From a Fatal Showdown with Rival Joe Aiello to Tax Evasion and Health Decline
In a dramatic showdown that would ultimately lead to Al Capone’s downfall, his men pursued rival Giuseppe “Joe” Aiello through the streets. Aiello attempted to evade capture by changing cabs, but Capone’s men, driven by anger and determination, relentlessly pursued him. A hail of 13 bullets struck Aiello, but his adrenaline-fueled escape attempt led him directly into the path of another group of Capone’s men waiting in a second car. The face-to-face encounter spelled the end for Aiello, marking a public execution that would play a pivotal role in Capone’s eventual downfall.
Contrary to expectations that Agent Eliot Ness would be the one to bring down the notorious mafia kingpin, it was a woman named Mabel Walker Willebrandt who played a crucial role in ending Capone’s reign of lawlessness. Despite years of efforts by numerous individuals to apprehend Capone, Willebrandt recognized a glaring weakness that had eluded many: his tax evasion. Capone’s extravagant lifestyle, encompassing opulent houses, cars, holidays, and jewelry, had left an unmistakable absence of tax returns. After a history marked by brutal crimes and corrupt escapes, Capone was ultimately convicted on charges of tax fraud, resulting in an 11-year prison sentence from which he could not escape through legal means.
