America's obsession for alcohol allowed the owners to charge any price they wanted and make a small fortune in the process. In 1925, there were said to be over 100, 000 speakeasies in New York City alone. So many Americans were sneaking around under the law that moral values began to dwindle.
Gangsters moved up in the ranks and began more vicious crimes such as murder and massive theft. Most of these crimes were necessary to keep business alive. Murder was widespread because some people had too much information and could get some of the bosses in trouble, so they would have killed. In 1929, gangsters from across the country gathered in Atlantic City, New Jersey to meet with one another. Leaders from all of the major crime syndicates attended. At the meeting, they made agreements on boundaries and a their area to keep relations peaceful.
The most famous crime boss ever was Al Capone. His nickname was "scarface." which is used as a nickname in many mobster movies. He controlled a mob of seven thousand gangsters, owned ten thousand speakeasies, and was involved in all of the traditional gangster activities such as prostitution and gambling. Many politicians and police officers were on the payroll of Capone. He was making about one hundred million dollars a year and could easily afford to pay anyone he wanted. People would constantly try to overtake him and he would stop each one in their track, but each time would bring the police closer to him. .
Law enforcement tried to nail him for any offense for which they could get proof, the only one was tax evasion. Capone served eleven years in prison and left wrecked by syphilis. He died peacefully in his home and was buried next to his father and grandfather in Chicago's westside. Other criminals took advantage of corrupt law enforcement and went on sprees of killing and looting.
Bonnie and Clyde are a pair of famous sidekicks that drove the country committing murder after murder and robbery after robbery.