Most Wanted" list. He was wanted for many violent crimes such as narcotics trafficking, robbery, and murder. While the F.B.I was trying to apprehend one of the world's most famous criminals, federal Treasury agents started to collect evidence of not paying income tax. Capone was finally convicted of tax invasion and sentenced to 11 years in prison at U.S. Penitentiary in Atlanta, but after rumors of manipulating the system he was transferred to Alcatraz. 

Born on January 17, 1899, his name would come to be associated with mischief and brutality in every home throughout this country. By age 14, he had already been expelled from school and joined a gang. He recieved the nickname "Scarface" from a brutal fight where he was sliced on the cheek. After his work in New York he moved to Chicago in 1920 to be with Torrio, his soon to be mentor, where they would rule Chicago's underworld. After Torrio retired in 1925, Capone took over his postion. He and his brother Frank were known to cause corruption in the cities government through beating, kidnapping, bribary and intimidation. His enterprise took place during the Prohibition era which made his alcohol business and smugling illegal. He took part in many gangland battles where many killings occured. He is most noted for his organization of the "St. Valentine's Day KIllings" where Capone's men gunned down seven rivals. After many years of crime he was finally convicted and sentenced to prison. After getting out he was too sick to direct his life of crime and died in 1947 . 

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