Al Capone’s Prison Cell #181 – Alcatraz Island Federal Penitentiary – San Francisco Bay, California

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Who Was Al Capone?

Alphonse Gabriel “Al” Capone, who was locked up in Cell #181 on Alcatraz Island, was a notorious American gangster who ran the Chicago Outfit during Prohibition. Capone was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1899. He began his career as a member of different street gangs in New York City. In 1919, he moved to Chicago and joined the criminal underworld there. He moved up quickly in the Outfit and took over as its leader in the early 1920s.

During the time of Prohibition, Capone ran a huge illegal business empire that included selling liquor, gambling, and prostitution. He became one of the richest and most powerful criminals of his time. He was known for his brutal methods and flamboyant personality. He was also well-liked by many Chicagoans because of the good things he did for others, especially for the poor.

Even though Capone did bad things, he was able to stay out of trouble for a long time. But at the end of the 1920s, the U.S. government worked harder to catch him. In 1931, he was found guilty of not paying income taxes and given 11 years in prison. He did his time in the federal prison in Atlanta and then on Alcatraz Island.

Even though Capone was a bad guy, his legacy lives on, and he is still one of the most well-known people from the Prohibition era. His story has been told in a lot of movies, TV shows, and books, and people are still interested in it today. Capone’s image and memory have been used as a cultural touchstone in many ways, making him a cultural icon of the 20th century in the United States.

Al Capone’s Prison Cell #181 on Alcatraz Island

Al Capone was among the most high-profile and notorious inmates to be housed at Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary during its operation as a maximum-security prison. He was admitted to the island prison in August of 1934, after serving time at Atlanta Federal Penitentiary for tax evasion. While at Alcatraz, Capone was held in Cellblock B, which was reserved for the prison’s most high-profile and dangerous inmates. His cell, number 181, was considered to be one of the most secure cells on the island.