Up Close & Peculiar With Al Capone

Al Capone was one of the most feared gangsters in history. But what led him to his life of crime?

Scarface

Capone started his criminal career in New York, where he was part of the notorious Five Points gang. Believe It or Not!, New York is also when he received the scar on his face that earned him the famous nickname, Scarface. 

Around 1920, about when prohibition started, he packed up to join one of his previous gang members in Chicago, so he could help his friend take advantage of the new illegal brewing business. Only a few years later, the leader of the gang stepped down, and Capone took his place.

Despite all his criminal activities, Capone tried to come off very friendly to the public. He presented himself as a regular businessman, concerned for the well-being of those that lived in his Chicago neighborhood. 

The Truth is Taxing

With all the illegal bars and illegal gambling and illegal murder he was doing, you would think that’s what eventually landed him in jail, right? Nope! Capone's downfall actually came from tax evasion.

After years of investigation by the FBI and Treasury agents, Capone was convicted of tax evasion in 1931, and sentenced to 11 years in federal prison.

The Downfall

During his time in prison, Capone's health severely declined. He was released in 1939, with his doctors at the time citing that, because of his disease, he had the mental capacity of a 12-year-old. He spent the last years of his life in Florida, where he died when he was just 48.

Do YOU want to get Up Close with Al Capone's spoon? Visit Ripley's Believe It or Not! San Antonio to see it yourself!