America's Famous Gangsters

A Close Up at the American Gangster Prohibition and The Great Depression made the U.S. a violent battleground of corruption. The 18th Amendment (passed in 1920) banned the manufacturing, sale & consumption of alcohol. Prohlbltlon led to organlzed crIme. Speakeasles & bootleggIng made blg money. Murder, assault & burglary grew. 12,000+ murders happened each year. Crime families fought for power. • 1920s Chicago had an estimated 1,300 gangs. • New York had 5 mafla famlles. • Police officers, Judges & politiclans were bribed to Ignore/partlclpate In Illegal actIvity. 1920 1933 Prohibition ended in 1933, but the Great Depression had set in. Some turned to robblng banks & stealing cars for a llvIng. Mob Capitals of the U.S. New York City NY Chicago IL Detrolt MI Philadelphla PA San Francisco Kansas City CA KS "Extreme problems often require extreme solutions." -Unknown Chicago Mafia Boss (1925-1932) Income: $100+ million per year. ARRESTED FOR TAX EVASION Crimes: Murder, Bootlegging, and Gambling & Prostitution Operations Served Time in Alcatraz Cause of Death: Syphilis (Age 48) Al Capone "Scarface" Crimes: Bank Robbery, Theft & Murder Cause of Death: Gunned Down by Officers on May 23, 1934 (Ages 24 & 25) Crimes: Bootlegging, Bank Robbery & Kidnapping Bonnie Parker ARRESTED FOR ILLEGAL and Clyde Barrow TRAFFICKING Served Time in Alcatraz Cause of Death: Heart attack (age 59) Crimes: Bank Robbery, Auto Theft & Murder George “Machine Gun" Cause of Death: Gunned Down by FBI agents in Chicago on July 22, 1934 (Age 31) Kelly Los Angeles Mob Boss; Jewish Mafia John Dillinger Crimes: Murder, Theft, Blackmail, & Gambling Operations "Public Enemy No. 1" ARRESTED FOR TAX EVASION Served Time in Alcatraz Cause of Death: Stomach Mickey Cohen Cancer (Age 62) Matriarch of the Barker-Karpis Gang Crimes: Kidnapping, Bank Robbery & Murder Cause of Death: Gunned Down by FBI Agents in 1935 (Age 62) Kate “Ma" Barker American Gangsters were more than criminals – they became legends. Sources: http://www.biography.com/ http://vault fbi.gov/gangster-era http://blogs.archives.gov/prologue/?p=8258 http://www.alcatrazhistory.com/famous.htm http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1596.html http://www.mytopbusinessideas.com/mafia-manager-quotes/ http://www.askmen.com/money/mafioso_200/214b_mafia.html http:/law.jrank.org/pages/11944/Organized-Crime-American-Mafia.html http://www.uscollegesearch.org/blog/resource-articles/criminal-justice-info/organized-crime http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/history/tch_wjec/usa19101929/limmigration11.shtml Protect Your Home Authorized ADT Premier Provider www.choosehomesecurity.com 1-800-419-3043 http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/historyla-centennial-history/fbi_and_the_american_gangster_1924-1938