The stereotypical image and myth of the American gangster is closely associated with organized crime during the Prohibition era of the 1920s and 1930s.

 Johnny Torrio was Born in Southern Italy in 1882. Torrio emigrated to the United States with his mother after his father's death. Known as "The Fox" for his cunning, he helped form "The Chicago Outfit" and he is credited for the birth of the National Crime Syndicate.He was a big influence on Al Capone, who regarded him as a mentor.

Alphonse Gabriel “Al” Capone (1899-1947) rose to infamy as a gangster in Chicago during the 1920s and early 1930s. The Bureau of Investigation joined the Bureau of Prohibition and other agencies in investigating Capone. In 1931, Capone was sentenced to prison for tax evasion.

Meyer Lansky (1902-1983) was involved in a wide-range of organized criminal activity and was associated with many other well known criminal figures from the 1920s to the 1970s. Lansky was especially active in gambling ventures, including the rise of Las Vegas and efforts to
build casinos in Cuba before the communist revolution there.