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Crime & Justice • Gangster

Al Capone

Al Capone was an American gangster who became the best-known leader of the Chicago Outfit during the Prohibition era.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Al Capone was an American gangster who became the best-known leader of the Chicago Outfit during the Prohibition era. He was convicted of income tax evasion in 1931 and sentenced to 11 years in prison. He died in Florida in 1947 after suffering cardiac arrest following a stroke.

Early life

Al Capone was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1899 to Italian immigrant parents. He later moved to Chicago, where he became involved in organized crime.

Chicago Outfit leadership

Capone rose to power as the co-founder and boss of the Chicago Outfit from 1925 to 1931. His criminal activities included gambling, prostitution, bootlegging, bribery, narcotics trafficking, robbery, protection rackets, and murder.

Conviction and imprisonment

Capone was convicted in 1931 for income tax evasion and sentenced to 11 years in prison. He served part of his sentence at Alcatraz Prison.

Later life and death

After his release, Capone lived in Florida in declining health. He suffered from advanced syphilis, which severely damaged his health. He died on January 25, 1947, at Palm Island, Miami Beach, Florida, after cardiac arrest following a stroke.

Key facts

  • Capone rose to power as the co-founder and boss of the Chicago Outfit from 1925 to 1931.
  • His criminal activities included gambling, prostitution, bootlegging, bribery, narcotics trafficking, robbery, protection rackets, and murder.
  • He was convicted in 1931 for income tax evasion and sentenced to 11 years in prison.
  • He served part of his sentence at Alcatraz Prison.
  • Capone lived in Chicago during his rise to power and later in Florida.

Frequently asked questions

Who was Al Capone?
Al Capone was an American gangster and crime boss who led the Chicago Outfit during the Prohibition era.
How did Al Capone die?
He died on January 25, 1947, in Florida after cardiac arrest following a stroke.
What crimes did Al Capone commit?
He was linked to gambling, prostitution, bootlegging, bribery, narcotics trafficking, robbery, protection rackets, and murder; he was convicted of tax evasion.
Where did Al Capone live?
He was born in Brooklyn, later lived in Chicago, and spent his final years in Florida, including Palm Island in Miami Beach.
What disease did Al Capone have?
He had advanced syphilis, which severely damaged his health later in life.
How was Al Capone caught?
He was brought down by a federal tax evasion case, and investigators were able to prove he had not paid income taxes on criminal earnings.

References

  1. Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/biography/Al-Capone
    Supports: Birth, death, Chicago crime leadership, tax evasion conviction, and syphilis.
  2. Federal Bureau of Investigation — https://www.fbi.gov/history/famous-cases/al-capone
    Supports: Criminal activities including gambling, prostitution, bootlegging, bribery, narcotics trafficking, robbery, protection rackets, and murder.
  3. Biography.com — https://www.biography.com/crime/al-capone
    Supports: Leadership of the Chicago Outfit and imprisonment at Alcatraz in 1934 after tax evasion conviction.
  4. HISTORY — https://www.history.com/articles/al-capone
    Supports: Birth in Brooklyn and background details.