by Daniel M. Porazzo
Crowds outside the federal court building during the Capone trial
| January
17, 1899 |
Alphone Capone is
born in Brooklyn, New York to Italian immigrants. |
| 1920 |
Al Capone joins Johnny Torrio as a member in the Colosimo mob. |
| 1925 |
Torrio retires, elevating Capone to boss. Capone extends the gang’s control over illegal brewing, distilling, and distribution of beer and liquor. |
| April
27, 1926 |
Chicago prosecutor Billy McSwiggin is gunned down outside a bar in Cicero. McSwiggin had attempted to charge Capone with murder in 1924. |
| February
14, 1929 |
St. Valentine’s Day Massacre. Seven associates of the Moran Gang are gunned down at SMC Cartage Company by men dressed in police uniforms. |
| February
27, 1929 |
Capone is subpoenaed to appear before a Chicago Heights grand jury investigating possible violations of the Prohibition Act. |
March 11, 1929 |
Capone’s lawyers file a petition to postpone his appearance on March 12th, and attach an affidavit from Capone’s physician, Dr. Kenneth Phillips, which attests to Capone suffering bronchial pneumonia. Capone is reportedly bedridden and alleges it would be dangerous to his health to travel to Chicago to appear in response to the subpoena. That night Capone attends the Sharkey-Stribling boxing match. |
| March
20, 1929 |
Capone appears before the Chicago Heights grand jury and testifies for 80 minutes. |
| March
27, 1929 |
Capone makes his second appearance before the Chicago Heights grand jury. After finishing his testimony, Capone is arrested for contempt of court and released after posting $500 bail. |
| May
17, 1929 |
Capone and bodyguard are arrested in Philadelphia for carrying concealed weapons. Each is later sentenced to one-year terms in prison at the County Prison at Holmesburg. Capone is soon transferred to Eastern State Penitentiary. |
| March
17, 1930 |
Capone is released for good behavior after serving nine months. |
| April
23, 1930 |
The Chicago Crime Commission issues first Public Enemy List. Capone tops the list. |
| February
27, 1931 |
Capone is found guilty on a contempt of court charge and sentenced to six months in Cook County Jail. Capone is released on bond pending appeal. |
| March
13, 1931 |
Capone is indicted for tax evasion relating to failing to file a return for 1924. |
| June
5, 1931 |
Capone is indicted on charges for tax evasion for the years 1925 to 1929. |
| June
11, 1931 |
Capone is indicted on one count of conspiracy to violate the Prohibition Act. |
| June
16, 1931 |
Capone decides to plead guilty to all tax evasion and prohibition charges. A plea agreement is negotiated calling for a 2 ½ year sentence. |
| July
30, 1931 |
Sentencing
Hearing Judge Wilkerson informs
Capone that he is not bound by that arrangement in determining Capone’s
sentence and will reject it. Capone
changes his plea to "not
guilty." |
| October
6, 1931 |
The tax evasion trial of Al Capone begins. Judge Wilkerson switches the potential jury pool prior to voir dire after receiving word from Frank Wilson that Capone may have been able to bribe members of the original jury pool. |
| October
18, 1931 |
Capone
is convicted of three felony counts of
tax evasion and two misdemeanor counts of failing to file a tax return. |
November 24, 1931 |
Capone
is sentenced to eleven years in Federal
prison, a fine of $50,000, and court costs of $30,000.
Additionally, Capone is ordered to pay
$215,000 plus interest for back taxes. The
six month contempt of court sentence is served concurrently. While awaiting the outcome of his appeal,
Capone is housed in Cook County Jail. |
| February
27, 1932 |
Capone’s appeal is denied. |
| March
23, 1932 |
Rehearing
of Capone’s appeal is denied. |
| May
2, 1932 |
The
Supreme Court denies Capone’s petition
for certiorari. |
| May
4, 1932 |
Capone
begins serving
sentence at the U.S. Penitentiary in Atlanta. |
| August
22, 1934 |
Capone
is transferred to Alcatraz. |
| November
16, 1939 |
Capone is released from prison after serving 7 years, 6 months, and 15 days and having paid all fines and back taxes due. |
| January
25, 1947 |
Capone
dies from a stroke in Palm Island,
Florida. |