Alcatraz Island - 14 Famous inmates
Alcatraz federal prison housed some of America’s most difficult and dangerous felons during its years of operation from 1934 to 1963.
The notorious Prohibition-era gangster Al "Scarface" Capone (1899-1947) spent four-and-a-half years here during the 1930s. Capone was sent to Alcatraz because his incarceration in Atlanta, Georgia, had allowed him to remain in contact with the outside world and continue to run his criminal operation in Chicago. He was also known to corrupt prison officers. All of that ended when he was sent to Alcatraz.
George “Machine Gun” Kelly (1895-1954) spent 17 years here on a kidnapping conviction. Gangster Alvin “Creepy Karpis” Karpowicz (1907-79), listed as “Public Enemy No. 1″ by the FBI in the 1930s, spent over 25 years at Alcatraz, more time than any other prisoner.
Murderer Robert “Birdman of Alcatraz” Stroud (1890-1963), the subject of the 1962 film of the same name), was transferred here after three decades at the federal penitentiary in Leavenworth, Kansas. Stroud arrived on the island in 1942 and served 17 years here. Despite his nickname, he was not permitted to keep birds at Alcatraz as he had while locked up at Leavenworth.
Alcatraz Island - 14 Famous inmates
Alcatraz federal prison housed some of America’s most difficult and dangerous felons during its years of operation from 1934 to 1963.
The notorious Prohibition-era gangster Al "Scarface" Capone (1899-1947) spent four-and-a-half years here during the 1930s. Capone was sent to Alcatraz because his incarceration in Atlanta, Georgia, had allowed him to remain in contact with the outside world and continue to run his criminal operation in Chicago. He was also known to corrupt prison officers. All of that ended when he was sent to Alcatraz.
George “Machine Gun” Kelly (1895-1954) spent 17 years here on a kidnapping conviction. Gangster Alvin “Creepy Karpis” Karpowicz (1907-79), listed as “Public Enemy No. 1″ by the FBI in the 1930s, spent over 25 years at Alcatraz, more time than any other prisoner.
Murderer Robert “Birdman of Alcatraz” Stroud (1890-1963), the subject of the 1962 film of the same name), was transferred here after three decades at the federal penitentiary in Leavenworth, Kansas. Stroud arrived on the island in 1942 and served 17 years here. Despite his nickname, he was not permitted to keep birds at Alcatraz as he had while locked up at Leavenworth.