Among the most famous gangsters of all time are individuals such as Al Capone, John Gotti, Charles “Lucky” Luciano, and Meyer Lansky. These figures were the architects of some of the most formidable criminal organizations in history, exerting their influence over vast territories and amassing great wealth and power.
1. Al Capone
A photo of Al Capone by Chicago Bureau (Federal Bureau of Investigation) – Wide World Photos – Wikimedia commons
Al Capone was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1899, and grew up in a rough neighborhood. He dropped out of school in the sixth grade and started his life of crime at a young age. Capone became involved in organized crime in Chicago during the 1920s and quickly rose through the ranks to become the boss of the Chicago Outfit. He became a millionaire by the age of 26 and was known for his lavish lifestyle, including fancy cars, expensive clothes, and a large mansion.
Capone was responsible for numerous violent crimes, including murder, bootlegging, and extortion. He was famously arrested for tax evasion in 1931 and was sentenced to 11 years in prison. He served most of his sentence at Alcatraz, where he was known for his attempts to bribe and intimidate prison guards. Capone suffered from syphilis, which caused him to suffer from physical and mental health problems later in life. He died of a heart attack in 1947 at the age of 48. Capone is still a well-known figure in American popular culture, with numerous movies, books, and TV shows inspired by his life and legacy. He was nicknamed “Scarface” due to a prominent scar on his face, which he received in a bar fight.
2. John Gotti
John Gotti was born in the Bronx, New York, in 1940, and grew up in poverty in a rough neighborhood. He became involved in organized crime at a young age and quickly rose through the ranks of the Gambino crime family. Gotti was known for his flamboyant personality and extravagant lifestyle, including designer suits, expensive cars, and frequent trips to Atlantic City. He became the boss of the Gambino crime family in 1985 after ordering the assassination of the previous boss, Paul Castellano.
Gotti was known as the “Teflon Don” because of his ability to evade prosecution. He was acquitted of several charges, including murder and racketeering, in highly publicized trials. However, Gotti’s luck ran out in 1992 when he was convicted of murder, racketeering, and other crimes. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole. While in prison, Gotti’s health declined, and he was diagnosed with throat cancer. He died in 2002 at the age of 61.
Gotti’s son, John Gotti Jr., also became involved in organized crime and was the acting boss of the Gambino crime family for a brief period in the early 2000s. Gotti is still a well-known figure in American popular culture, with numerous movies, TV shows, and books inspired by his life and legacy. He was known for his loyalty to his family and his code of silence, known as the “omertà,” which is a strict code of conduct that forbids members of the mafia from cooperating with law enforcement.
3. Lucky Luciano
Lucky Luciano was born Salvatore Lucania in 1897 in Sicily, Italy, and immigrated to the United States with his family when he was a child. He grew up in poverty and turned to a life of crime at a young age. He quickly rose through the ranks of the Italian-American Mafia, also known as the Cosa Nostra. Luciano is considered the father of the modern organized crime. He restructured the Mafia by creating a national commission to oversee all Mafia activities in the United States, and he is credited with inventing the “five families” system in New York City.
Luciano was known for his business acumen and his ability to negotiate with other criminal organizations. He was also known for his violence and ruthlessness, and he was responsible for numerous murders during his criminal career. Luciano was arrested and convicted on prostitution charges in 1936 and was sentenced to 30 to 50 years in prison. However, he was released from prison in 1946 and deported to Italy as part of a deal with the U.S. government. While in Italy, Luciano became involved in the drug trade and continued to have influence over the American Mafia from abroad.
Luciano died of a heart attack in Naples, Italy, in 1962 at the age of 64. He is still a legendary figure in American organized crime, and numerous movies, books, and TV shows have been inspired by his life and legacy. Luciano is also known for his contributions to the Allied war effort during World War II. He provided intelligence to the U.S. government and helped the Allies with their invasion of Sicily.
Luciano’s legacy is controversial, and opinions about him are divided. Some see him as a brilliant strategist who modernized the Mafia, while others view him as a ruthless criminal who profited from violence and exploitation.
4. Meyer Lansky
Meyer Lansky was born in 1902 in Grodno, which was then part of the Russian Empire (now Belarus), and immigrated to the United States with his family as a child. He grew up in New York City and became involved in organized crime at a young age, working as a bootlegger during Prohibition. Lansky was known for his intelligence and business acumen. He was a key figure in the development of the National Crime Syndicate, which was a network of criminal organizations that controlled organized crime in the United States.
Lansky was a close associate of Charles “Lucky” Luciano, and the two men worked together to modernize and restructure the American Mafia. Lansky was involved in various criminal activities, including gambling, drug trafficking, and money laundering. He was also suspected of involvement in numerous murders. Lansky was arrested numerous times throughout his career, but he was able to avoid conviction on most charges.
He retired from organized crime in the 1970s and moved to Israel, where he lived until his death in 1983. Lansky was a philanthropist and donated money to various charities, including Israeli causes and medical research. He was the subject of numerous investigations by law enforcement agencies throughout his life, and his activities inspired several books, movies, and TV shows. Lansky’s legacy is controversial, with some viewing him as a criminal mastermind who helped build the American Mafia, while others see him as a ruthless gangster who profited from violence and exploitation.
5. Carlo Gambino
Carlo Gambino was born in 1902 in Palermo, Sicily, and immigrated to the United States with his family as a child. He grew up in Brooklyn, New York, and became involved in organized crime as a young man. Gambino was known for his intelligence and strategic thinking. He was a key figure in the development of the American Mafia and was considered one of its most powerful bosses. Gambino was involved in various criminal activities, including gambling, loan sharking, and extortion. He was also suspected of involvement in numerous murders.
Gambino was known for his low profile and was rarely seen in public. He preferred to operate behind the scenes and was known for his ability to keep his organization disciplined and organized. He was arrested several times throughout his career but was able to avoid conviction on most charges. Gambino was the head of the Gambino crime family from 1957 until his death in 1976.
He was succeeded by his underboss, Paul Castellano, who was later murdered by John Gotti in a power struggle. Gambino’s legacy is controversial, with some viewing him as a master criminal who built a powerful criminal empire, while others see him as a ruthless gangster who profited from violence and exploitation. Gambino’s name has become synonymous with organized crime, and he is often referenced in popular culture, including movies, TV shows, and books, as a symbol of the American Mafia’s influence and power.
6. Sam Giancana
Sam Giancana was born in 1908 in Chicago, Illinois, and grew up in the city’s Little Italy neighborhood. He became involved in organized crime as a young man, working as a hitman and enforcer for the Chicago Outfit. Giancana rose through the ranks of the organization and became its boss in the late 1950s. He was known for his intelligence and business acumen, and he was involved in various criminal activities, including gambling, loan sharking, and extortion. He was also suspected of involvement in numerous murders.
Giancana had close ties to the CIA and was allegedly involved in numerous plots to assassinate foreign leaders, including Fidel Castro. He was arrested several times throughout his career but was able to avoid conviction on most charges. Giancana was forced out of his position as the head of the Chicago Outfit in the early 1960s after he was implicated in a conspiracy to rig the 1960 presidential election in favor of John F. Kennedy.
He went into exile in Mexico for several years before returning to the United States in the late 1970s. Giancana was murdered in his home in Chicago in 1975. The case remains unsolved, but it is believed that he was killed by the Chicago Outfit to prevent him from revealing information about the organization to law enforcement. Giancana’s legacy is controversial, with some viewing him as a master criminal who built a powerful criminal empire, while others see him as a ruthless gangster who profited from violence and exploitation.
7. Vito Genovese
Vito Genovese was born in 1897 in Risigliano, a small town in the Campania region of Italy. He immigrated to the United States with his family in 1913. Genovese became involved in organized crime as a young man and quickly rose through the ranks of the Italian-American Mafia. He was involved in various criminal activities, including gambling, loan sharking, and extortion. He was also suspected of involvement in numerous murders.
Genovese was a key figure in the development of the American Mafia and was considered one of its most powerful bosses. He was known for his cunning and strategic thinking, as well as his ruthless approach to dealing with rivals. Genovese was arrested numerous times throughout his career but was able to avoid conviction on most charges. He was implicated in the murder of Dutch Schultz, a rival gangster, in 1935.
Genovese fled to Italy during World War II to avoid prosecution for a drug trafficking charge. While in Italy, he made connections with the Sicilian Mafia and began working to expand his influence in the United States. Genovese returned to the United States in the 1940s and continued to expand his criminal empire. He was eventually arrested and convicted on drug trafficking charges in 1959. Genovese died in prison in 1969 at the age of 71. He is remembered as one of the most powerful and feared mobsters in American history.
8. Bugsy Siegel
Bugsy Siegel was born in 1906 in Brooklyn, New York, and grew up in a poor Jewish family. He became involved in organized crime as a young man and quickly became known for his violent temper and ruthless approach to dealing with rivals. Siegel was a key figure in the development of the American Mafia, and he played a major role in the establishment of organized crime in Las Vegas.
In the 1940s, Siegel was sent to California to oversee the development of a new gambling resort in Las Vegas, which would later become the Flamingo Hotel and Casino. The project was plagued by cost overruns and delays, and Siegel’s partners became frustrated with his management style. Siegel was eventually murdered in 1947 at the age of 41, and the case remains unsolved to this day. It is believed that he was killed by his own associates, who were unhappy with the way he had handled the Flamingo project.
Siegel was known for his flashy lifestyle and love of Hollywood glamour. He was often seen socializing with movie stars and other celebrities. Siegel was also involved in various criminal activities, including extortion, gambling, and bootlegging. He had a reputation for being a womanizer, and he was known for his relationships with several high-profile actresses and socialites. Siegel’s legacy is controversial, with some viewing him as a charismatic visionary who helped transform Las Vegas into a major tourist destination, while others see him as a violent criminal who profited from exploitation and violence.
9. Tony Accardo
Tony Accardo was born in Chicago in 1906 and grew up in the city’s Little Italy neighborhood. He dropped out of school in the eighth grade and began working as a messenger for the Chicago Outfit. Accardo quickly rose through the ranks of the organization and became a trusted lieutenant of Al Capone, one of the most notorious gangsters in American history. Accardo was involved in various criminal activities, including gambling, bootlegging, and extortion. He was also suspected of involvement in numerous murders.
Accardo became the boss of the Chicago Outfit in 1947, following the death of his predecessor, Frank Nitti. He held this position for more than 20 years, until his retirement in 1972. Accardo was known for his intelligence, cunning, and discretion. He was a master of behind-the-scenes manipulation and was able to avoid attracting the attention of law enforcement for much of his career.
Despite his reputation as a ruthless mob boss, Accardo was also known for his philanthropy and was involved in various charitable causes throughout his life. Accardo maintained a low profile and rarely gave interviews or appeared in public. He was known for his aversion to publicity and his ability to keep a low profile. Accardo died in 1992 at the age of 86. He is remembered as one of the most powerful and influential mobsters in American history, and his legacy continues to be the subject of fascination and speculation.
10. Frank Costello
Frank Costello was born in Francesco Castiglia on January 26, 1891. He was a prominent member of the Luciano crime family, which later became known as the Genovese crime family. Costello was known for his intelligence and his ability to avoid violence, preferring to use his wit and negotiating skills to resolve disputes. He was considered the “Prime Minister” of the American Mafia, acting as an advisor to other bosses and exerting significant influence over organized crime in the United States.
Costello played a key role in the establishment of the National Crime Syndicate, a confederation of organized crime groups that controlled a wide range of criminal activities, including gambling, prostitution, and bootlegging. He was also involved in politics and had close connections to several politicians, including President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Costello was a target of Senator Estes Kefauver’s investigations into organized crime in the 1950s, but he managed to avoid prosecution.
In 1957, Costello survived an assassination attempt by rival gangster Vito Genovese, who was trying to take over the Luciano crime family. Costello retired from his criminal activities in the 1950s and lived a relatively quiet life until his death in 1973.
11.Dean O’Banion
Dean O’Banion was an Irish-American mobster and the leader of the North Side Gang in Chicago during the Prohibition era. Born in 1892, O’Banion was involved in various criminal activities, including bootlegging and racketeering. He ran the Schofield Flower Shop, which served as a front for his illegal operations.
O’Banion’s criminal career was marked by his clashes with rival gangs, particularly the South Side Gang led by Johnny Torrio and later Al Capone. His notoriety and cunning earned him a reputation as a skilled gangster. However, his criminal ventures came to an end when he was assassinated in 1924, believed to be orchestrated by Capone.
12.Joey Merlino
Born in 1962, Joey Merlino is an American mobster associated with the Philadelphia crime family. Known as “Skinny Joey,” he became the boss of the family in the 1990s. Merlino was involved in various criminal enterprises, including racketeering, illegal gambling , and loan sharking.
His leadership was marked by a flamboyant and ostentatious lifestyle, which drew both law enforcement and media attention. Merlino faced multiple legal troubles throughout his career, including racketeering charges and a prison sentence. Despite this, he remained a prominent figure in organized crime during the late 20th century.
13.Joe Gallo
Joe Gallo , also known as “Crazy Joe,” was an Italian-American mobster associated with the Colombo crime family. Born in 1929, Gallo gained notoriety for his involvement in various criminal activities, including racketeering and labor union corruption. He was a key figure in the Profaci crime family’s internal power struggles during the 1960s.
Gallo’s aggressive and unpredictable behavior earned him the nickname “Crazy Joe.” His criminal career came to a violent end when he was shot and killed in a Manhattan restaurant in 1972, marking one of the more infamous mob hits of that era.
14.Mickey Cohen
Mickey Cohen was a Jewish-American mobster who operated in Los Angeles during the mid-20th century. Born in 1913, Cohen was involved in various criminal activities, including illegal gambling, drug trafficking, and racketeering. He became a prominent figure in the West Coast underworld and was associated with the Chicago Outfit.
Cohen’s criminal empire thrived during the post-World War II era, and he became known for his flamboyant lifestyle and connections to Hollywood celebrities. Despite his criminal success, Cohen faced multiple legal issues and spent time in prison. He died in 1976.
15.Frank Nitti
Frank Nitti , born in 1886, was an Italian-American mobster and a top enforcer for Al Capone’s Chicago Outfit during the Prohibition era. Nitti played a significant role in the Outfit’s illegal activities, including bootlegging, racketeering, and labor union infiltration.
After Capone’s imprisonment, Nitti briefly took over the Outfit’s leadership but faced increased law enforcement scrutiny. Nitti was charged with tax evasion in 1931, following the downfall of Capone, but before he could face trial, he died by suicide in 1943.
16.Henry Hill
Henry Hill was a former mobster associated with the Lucchese crime family in New York City. Born in 1943, Hill became infamous for his involvement in criminal activities such as racketeering, drug trafficking, and robbery. He gained widespread recognition after becoming an FBI informant and testifying against his former associates, which later inspired the book and film “Goodfellas.” Hill’s life in the witness protection program was marked by struggles with substance abuse, and he continued to face legal troubles until his death in 2012.
17.James Coonan
James Coonan, known as “Jimmy C,” was an Irish-American mobster and the boss of the Westies, an Irish-American gang in Hell’s Kitchen, New York City, during the 1970s and 1980s. Coonan was involved in various criminal activities, including loan sharking, racketeering, and drug trafficking.
His gang had a reputation for violence and was involved in a brutal war with the Italian-American Mafia for control of organized crime in the area. Coonan was eventually convicted on racketeering charges in 1986 and sentenced to 75 years in prison.
18.Machine Gun Kelly
Machine Gun Kelly, born George Kelly Barnes in 1895, was an American gangster during the Prohibition era. He gained notoriety for his involvement in various criminal activities, including bootlegging and armed robbery.
Kelly earned his nickname due to his use of a Thompson submachine gun during his criminal endeavors. In 1933, he and his wife were involved in the kidnapping of oil tycoon Charles Urschel, leading to federal charges. Kelly was eventually captured, convicted, and spent the remainder of his life in prison until his death in 1954.
19.Mad Dog Coll
Vincent “Mad Dog” Coll was an Irish-American mobster in New York City during the Prohibition era. Born in 1908, Coll was associated with various criminal organizations, including Dutch Schultz’s gang.
Known for his violent and erratic behavior, Coll gained the nickname “Mad Dog.” He was involved in bootlegging and labor union corruption. Coll’s criminal career came to a violent end when he was assassinated in 1932, likely in retaliation for his involvement in the murder of a rival gang member.
20.Stefano Magaddino
Stefano Magaddino was an Italian-American mobster and the longtime boss of the Buffalo crime family. Born in 1891, Magaddino played a significant role in organized crime in Western New York. He was involved in various criminal activities, including racketeering, labor union corruption, and gambling. Magaddino maintained a low profile, avoiding the media and law enforcement attention. His leadership of the Buffalo crime family lasted for several decades, making him one of the more enduring figures in American organized crime. Magaddino died of a heart attack in 1974, and his family’s influence in the region gradually declined in the following years.
As organized crime continues to evolve, the legacies of these individuals serve as a reminder of the enduring impact of their actions on American history and culture. Their stories, filled with intrigue and danger, provide a lens through which we can better understand the complexities and consequences of organized criminal enterprises in the United States.
English
