If you want to learn more about these classic gangsters and other notable gangsters that were not quite so famous but were still dangerous criminals, read on to find out who these infamous 25 extremely notorious gangsters are!
He also got involved in a series of kidnappings in Manhattan, including that of James Duncan. He died after being shot by his enemies in his hideout in Albany, New York, in 1931. George Barone, together with an alleged gunman named Joe “Mad Dog” Sullivan, murdered Tom Devany in Midtown Manhattan in 1976 before murdering Spillane the following year. He was sentenced to 75 years in prison after he was proven guilty of murdering Harold Whitehead. He is believed to have masterminded, financed, and organized the 1993 Bombay bombings, a series of 13 bomb explosions in Mumbai that left about 250 casualties in each attack. He used to have close links with the late Osama Bin Laden of Al Qaeda and is currently the most wanted man in India. They were responsible for organized crime in East London during the late 1950s and into 1967. The Krays, notorious crime bosses, committed crimes like armed robbery, murder, arson, and protection racket. In 1969, the Kray twins were arrested and convicted. In the United States, the Black Mafia Family (BMF) was involved in drug trafficking and money laundering. His group became one of the most powerful drug trafficking gangs in America and was estimated to have revenue of $100 million annually. He was one of the most powerful men of the world from about 2009 to 2016 when he was captured and extradited to the US. His approximate net worth in 2016 was roughly $4 billion, and at one point Forbes Magazine labelled him as “the most powerful drug trafficker in the world.” Most believe that he was the mastermind behind the 1978 Lufthansa heist, an extensive robbery that took place at the John F. Kennedy International Airport and earned him around $2 million. He was a skilled con man and master of disguise who often targeted people to take advantage of their weaknesses. His criminal career came to a close on April 13, 1996, after being in the hospital. He was mentor to the successor of the leader of the crime family, Vincent Gigante. In 1931, he plotted to kill Salvatore Maranzano with the help of Lucky Luciano. Genovese moved to Italy and prospered as he led the black market operations of his gambling empire. He was among the most powerful and notorious gangsters of the 20th century and played a big role in operating the Italian Mafia. He developed and operated some of the largest gambling empires in the United States and masterminded the formation of the criminal underworld. He was also known as The Man with a Thousand Faces because of his aptitude for disguising himself for each of his operations. He was imprisoned several times but was always able to escape, even killing the judges who sentenced him. Adding Bulger to the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list in 1999 made him the second most wanted fugitive on the list behind Osama bin Laden. In 2011 he was arrested by authorities in the city of Santa Monica, California. The Chicago Mob increased in power during his tenure as he expanded its operations in several territories throughout the United States. He then began his criminal career by running illegal gambling operations that were based in California. he was one of the leaders and founders of Murder Incorporated and committed multiple murders under its auspices. On June 20, 1947, he was shot and killed by a sniper. He stood up against the Anastasia loyalists in the 1960’s and expanded his rackets to several parts of the United States. He eventually controlled about 90% of the ports in New York, gaining millions in the process. He rose to popularity during the Depression era of the U.S., executing jail breaks and outrunning the FBI until, in 1934, they ambushed him in a back alley after seeing a movie and shot him dead. His nickname is The Prime Minister of Crime because he pulled strings with politicians and judges all across the country. He is also credited with creating innovative strategies that became staples in organized crime, such as dividing up territory so each gangster could profit without encroaching on another gang’s operation. He led the Lower East Side Gang of Manhattan while he worked for another notorious group, the Morello Gang. Costello, together with Lucky Luciano, became part of the Sicilian Mafia Family and was involved in the operation of rum manufacturing. He also established and operated a casino and was greatly involved in the smuggling practices along the Hudson River and the Great Lakes. He led a notorious organization involved in prostitution and gambling and was an advocate of the vice industry of the United States. One of his most famous accomplishments was setting up a deal with Frank Costello to work together and split up control over New York City. This deal eventually fell apart due to Costello’s inability to keep up with his end of the bargain, leading to resentment on both sides. He was engaged in various activities, like mugging, shoplifting, and extortion. As head of Chicago’s organized crime syndicate, Capone expanded gambling and prostitution rackets throughout the city during Prohibition while dividing other criminal activities with other gang bosses.
With nearly unlimited funds from bootlegging, Capone bought out policemen, judges, and politicians. When Al Capone arrived in Atlanta in May 1932, he was sentenced to life in prison and he died on January 25th, 1947 due to a stroke and heart attack.
He and his cohorts went on to rob over 20 Union trains, stagecoaches, and banks. That all came to an end when James was shot and killed by two men out for the reward money offered by the Governor of Missouri who was looking to put a stop to the robberies. She was said to have moved over 300 kilos of cocaine a month and ordered the deaths of hundreds, though she was only indicted on three of these murders. Once released, she was deported to Colombia where she lived out the remainder of her life. She was gunned down while shopping for meat in 2012 at the age of 69. He is still considered one of the most successful drug dealers ever with an estimated net worth upwards of $70 billion (in today’s currency).
