Gangsters have always been a topic of media portrayal. Movies and television try to capture the life and the mystery that revolves around a gangster. Growing up in India, we have all heard about the D-company, however there are so many terrifying gangsters around the world who will send shivers down your spine.
1. At 14, Al Capone attacked a female teacher and is believed to be responsible behind the St. Valentine’s Day massacre!
Born in 1899, Alphonso Gabriel Capone grew up showing signs of sociopathic behaviour. At the tender age of 14, he attacked a female teacher in school. He initially became involved with small-time gangs that included the Junior Forty Thieves and the Bowery Boys. He was mentored by John Torrio in Chicago.
Through gambling, smuggling, prostitution, he became one of the richest mobsters In America. He was labeled as “modern-day Robin Hood” because of his donations to various charities.
However, it is said that Al Capone was responsible for the Saint Valentine’s Day Massacre where 7 men were killed in broad daylight. That’s when people demanded governmental action and tagged him as Public Enemy No. 1. The movie Scarface was based on his life.
2. Pablo Escobar was responsible for 80% of cocaine smuggled into the United States! Rats ate $1 billion of his profits each other because he had no place to stash his money!
If you have seen Narcos, Pablo Escobar’s name would not sound new to you. The leader of one of the most notorious Columbian Drug Cartel, he was responsible for about 80% of cocaine smuggled into the United States. His ambition and ruthlessness made him kill thousands of people.
He killed police men who were in pursuit of him. He too was called the Robin Hood because of his donations to expand the social programs for the poor. It is said that he had so much cash stashed that every year almost $1 billion of his profits were eaten by rats.
3. George Clarence was believed to be demented. He killed his rival’s bodyguard, crushed his testicles, castrated him and sent his parts!
One of the deadliest enemies of Al Capone, George Clarence nicknamed Bugsy was considered demented. He enjoyed violence and was a complete sadist. His way of dealing with people involved gunshots and death only.
He kidnapped Capone’s bodyguard, hung him upside down, burned his eyes with cigarette, crushed his testacles, castrated him and sent the remains to Capone. He also killed Capone’s best friend Pasquialion Lolordo. He killed his rivals and the ordinary people too.
4. Lucky Luciano, the father of modern organized crime!
Known as the father of modern organized crime in the United States, Lucky Luciano was the head of the Genovese crime family. He was responsible for splitting the country into five families.
He played and instrumental role in the development of the National Crime Syndicate in the United States. He established the first commission and his goals with the commission were to quietly maintain his own power over all the families, and to prevent future gang wars.
5. Frank Costello, the Prime Minister of the Underworld was never proven guilty!
Nicknamed “Prime Minister of the Underworld”, he became one of the most influential and powerful mob masses in American history. He met Lucky Luciano and the two immediately became friends.
After Luciano was sent to prison, Costello became the acting boss of the Luciano crime family. He took crime to new heights. He was so smart in hiding his tracks that the police were never able to prove his crimes.
He lived a long, happy life without Karma hitting him back for his criminal activities!
6. James Whitey Bulger, one of the FBI’s top 10 most wanted fugitives!
One of the FBI’s top 10 most wanted fugitives, James Whitey Bulger dedicated his life to leading protection racket which he himself organized. He chased and killed drug lords and illegal gamblers. He made a point of only preying upon criminals, as opposed to legitimate people. He operated much like Robin Hood.
7. Dawood Ibrahim, the leader of the Indian organised crime syndicate. The man behind Mumbai bombings.
One of the most dangerous and infamous criminals of this century, Dawood Ibrahim is the founder of D-company and is the leader of the Indian organised crime syndicate.
He is believed to be the mastermind behind the 1993 Bombay bombings, a series of 13 bomb explosions in Mumbai that left about 250 casualties in every attack.
Currently the most wanted man of India, it is believed that Dawood had close relations with Osama Bin Laden of Al-Qaeda.
8. Meyer Lansky, who is believed to have killed his childhood friend who couldn’t make any profits!
Born in Russia, Lansky moved to America when he was 9 and became friends with Lucky Lusciano and Bugsy Siegel. They formed a deadly partnership in their teens called the Murders Inc.
He never let anything personal come in the way of business and true to his beliefs, he killed his dear friend Bugsy when we couldn’t make any profit! That’s inhuman. He made most of his money through gambling and money laundering.
9. Albert Anastasia nicknamed the mad hatter because of his psychopathic tendencies and ruthlessness!
Infamous for his insane hyper ambitions and psychopathic tendencies, Albert Anastasia was nicked as the Mad Hatter and Lord High Commissioner.
He was one of the most ruthless and feared Cosa Nostra mobsters in United States history.He killed a longshoreman at a very tender age but had to spend only 18 months in jail because the witness never turned up and was probably killed by his men.
He was ruthless and hence climbed the mafia ladder with ease and quick pace. He ruled the Gambino crime family from 1951 to 1957.
10. John Dillinger, the man who robbed 24 banks and 4 police stations!
An infamous gangster of the depression era in the United States, John Dillinger operated the Dillinger or the Terror Gang.
He was accused of robbing 24 banks and 4 police stations, among other activities. He courted publicity, styling himself as a Robin Hood figure, and the media of his time ran exaggerated accounts of his bravado and colorful personality!
11. Kray brothers, involved in armed robberies, arson, protection rackets, assaults and murders!
Ronald “Ronnie” Kray and Reginal “Reggie” Kray were the foremost perpetrators of organised crime in East End of London. They were involved in armed robberies, arson, protection rackets, assaults.
They murdered of Jack “the Hat” McVitie and George Cornell, their fellow gangsters. However, both were arrested and sentenced with life imprisonment.
12. Anthony Accardo, who had a criminal career of eight decades!
Also known as Joe Batters and Big Tuna, Accardo had a criminal career that spanned eight decades when he rose from being a notorious small-time hoodlum to being the head of crime syndicate known as the Chicago Outfit.
During his tenure the Chicago mob greatly increased its power and wealth. He killed three thieves who attempted to rob him by hanging them and cutting their throats open.
13. Griselda Blanco, the Cocaine Godmother responsible for the murders of up to 200 people!
Known as La Madrina, the Black Widow, the Cocaine Godmother and the Queen of Narco-Trafficking, Griselda Blanco was a Colombian drug lord of the MedellÃn Cartel and a pioneer in the Miami-based cocaine drug trade and underworld during the 1970s and early 1980s.
She is believed to be responsible for up to 200 murders. Even when in jail, she ran her cocaine business through her secret underlings.
14. Demetrius and Terry Flenory, the founders of the Black Mafia Family
Brothers and American drug traffickers, Demetrius and Terry Flenory founded the Black Mafia Family, a criminal organization based in Detroit, Michigan. Demetrius is also known as “Big Meech”, Terry as “Southwest T.”, they were involved in large-scale trafficking of cocaine throughout the United States from 1990 through 2005.
Their network eventually spanned as far as Los Angeles, California to Atlanta, Georgia. They were arrested and are currently serving 30 years in prison.
15. Carlo Gambino, the man who killed Albert Anastasia and ruled over New York until his death!
Before he learned to walk, it’s said that Carlo Gambino learned to use guns. Born in a mafia family, he confidently carried out murders and was a full-fledged gangster by the time he turned 19.
He freelanced his services to several New York mafia families before permanently taking up a position with Lucky Luciano. When Lucky Luciano was no more in power and Albert Anastasia took charge, Gambino killed him. He ruled over New York until his death.Â
I cannot fathom what drives a man to become a criminal.