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CONVICTION

Although Capone had been able to operate illegally yet

discreetly for years under the protection of bribery and corruption,

a determined group of men eventually did take him down.
 

Although Capone did conduct a lot of illegal activity, such as gambling, prostitution, racketeering, and primarily bootlegging and operating speakeasies (illegal clubs during Prohibition that would sell liquor), he was able to stay out of jail by playing it safe. He didn't stick his neck out too far, he made sure that he couldn't be traced back from his crimes. One man, Eliot Ness,  was determined to bring Capone to justice. No one had been able to provide enough evidence to charge Capone, but Ness was convinced he could if he dug far enough. He and a group of men deemed The Untouchables were working hard to bring him down, but they wouldn't be tricked by bribery or corruption, like many others. A breakthrough moment revealed that they could nab Capone on tax evasion charges, even though he listed that he had no legit source of income, income by any means could be taxed. They were able to get the charges through, and a trial was held to take Capone in.

Before his trial in 1931, Capone went to the jury of his case in an attempt to bribe them to turn up with the verdict of not guilty. The Untouchables did however, find out about Capone's intentions, and quickly put a stop to it. When the trial date came, Ness had switched the jury with one from another case. On the 17th of October, the jury found him guilty on multiple counts of tax evasion. He received an eleven year sentence, the longest on record for tax evasion charges. He also received fine after fine, as well as having several properties and possessions confiscated, such as an armored limousine. He was first sent to Atlanta Penitentiary, and later to Lincoln Heights. At both, he was able to receive special treatment due to his special connections. He was still able to manage his business from inside prison, as well as live in a lavish cell. But, when the new prison of Alcatraz was opened, he was transferred there, where his contact with the outside world was cut short. In 1933, Prohibition ended,  and his main source of income from bootlegging dried out, as well as his power.  Capone served his term for years, until the neurosyphilis he had, a disease contracted by untreated syphilis, reached it's worst stage. His mental health had diminished greatly, and he was released to his Florida mansion in 1939. In 1947, he suffered a stroke. He died the next day from cardiac arrest, on January 25 1947.

 

Al Capone

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America's most infamous gangster

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1899-1947

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