If you often buy video and DVD discs, then you have probably seen a lot of films about the mafia. The trilogy "The Godfather", "Casino", and "Bugsy" became popular. Why are so many films made about these bandits? Who are the most famous gangsters of all time?
To get into this list, the gangster had to leave a noticeable mark in the history of the mafia. Most of the presented gangsters were engaged in their activities in America.
Number 10 - Vincent "The Chin" Gigante (1928 - 2005)
Vincent Gigante was born in New York in 1928. He was a man with a complex character: he left school in the ninth grade, after which he began to box. Won 21 of 25 light heavyweight fights. From the age of 17 he was in a criminal group, and at the age of 25 he was arrested for the first time.
As a member of the Genovese family, Gigante's first significant case was the assassination attempt on Frank Costello, but he missed. Despite this, his ascent in the Genovese family continued until he became first a godfather and, in the early 80s, a consoler (from Italian adviser).
After mafia boss Tony Salerno was convicted, Gigante became the boss. What made Gigante so famous? After avoiding jail by pretending to be insane in the late 60s, he continued to pose as insane, such as walking the streets of New York in a bathrobe. It is because of this fact that he received two more nicknames: "The Weird" and "King of Pajamas". It was only after his conviction for racketeering in 2003 that he admitted that everything was fine with his mental health.
Gigante died in prison on December 19, 2005 due to heart problems. Because of this, and thanks to his lawyers, he should have been released in 2010.
A film about him: Gigante's prototype was used for the television film Bonanno: A Godfather's Story ("Bonanno: The Godfather's Story", 1999), an episode of Law & Order ("Law and Order").
Number 9 - Albert Anastasia (1903 - 1957)
Albert Anastasia was born in Italy in 1903 and moved to America as a child. He was sentenced to 18 months for the murder of a longshoreman on the docks of Brooklyn (Sing Sing prison). He was released early due to the mysterious death of a witness. Albert Anastasia (aka "Lord Executioner" and "Mad Hatter") gained fame thanks to numerous murders, after which the Joe Masseria gang hired him. Anastasia was very devoted to Charlie "Lucky" Luciano, so he betrayed Masseria without any problems - he was one of four people sent to kill him in 1931.
In 1944, he became the leader of a group of assassins that even had its own name, Murder, Inc. Although Albert Anastasia was never prosecuted for the murders, his gang was involved in 400 to 700 murders. In the 50s, he became the leader of the Luciano family, but soon, in 1957, he was killed at the behest of Carlo Gambino.
Films about him: Albert's hero Anastasia was the main character in the movie Murder, Inc. (1960), with the participation of Peter Falk and Howard Smith (Anastasia), as well as in the films The Valachi Papers ("Valachchi Papers", 1972) and Lepke (1975).
Number 8 - Joseph Bonanno (1905 - 2002)
Joe Bananno was born in 1905 and grew up in Sicily, at the age of 15 he was left an orphan. During the fascist regime of Mussolini, when he turned 19, he left Italy and arrived in the United States via Cuba. He soon earned the nickname "Joey Bananas" and ended up in the Maranzano family. Before Luciano killed him, Maranzano formed a "Commission" that ruled over the mafia families in his homeland of Italy.
Bonanno amassed capital operating cheese factories, a tailoring business, and a funeral business. However, his plans to eliminate the leaders of other families were not destined to come true, because he was kidnapped and forced to retire 19 days later. He has never been convicted of any serious offence.
Films about him: Two films were made about him: Love, Honor & Obey: The Last Mafia Marriage ("Love, Honor and Obedience: The Last Mafia Alliance, 1993) starring Ben Gazarra and Bonanno: A Godfather" s Story ( Bonanno: The Godfather, 1999) with Martin Landau.
Number 7 - Dutch Schultz (1902 - 1935)
Arthur Flegenheimer, later known as Dutch Schultz, was born in 1092 in the Bronx. To impress boss and mentor Marcel Poffo, he organized crap games as a teenager. At the age of 17 he spent some time in prison for theft. He soon realized that the only way to make money was bootlegging (selling alcohol during Prohibition).
Wanting to become a member of the emerging syndicate, he made enemies in the person of Luciano and Capone. After he was to be convicted for another crime in 1933, he left for New Jersey. In 1935, after returning, he was killed by members of the Albert Anastasia group.
Films about him: Dustin Hoffman played a prominent role as Dutch Schultz in Billy Bathgate (1991), but he was even better played by Tim Roth in Hoodlum (Hooligan, 1997). In addition, we should recall the films Gangster Wars ("Gangster Wars", 1981), The Cotton Club ("Cotton Club", 1984) and The Natural (1984).
Number 6 - John Gotti (1940 - 2002)
Among the famous gangsters of New York, John Gotti is especially worth noting. He was born in 1940 in Brooklyn and has always been considered a smart guy. At the age of 16, he joined a street gang called the Fulton Rockaway Boys. He quickly became their leader, in the 60s the gang was engaged in car theft and petty theft, in the early 70s he became the godfather of the Bergin group - part of the Gambino family. Gotti was very ambitious and soon began dealing in drugs that were against the rules of the family.
As a result, Paul Castellano (mob boss) decided to expel Gotti from the organization. In 1985, Gotti and his henchmen killed Castellano, and Gotti became the head of the Gambino family. He was repeatedly tried to convict law enforcement agencies in New York, but the charges always failed. Due to the fact that he always looked presentable, and the media loved him, he received the nicknames "Elegant Don" and "Teflon Don". He was finally convicted of murder in 1992 and died of cancer in 2002.
Films about him: his character was played by Antonio John Denilson in the TV movie Getting Gotti ("Get to Gotti", 1994) and by Armand Assante in the movie Gotti ("Gotti", 1996). It should be noted films Witness to the Mob ("Mafia Witness", 1998) with Tom Sizemoor and The Big Heist ("Big Robbery", 2001).
Number 5 - Meyer Lansky (1902 - 1983)
Mayer Sachovlyansky was born in 1902 in Russia. At the age of 9 he moved to New York. Even when they were boys, he met Charles Luciano. Luciano wanted Lansky to give him protection money, but he refused. There was a fight, after which they became bosom friends. After some time, Lansky met Bugsy Segal. The trio became very friendly. Lansky and Segal formed the Bug and Meyer gang that would become Murder, Inc.
Initially, Lansky was involved in money and gambling in Florida, New Orleans and Cuba. He was Seagal's investor in a Las Vegas casino, and even bought an offshore bank in Switzerland in order to launder money. He was co-founder of the National Crime Syndicate and Council. However, business is never a private matter, and he was soon forced to kill Bugsy Segal because he stopped giving money to the Syndicate. Although he was racketeering gambling houses around the world, he did not spend a day in Lansky prison.
Films about him: not only Richard Dreyfuss played well in the HBO film Lansky (1999), but also Newman Roth in The Godfather Part II ("The Godfather 2", 1974), Mark Rydell in the film Havana ("Havana", 1990), Patrick Dempsey in Mobsters (1991) and Ben Kingsley in Bugsy (1991).
Number 4 - Frank Costello (1891 - 1973)
Francesco Castilla was born in 1891 in Italy and moved to the United States at the age of 4. At the age of 13, he joined a criminal gang and changed his name to Frank Costello. After serving time in prison, he became the best friend of Charlie Luciano. Together they engaged in bootlegging and gambling. Costello's strength was that he was a liaison between the Mafia and politicians, especially with Democratic party member Tammany Hall in New York, which allowed him to avoid persecution.
After the arrest of Luciano Costello became a man in law. His feud with Vito Genovese led to Genovese attempting to assassinate Costello in the mid-50s. Frank Costello retired peacefully and died quietly in 1973.
Films about him: the best role was played by James Andronika in the 1981 television project The Gangster Chronicles ("Gangster Chronicles"), as well as Costas Mandylor Mobsters ("Gangsters", 1991), Carmine Caridi in the film Bugsy (1991), and Jack Nicholson in film The Departed ("The Departed", 2006).
Number 3 - Carlo Gambino (1902 - 1976)
Carlo Gambino grew up in a family that has been part of an Italian mafia clan for several centuries. He began killing on demand at the age of 19. Since Mussolini was gaining strength at this time, Gambino immigrated to America, where his cousin Paul Costellano lived.
After the extradition of Luciano in the 40s, Albert Anastasia took his place. However, Gambino believed that this was his time and in 1957 ordered Anastasia to be killed. He appointed himself Boss of the family and held it in an iron fist until his natural death in 1976.
Films about him: Al Ruccio excellently played him in the film Boss of Bosses ("Boss of Bosses", 2001). Another image of Gambino could be seen in such films as Between Love & Honor ("Between Love and Honor", 1995), Gotti (1996) and Bonanno: A Godfather's Story ("Bonanno: The Godfather", 1999).
Number 2 - Charlie "Lucky" Luciano (1897 - 1962)
Salvatore Luciania was born in Sicily in 1897, and nine years later his family moved to New York. After a while, he joined the Five Points gang. For five years, his gang made money mainly on prostitution, Luciano controlled racketeering throughout Manhattan. After an unsuccessful attempt on his life in 1929, Luciano decided to form the National Crime Syndicate.
There was no rivalry, and by 1935 "Lucky" Luciano was known as the "Boss of Bosses" - not only in New York, but throughout the country. In 1936 he was sentenced to 30 to 50 years, but in 1946 he was released for good behavior on the condition that he leave the country and go to Italy. He had such a strong influence that during the Second World War, the US Navy turned to him for help to land in Italy. He died in 1962 as a result of a heart attack.
Movies about him: Christian Slater played him in "Gangsters" (1991), Bill Graham in "Bugsy" (1991) and Anthony LaPaglia in the TV movie "Lansky" (1999).
Number 1 - Al Capone (1899 - 1947)
If there was ever a gangster who deserved the knowledge of Number One, it is Al Capone. Alphonse Capone was born in 1899 in Brooklyn to a family of Italian immigrants. After a while, he joined the Five Points gang and became a bouncer. It was during this time that he earned the nickname "Scarface". In 1919 he moved to Chicago and working for Johnny Torrio, he quickly rose through the criminal hierarchy.
It was the time of prohibition, and Capone was engaged in prostitution, gambling and bootlegging. In 1925, when he was 26 years old, Capone became the head of the Torrio family and unleashed a family war. Known for his intelligence, as well as his pomp and attention, Capone was also notorious for his cruelty. It is worth recalling the massacre during the Valentine's Day concert in 1929, in which many heads of criminal gangs were killed. In 1931, IRS agent Eliot Nass arrested him for tax evasion.
Films about him: Many films have been made about Capone, the most famous of which are The St. Valentine's Day Massacre ("Massacre on Valentine's Day", 1967) starring Jason Robards, "Capone" (1975) with Ben Gazarra and The Untouchables ("The Untouchables", 1987) with Robert De Niro.
Worthy of Mention - Benjamin "Bugsy" Segal (1906 - 1947)
Benjamin Segal was born in 1906 in Brooklyn and soon met Meyer Lansky. He got the nickname "Bugsy" due to his unpredictable nature. However, by killing people for Charlie Luciano, he made many enemies, and in the late 30s he was forced to flee to Los Angeles, where he met many stars.
Shortly after the Nevada gambling laws were passed, he "borrowed" millions of dollars from the Syndicate and founded one of the first casino hotels in Las Vegas, the Flamingo. However, the business was not profitable, shortly after it was discovered in 1947 that he was simply stealing money from his friends, he was killed.
Films about him: the best actors who played Capone were Warren Beatty ("Bugsy" (1991) and Armand Assante The Marrying Man ("The Married Man", 1991).
Of course, these people were not saints, but we cannot but admire the influence they had in their time. Now you know who was who in the underworld. Stay out of trouble, nerds ;).
The article was written specifically for
The style of the 20s of the XX century is also called gangster style or Chicago style.. Why did the city of Chicago give the name to the style of a whole decade and these gangsters are gangsters? After all, there are many nobler professions in the world. And hats and raincoats were worn by men in any city from the 1920s to the 1950s.
With what gangster style and their girlfriends was different from the style of other people of the 20s of the twentieth century?
The fact is that with such chic as gangsters, no one else wore clothes! Gangsters were the most fashionable and stylish men of the twenties.
And the fighting girlfriends of gangsters, gangster moll, corresponded to them. Dear, daring, risky girls in diamonds and hats.
Gangsters, the elite of the underworld, had their own dress code:
Long coat with turned up collar.
Fedora hat, worn on one side.
A fabulously expensive watch.
Diamonds on rings, tie clips, cufflinks and belt buckles.
Dozens of expensive three-piece suits and shirts fit flawlessly. The fabric for the suits was selected with a silky sheen - no carelessness in the image and "tired" fabric.
Brogues - shoes with perforation, polished to a shine.
White gloves and a cane with a head.
Luxury cars, houses, interiors.
Gangsters were, first and foremost, bandits. They knew that their lives were short. They themselves shot competitors during the "showdown" between the clans. Mafia!
Most of the gangsters were immigrants. For example, Cosa Nostra are Sicilians. They grew up in poverty and destitution and remembered well how they looked at the rich, angry and envious.
Remember how in the movie "Scarface" the skinned and poor Al Pacino hoarsely and gloomily says to his friend, looking at the rich gentleman:
"Look how dressed ... With what taste ... A chic car and a beautiful girl next to me ..." He dreamed of being the rich man's place. Walk in a luxurious suit, tailored to order. To carry in a car (which had just appeared and were expensive, like a private plane now) a beauty.
But he had no money then! But there was a dream. And he did everything to make his dream come true! But what options did uneducated emigrants have to get rich quick?.. A direct road to the underworld! Here are some disgusting faces: talking! :)
Gang leaders did not engage in "low" deeds - petty theft and fraud. They worked big.
Gangsters dreamed of a luxurious life. And if they weren't killed, they strove to live their short and dangerous life as brightly and richly as possible!
Who are gangsters and why did they appear?
Prohibition was introduced in the United States in 1919. For what reason?
Officials were guided by the best intentions. There was a war and post-war time, which means:
1. The country needed sober workers to carry out military orders.
2. It is unpatriotic to turn bread into alcohol. Alcohol is made from grain. And the grain was used for bread, not for drinking.
3. Most of the distilleries and breweries were owned by the Germans (enemies!).
4. At the beginning of the 20th century, more and more cars appeared. And drunk drivers got into accidents, injuring themselves and other people.
5. Alcohol destroys morality, causes domestic violence, fatherlessness, poverty and crime. And in bars, prostitution and gambling reigns! This is so immoral!
But the road to hell was paved with good intentions. Or rather, the road to underground drinking establishments, because all the official ones closed after the introduction of Prohibition.
Pictured is Robert De Niro, who played bootlegger Noodles in Once Upon a Time in America. The heroes of the film got rich in the alcohol trade, were gangsters, killed and robbed. Their friends kept brothels. Bad Boys!
Professions such as a bootlegger (alcohol smuggler) appeared - one who transported alcohol from other countries, and the cost of each bottle increased tenfold for the buyer. Smugglers made very good money on this - it was organized crime.
The moonshiner profession appeared. And the distilleries began to literally go underground - some were located at a depth of 80 meters underground. Water was obtained from the pipes of the city water utility. Connected to it, of course, illegally.
But the effect of the introduction of Prohibition turned out to be quite the opposite: instead of the desired reduction in the number of alcoholics to zero (alcohol could not be produced and sold), the number of alcoholics and drinking establishments tripled during the three years of Prohibition!
Instead of "cleansing society", the dry law provoked corruption!
"Due to their personal hatred of Prohibition, the residents tolerated murderers and racketeers for years. They felt compassion for those who broke the Prohibition. Criminals and crimes became popular. Killers became heroes. But the law is repealed and the killers must go with it!" (from the movie "Manhattan melodrama"). In the photo - Clark Gable, a gangster from the film.
Prohibition under public pressure was repealed in 1933.
But still, why did the image of a gangster give the name to the style of the twenties?
Gangsters are entrepreneurs who make huge money from bootlegging and smuggling. Gangster is a bad boy. He is bloodthirsty for those who cross his path, carries a revolver, and not alone.
He is outside the law - supplies alcohol to mere mortals. Those whom the state deprived of alcohol (that is, a holiday, joy) by the introduction of "dry law".
On the one hand, he is a smuggler, a robber and a delinquent.
But on the other hand, it is a supplier of happiness (which for many is a bottle of alcohol) and a guard on the path of freedom. After all, America is theoretically a free country. But what kind of freedom can we talk about if there was a ban on the sale of alcohol for thirteen years? In the eyes of drinking Americans, this was an act of restriction of freedom and the choice "To drink or not to drink." After all, after the introduction of Prohibition, Americans began to drink more than before!
There are many foreign borrowed words in Russian speech, and this becomes the reason that for many they are incomprehensible. These include such a term as "gangster", which in the modern world is not used as often as in the 20-40s.
Gangster - who is it?
In the twentieth century, street gangs appeared in America, which were called gangs. To clarify belonging to a gang, an ending was added to the word and the word gangster was obtained. The history of their appearance began in 1919, when a law was passed in America prohibiting the production and sale of alcoholic beverages, which provoked the emergence of underground activities.
To understand who this gangster is, one should mention the most significant person of that time - Al Capone, who controlled the black market for alcohol. Over time, polygamy gangs arose, which were responsible for different areas, for example, the sale of weapons, prostitution, and so on. Groupings constantly fought with each other, trying to become the main ones.
What does a gangster look like?
The gangster style is popular for holding various parties, as their image is associated with luxury and pathos, and this is always “expensive”. There are several important nuances that will help create a complete image. For those who are interested in how gangsters dress, it is worth knowing that the basis of the image is a classic suit with a thin strip of dark tones. Under the jacket, they wore a waistcoat and a classic satin or silk shirt.
An important detail is a silk tie, which must certainly be shiny. Women chose short dresses embroidered with fringe or sequins. Finding out who a gangster is, one should also indicate the most popular accessory - a hat with a wide brim and a crease, and they also wore a silk scarf or scarf-muffler. Suitable shoes for this look are oxfords or brogues. Complete the look with gold jewelry, such as cufflinks and a massive watch.
Women gangsters
It is a mistake to believe that only representatives of the stronger sex were included in the mafia clans, since women are known in history, whose names were known at that time in many countries. The famous gangsters of the United States became the heroes of films, so a vivid example is Bonnie Parker, who was the female half of the famous duo "Bonnie and Clyde". They were engaged in robbing banks and died during a shootout.
Another famous female gangster is Stephanie St. Clair, who was called "Queenie". She opened her own underground lottery, and then forced out the leaders of important gangs, taking their place. A well-known representative of gangster circles is Opal "Mc-Truck" Long, who at first simply looked after her husband's accomplices, and after his arrest she moved to more active actions.
gangster code
To become part of the family of gangsters, newcomers pass tests that test their qualities. After that, they are obliged to live according to the law of male honor (omerta). Gangster laws include the rule of silence, meaning no one should know who is in the clan. In the event of a violation of a person and his family, death awaited. The code states that all mafia members must help each other in any situation.
There was a certain hierarchy between the gangsters, and all members must necessarily obey the higher people in this ladder. To fully understand who a gangster is, you need to specify a few more principles of their code, so any encroachment on one of the members of the clan was considered a threat to all its members. Only the Mafia administers justice.
Gangsters and philanthropists
Even given the sinister image and dishonest deeds, gangsters are not banal bandits who attack everyone without exception. There are many examples in history when gang leaders did good deeds, helping people in need. The world of gangsters is diverse and filled with different situations. For example, one of the latest examples - the Japanese mafia provided active assistance to the victims of the earthquake. They sent about 70 trucks of humanitarian aid worth $500,000.
How to become a gangster?
In the modern world, such a term as "gangster" is practically not used and people who do not live by the law are simply called bandits or criminals. To become a part of the criminal world, you just need to commit a crime, but this does not mean that you can wear the title of "real gangster". As already mentioned, the groups of that time lived according to a certain code of honor and rules that were important to follow.
The most important thing for members of gangster gangs is discipline, because this is how the leaders determine the reliability of the “youngsters”. Mutual assistance and reliability are important qualities for gangsters, so if a person cannot boast of having them, then you should not count on participating in a gang. An additional plus are combat skills, and different directions are taken into account.
Facts about gangsters
There are some concepts used among members of the groups, for example, omerta - a code of silence, which implies a complete rejection of interaction with law enforcement agencies. Another term is vendetta, which means that the person who committed the murder of one of the clan members must die in retribution. The gangsters also had a certain hierarchy that helps to find out what powers each participant has.
- Newcomers after the initiation ritual became "private" who collected bets from street lottery players and proceeds from racketeering victims.
- The next step is "assistant", which is equivalent to the rank of junior officer in the army. People belonging to this category were a kind of link between the lower and higher castes, passing orders and doing more important work.
- The great gangsters certainly had a "deputy", who was appointed by the leader himself or he was chosen, if necessary, to carry out a special assignment.
- The next step is "adviser" and this was more considered an honorary title, which is awarded to an old and experienced authority. He gave advice and influenced the mafia ranks.
- At the head of any gang there was a leader who made all decisions and managed affairs.
The most famous gangsters
The film industry regularly releases films about the gangs of the time, such as The Godfather and Casino. In many films, the main characters are real people. Famous gangsters were active during their lifetime, were the head of various groups and left a significant mark on history. It is worth noting that they lived not only in America, but also in other countries.
In 2013, the first season of the American TV series Gangster City was released on TV screens. The director of this masterpiece is Frank Darabonta, known to many from the movie "The Walking Dead". In this tape, the main roles are played by Jon Bernthal, Edward Burns and many others. The series tells in detail about the life of America in the 40s, shows the viewer who the gangsters are, how they appeared and what they did. The main storyline is the confrontation between the police and criminal structures.
Deciphering the concept
For those who are not fond of watching such television products, but want to know who the gangsters are, this article is intended. As you know, our speech is filled with a huge number of borrowed words. The term "gangster" is one of them. This word came to us from the New World. Initially, street gangs (gangs of gangsters) appeared in America. They were called gangs. The word gangster helped to clarify belonging to a gang. In translation, it means "a person who is a member of a criminal gang in the United States in the 20-40s of the 20th century."
Alphonse Gabriel Capone
Residents of Chicago know firsthand who gangsters are. On the territory of the city at one time (in the early twenties of the twentieth century) one of the notorious "fathers" of the criminal business of the whole country lived. This man's name is Al Capone. Having moved with his family to Brooklyn from Naples, he brought his “zest” to the criminal structure of the United States, which was nurtured in him by the Italian mafia. The gangsters of his organized crime group were known for their brutality, quick execution and intransigence.
It is noteworthy that the main "white" business of Al Capone was the creation and restoration of furniture. However, bootlegging, pimping, selling drugs, weapons and gambling were hiding under such a mundane business.
It is noteworthy that it was thanks to this criminal authority that laundries appeared everywhere in America. In order to hide his income from a prohibited business, Al Capone ordered the construction of laundromats throughout the city. The price for services was set so minimal that these establishments became popular among all segments of the population. It was impossible to trace the number of visitors. Thus, the profit also remained unaccounted for. Thanks to this, Al Capone was able to hide his "dirty" amounts in the "net" income of laundries. Since that time, a stable expression has appeared - “money laundering”.
"Fathers" of the criminal world in life imprisonment
The story of the Alcatraz prison, where, in turn, Al Capone and many other gangsters spent several years of their lives, can also tell who the gangsters are. Located on an island off the coast of San Francisco, this institution was one of the most secure and reliable establishments of its kind in existence during its operation. Escape from here was almost impossible. That is why the most cruel and merciless criminal elements from all over the country were exiled here.
These, in addition to Al Capone, already known to us, include:
- George Kelly, nicknamed "Automaton" Kelly. He was sentenced to life in prison for murder, kidnapping and other mafia cases. At that time, this gangster was considered the first enemy of the American state.
- Roy Gardner is a famous gangster and thief. He got his “glory” by robbing trains. While serving his sentence, the mafioso wrote the book Infernal Alcatraz, in which he told his biography, and also described prison life and other criminal authorities.
Bandits of Chicago
In addition to the gangsters who served their sentences in one of the most severe federal prisons in America, other criminal personalities also entered the history. Among them is the Chicago mafia element Stanley Moore, nicknamed "The Inquisitor". His fame, like many other gangsters, was of dubious quality. He "earned his name" on the fact that unscrupulously and harshly "knocked out" debts from debtors. At the same time, he was also responsible for the execution of those people who in any way interfered with the "just cause" of the gang.
In addition to Americans, among the famous gangsters of America there were also immigrants from Asia. One of them was Mr. Singh. He had a special skill. He was brought in if it was necessary to present the murder as an accident due to poisoning. The Asian killer used rare oriental poisons in his profession.
Another fearsome authority of the time was a Chicago gangster nicknamed "The Bone Hand." Together with his assistants, he was engaged in the sale of drugs, gambling, "protection" of brothels and brothels, murders and robberies.
It is noteworthy that although these representatives of the criminal world lived almost a century ago (in the 20-40s of the 20th century), photos of Chicago gangsters are perfectly preserved in police bases and historical archives.
Gangsters are members of criminal organizations who make a living from robbery, racketeering, prostitution, drugs, and any other criminal activity that generates income. For decades, gangsters have built and continue to build their empires in all parts of the world in particular: in Europe, Asia, the USA and Latin America. Most of the famous gangsters have received wide publicity because of the severity of the crimes they have committed or because of the murders of famous people - politicians, high-ranking police officers. Here is a list of the 9 most notorious gangsters in history.
9 John Dillinger (June 22, 1903 - July 22, 1934)
Throughout his life, John Dillinger has been involved in criminal activity. His crimes include robbing about 25 banks and police stations in the United States, and killing several people in Chicago. During the Great Depression, his activities gained the greatest scope, at that time he was the most famous criminal in the country. He and his gang waged a bitter war against the FBI. Due to bank robberies and police killings, the FBI declared him "Public Enemy Number One" ( public enemy number one), a special group was created to capture him, which was engaged only in the search for Dillinger. Over time, all the members of his gang were killed, and he himself went on the run, In Chicago, his girlfriend betrayed him to the authorities and on June 22, 1934 he was ambushed at the cinema, which he was supposed to visit, John tried to resist and was wounded three times, fatal wound to the face.
8 Frank Costello (January 26, 1891 - February 18, 1973)
Known as the "Prime Minister of Crime," Frank Costello was a crime boss in Italian American organized crime that had great influence in the early part of the century in the United States, especially in New York. Costello's criminal career began in a gang led by Ciro Terranova. The Terranova group was part of an even more powerful gang of the Morello brothers. Later, he meets the more authoritative representatives of the underworld - Lucky Luciano and they quickly become business partners. Their interests included robbery, usury, extortion, smuggling, and illegal gambling. Over time, Frark becomes a major figure in the Sicilian mafia in New York. In May 1957, there was a completely unsuccessful assassination attempt on him, after which Costello decided to retire. He retained some gambling income as well as a legal business. Frank Costello died of a heart attack in 1973.
7 Arnold Rothstein (January 17, 1882 - November 4, 1928)
Businessman and player, American gangster Arnold Rothstein was the organizer of fixed matches in professional sports, the 1919 baseball championship scandal is especially famous, when he was accused of bribing athletes, but could not be proven. Known as "the brain" Rothstein is the father of one of the most infamous Jewish gangs in New York. He organized and was in charge of several casinos, and was also actively involved in smuggling along the Hudson River and the Great Lakes. On November 4, 1928, an assassination attempt was made on him at the Park Central Hotel, he was seriously wounded, from which Rothstein died the next day in the hospital. According to one version, the attempt was due to a large unpaid gambling debt.
6 Enoch Johnson (January 20, 1883 - December 9, 1968)
Enoch "Nucky" Johnson was the political boss who ran much of Atlantic City and New Jersey. His nickname "Nucky" came from his first name. Enoch was elected sheriff of Atlantic County, a position he held after the end of his term, until he was removed by court order. Due to his political position, Nucky Johnson created his own empire, the scope of which was smuggling, gambling and prostitution. At that time, Prohibition was not in force in Atlantic City, which led to the city's great popularity among Americans and, accordingly, increased Nucky's income. Johnson died on December 9, 1968.
5 Lucky Luciano (November 24, 1897 - January 26, 1962)
American gangster, Charles "Lucky" Luciano, is known as the father of modern organized crime in the United States, he alone is responsible for the division of influence in the country into five mafia families. At the beginning of his career as a member of the Italian gang, his list of activities included racketeering, robbery, drug dealing, organizing underground gambling houses, pimping, smuggling and many other types of criminal activities through which he could make a fortune and earn prestige. In 1929, he was stuffed into a car on the street and taken to one of the deserted highways near New York, these were people from a rival group. They hung him on a tree and began torturing him, trying to find out information about a cache of drugs, Luciano did not say a word. In the end, the bandits thought that he was dead and left him on the road with no signs of life. He was picked up by a passing patrol and taken to the hospital, where he received 55 stitches, after which his friend Meyer Lansky gave him the nickname "Lucky" (Eng. Lucky). Then his career went up and he became an influential mafia boss, the unspoken master of New York. In 1936, Lucky was sentenced to 30 to 50 years in prison for organizing a network of brothels. In 1942, he made a deal with the US government and participated in the operation in Sicily against Germany, for which he was released the same year. In 1962, he was invited to shoot a documentary about the mafia, but when meeting with the director, he had a heart attack, and he died on the way to the hospital.
4 Billy the Kid (November 23, 1859 - July 14, 1881)
Also known as Henry Antrim, Billy the Kid was a notorious mobster who committed his first murder at the age of 18. He was active in the second half of the 19th century in Lincoln County and was known for his unparalleled skill with weapons. In his entire life, he killed a little less than 30 people and stole several horses and cattle. Billy the Kid was shot dead on July 14, 1881 by Sheriff Pet Garrett at Fort Sumner, where he was hiding after escaping prison.
3 Al Capone (January 17, 1899 - January 25, 1947)
Al Capone, known as "Scarface", "Big Al", is an American gangster who devoted his life to smuggling alcohol and protecting brothels and prostitutes. At a very young age, he became a member of Paolo Vaccarelli's famous New York City Five Points gang, better known as Paul Kelly, who engaged in various types of criminal activities. Due to his large size, he became a bouncer in a billiards club, where he was stabbed in the face by one of the visitors for an unflattering remark about his wife, after which the famous scar was left on his face. Because of his involvement in two murders, he was forced to move to Chicago, where he joined the gang of "Big" Jim Colosimo, who ran several brothels. In which he became the boss after several gang wars. In July 1931, Capone was sentenced to 11 years in prison for tax evasion, after which, in 1934, he was transferred to the famous Alcatraz prison, from where he came out terminally ill with syphilis, which he had been ill with to one degree or another all his adult life. Capone died of pneumonia on January 25, 1947, 4 days after suffering a stroke.
2 Jesse James (September 5, 1847 - April 3, 1882)
The leader of the gang, who organized several bank and train robberies and murders, Jesse Woodson James, one of the most famous gangsters of the 19th century, embodied many times in movies and games. At that time, he was considered a kind of Robin Hood of the Wild West, robbing the rich for the benefit of the poor, which was not true, all the loot was intended only for Jesse and his gang. Jesse James was killed by Robert Ford on April 3, 1882. Ford shot him in the back as Jesse turned to fix a painting on the wall.
1 Pablo Escobar (December 1, 1949 - December 2, 1993)
Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar controlled a huge drug empire from 1976 to 1993 and killed thousands of people around the world. He led one of the most powerful and feared criminal organizations in history, the Medellin Cocaine Cartel. His gangs consisted of soldiers and notorious criminals and controlled 80% of the US cocaine industry. He created a group of hired killers to kill policemen and officials who did not take bribes and interfered with his business. Crime rates in Colombia skyrocketed during Escobar's tenure. In the early 90s, Pablo was considered one of the richest people on the planet, his fortune was estimated at $ 30 billion. With the assistance of the United States, which wanted to stop the flow of drugs, the Colombian authorities launched a massive attack on all areas of the cartel's activities. Because of what Pablo went on the run. On December 2, 1993, Pablo called his family home, the call was traced and the house where he was hiding was soon surrounded. As a result of the operation to capture Pablo Escobar was killed.
