Al Capone was prosecuted for tax evasion in 1931.
Alphonse Gabriel Capone ( [ æl_kəˈpoʊn ] January 17 , 1899 -- January 25 , 1947 ) , sometimes known by the nickname Scarface , was an American gangster who attained fame during the Prohibition era as the co-founder and boss of the Chicago Outfit . The federal authorities became intent on jailing Capone , and they prosecuted him for tax evasion in 1931 , a federal crime and a novel strategy during the era . During the highly publicized case , the judge admitted as evidence Capone 's admissions of his income and unpaid taxes during prior ( and ultimately abortive ) negotiations to pay the government any back taxes he owed .