The early part of the twentieth century witnessed significant growth in the activities of organized crime. Motivated by greed and driven by ruthless behavior, various individuals organized gangs to control various markets for illegal activities such as liqueur, gambling and prostitution. The organized gangs acted though a "shadow government" that collected taxes and controlled all aspects of the "business". They virtually overwhelmed local authorities who were not prepared to deal with such organized criminals. These activities were so extensive that it ultimately required the involvement of the federal government to counteract their influence and power.
             The most prominent gangster of the 1920's was Al Capone. He was raised in New York City. He became connected with organized crime and was the subject of varouis murder investigations. In 1920 he moved to Chicago and became a lieutenant to John Torrio, a notorious gang leader. They established numerous speakeasies in Chicago during the prohibition era. After eliminating his opponents, "Scarface" Capone took over control from Torrio. He was implicated in brutal murders and received tribute from businessmen and politicians. His crime syndicates terrorized Chicago in the 1920s and controlled gambling and prostitution. The federal Bureau of Internal Revenue estimated that Capone's gang had taken in $105 million in 1927 alone.
             The organized-crime syndicate in the United States is a product of the prohibition era of the early 20th century. The efforts of federal officials to enforce the unpopular Volstead Act of 1920 generated the growth of highly organized bootlegging rings with nationwide and international contacts. Although loose alliances were formed between such groups as the Al Capone mob of Chicago, the Detroit Purple gang, and the Owney Madden ring of New York City, gang wars and gangland killings were distinctive features of the 1920s.
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