Behind the Bars Unveiled:

Decoding the Minds of the

Incarcerated

Twisted paths: Exploring

Diverse Criminal Personalities
Al Capone
Al Capone

I. Personal Background
Al Capone, born on January 17, 1899,
in Brooklyn, New York, was a notorious
American gangster and crime boss during
the Prohibition era. His involvement in
organized crime made him a symbol of the
lawless and violent era of the 1920s and
1930s.

Al Capone grew up in a tough

neighborhood and faced adversity from a
young age. He dropped out of school at 14
after being expelled for hitting a teacher.
Capone joined a street gang and engaged in
various criminal activities, eventually moving
to Chicago where he became associated with Johnny Torrio, a prominent mobster.
Under Torrio's guidance, Capone rose through the ranks of organized crime and
eventually took over as the leader after Torrio was seriously wounded in an
assassination attempt.

II. Turning to point that led to criminality:

A. Prohibition opportunities: Prohibition era (1920 – 1933) provided opportunity

for illegal activities, leading to the rise of organized crime.
B. Capone’s involvement in bootlegging and smuggling alcohol became lucrative
during Prohibition.
C. St. Valentine’s Day Massacre in 1929 heightened Capone’s notoriety,
showcasing his ruthlessness.
D. Control of speakeasies: Gambling, and other illicit activities contributed to his
criminal empire and expanded his influence by taking over and managing
numerous numerous speakeasies, generating significant profits.
E. Limited law enforcement: Capabilities and corruption allowed Capone to
operate with relative impunity for a time.

III. Criminal Career (History or list of the victims/ cases)

 Early involvement in crime: Capone joined the Five Points Gang in his youth,
exposing him to criminal activities.
  Move to Chicago: Capone relocated to Chicago relocated to Chicago in 1920,
where he quickly rose through the ranks of the criminal underworld.
 Political connections: Capone maintained corrupt relationships with politicians
and law enforcement, avoiding serious legal consequences.
 Imprisonment for tax evasion: Capone was eventually convicted in 1931 for tas
evasion, marking the end of his criminal career.
Al Capone's criminal
career was marked by violence,
intimidation, and control over
illegal industries. He was
involved in various criminal
activities, including bootlegging,
gambling, and prostitution.
Capone was known for his
ruthless nature and was
implicated in numerous cases of
violence and murder.
One of the most infamous
incidents associated with Capone was the St. Valentine's Day Massacre in 1929.
Capone's gang allegedly executed seven members of a rival gang in a Chicago
garage, solidifying his reputation for brutality.

Capone was also indicted

for income tax evasion in 1931,
as authorities struggled to
directly connect him to the
various criminal activities due to
his careful manipulation of the
system. He was eventually
convicted and sentenced to 11
years in federal prison. He served
his sentence at Alcatraz and was
released in 1939, significantly
weakened by syphilis and its
complications. Capone lived in seclusion until his death in 1947.

IV. Status quo of the killer:

Despite his criminal activities, Capone managed to maintain a public image as
a philanthropist, which helped him gain some support within the community. However,
he was eventually convicted of income tax evasion in 1931 and sentenced to prison.
Capone spent nearly eight years in federal prison before being released on parole in
1939 due to health issues resulting from syphilis.
 Al Capone’s criminal career remains a significant chapter in American history,
highlighting the challenges of law enforcement during the Prohibition era and the rise
of organized crime in the United States.
El Chapo
El Chapo

I. Personal Background
Joaquín Archivaldo Guzmán
Loera (Born on April 4, 1957) commonly
known as "El Chapo" is a Mexican
former drug lord and a former leader
within the Sinaloa Cartel, an international
crime syndicate. He is considered to
have been one of the most powerful drug
traffickers in the world.
When he was a teenager, his
father kicked him out of the house, and
he went to live with his grandfather. It was
during his adolescence that Guzmán
gained the nickname "El Chapo" Mexican
slang for "shorty" for his 1.68-metre (5 ft
6 in) stature and stocky physique after
Guzman oversaw operations whereby mass cocaine, methamphetamine, marijuana
and heroin were produced by his relatives, he left his hometown for greater
opportunities to smuggle and distribute throughout the United States and Europe, the
world's largest users.

Guzmán was born in Sinaloa and raised in a poor farming family. He endured much
physical abuse at the hands of his father, and he also entered the drug trade through
his father, helping him grow marijuana for local dealers and selling marijuana at
commercial centers near the area while accompanied by Guzmán. His father spent
most of the profits on liquor and women and often returned home with no money.
Guzman was Tired of his mismanagement, therefore Guzmán cultivated his marijuana
plantation at age 15 with his cousins and he supported his family with his marijuana
production.
Charles Ponzi
Charles Ponzi

I. Personal Background
Charles Ponzi was born Carlo
Pietro Giovanni Guglielmo Tebaldo
Ponzi on March 3, 1882, in the town of
Lugo in northern Italy. His parents,
Oreste and Imelda Ponzi, Ponzi later
said, were part of a wealthy Italian family
that had become borderline poor by the
time he was born. Ponzi is said to have
expressed criminal tendencies early on,
stealing from his parents and even
parish priests.
As a young man, he attended
Sapienza University in Rome, where, by his own account, he was less than a model
student. As a result, after four years, Ponzi was forced to leave with no money and no
degree. During his university years, he had heard stories of other Italians who went off
to America to find fame and fortune and decided that this was the only course left open
for him.

II. Turning to point that led to criminality:

A. Promised Returns: The rate of returns promised to investors can impact the
longevity of the scheme. Higher returns may attract more investors but also
necessitate a constant influx of new funds to meet these obligations.
B. Perpetrator’s Skill: The skill with which the fraudsters manage the scheme,
including their ability to avoid detection and maintain investor confidence, can
influence how long the scheme persists.
C. Economic Conditions: Favorable economic conditions may enable a Ponzi
scheme to last longer, as prosperous times may facilitate easier recruitment of
investors and less scrutiny of investments.
D. Regulatory Environment: The effectiveness of regulatory bodies in detecting
and shutting down fraudulent activities can impact the duration of Ponzi
schemes.

III. Criminal Career (History or list of the victims/ cases)

 Clients who are already involved in legitimate business activities with their
financial planner, accountant, investment adviser, or broker
 Members of religious or other organizational affiliates tied to the Ponzi scheme
propagator
  Old friends, family members, or business associates of previously targeted
victims
 Profile of victims of investment fraud was not concentrated in the lower class
with low education but also among those with a relatively good level of
education

VICTIM: Sarah Howe was born

in Hong Kong in 1983 to an English
father and Chinese mother, and
moved to England as a child. She
studied English at Cambridge, where
from 2010-2015 she was a Research
Fellow at Gonville and Caius College,
before taking up a Leverhulme Early
Career Fellowship at University
College London. She has been the
recipient of a Hawthornden Fellowship
and the Harper-Wood Studentship for English Poetry, as well as fellowships from
Harvard University’s Radcliffe Institute and the Civitella Ranieri Foundation. Her
pamphlet, A Certain Chinese Encyclopaedia (Tall-lighthouse, 2009), won an Eric
Gregory Award from the Society of Authors. Her first full collection, Loop of
Jade (Chatto & Windus, 2015), won the T.S. Eliot Prize and The Sunday Times/PFD
Young Writer of the Year Award, and was shortlisted for the Seamus Heaney Centre
Poetry Prize and the Forward Prize for Best First Collection. She is a Lecturer in Poetry
at King’s College London.

IV. How much did Charles Ponzi steal from investors?

In eight months in 1920, Ponzi raked in an estimated $15 million ($220 million today)
by persuading thousands of Bostonians that he could make them rich.

V. Status quo of the killer:

In July 1920, the Boston Post ran a flattering front-page feature on Ponzi pegging
his net worth at $8.5 million. Less than a week later, the U.S. Post Office Department
announced new conversion rates for international postal reply coupons, though
officials said the rate change had nothing to do with Ponzi.
Investigations of Ponzi ensued but made little progress until the Boston
Post launched its own investigation, which generated bad press, causing Ponzi to
decline to accept new investments. This caused a run by current investors, and Ponzi
reportedly paid out more than $1 million.
More bad press from the Post ultimately sealed Ponzi’s fate. He was eventually
convicted on federal charges of mail fraud and served 3½ years in prison. Upon parole,
he was convicted of state charges, jumped bail, was caught, and went to prison again,
getting out in 1934. At that time, he was deported to his native Italy, having never
become a U.S. citizen. His history in Italy and Brazil is not well documented, though it
is known that he died on Jan. 18, 1949, in a charity hospital in Rio de Janeiro, leaving
just $75 to pay for his burial.
Frank Abagnale
Frank abagnale jr.

I. Personal Background
Frank Abagnale Jr. was born on April
27, 1948, in Bronxville, New York.
He entered the world of crime as a
youngster with credit card and check
schemes. Growing up in New
Rohelle, New York, he experienced
family challenges, including his
parents’ divorce. His early
fascination with the world of finance and aviation fueled his audicious exploits, leading
him successfully pose as a Pan American World Airways pilot, a doctor, and a legal
prosecutor. Despite the criminal nature of his actions, Abagnale’s life story has taken
a remarkable turn, as he later transformed himself on fraud prevention and security,
working with various governmental agencies and corporations to combat the very
schemes he once mastered.
The son of a stationery business owner, Frank Abagnale entered the world of crime as a youngster
with credit card and check schemes. He later impersonated various white-collar professionals,
creating an overseas trail, and was arrested at 21 by the French police. Abagnale was eventually
hired by the FBI as a consultant and then started his own agency, educating corporations, financial
institutions and government organizations on how to detect and handle fraudulence.

II. Turning to point that led to criminality:

 Parents’ divorce and family challenges
 Early fascination with the world of finance and aviation
 Attempt to impress others and gain recognition
 Successful impersonation of professions, starting with a Pan Am pilot
 Escalation of criminal activities as he delved into various deceptive roles
 Evading law enforcement, which further fuelled his criminal behavior
 Growing thrill and sense of invincibility, contributing to a continued life of crime

III. Criminal Career (History or list of the victims/ cases)

1. Pilot Impersonation (1963-1964) – Successfully posed as a Pan American

World Airways pilot, flying over 1,000,000 miles for free by forging pilot
credentials.
 2. Medical Impersonation (1964-1966) – Impersonated a doctor, practicing
medicine without a license. He managed to work in a hospital before suspicious
arose.
3. Legal Impersonation (1966) – Subsequently, he assumed the role of a legal
prosecutor, conducting a few cases in Louisiana despite lacking the necessary
qualifications.
4. Check Fraud (Throughout his criminal career) – Engaged in extensive check
fraud, exploiting the banking system by forging and cashing fraudulent checks
across multiple states.
5. Various Identity Frauds (1960s) – He assumed various false identities to
facilitate his schemes, making it challenging for authorities to track him down.

IV. How much did it affect the people around Abagnale of his scheme?

It is important to note that while Abagnale’s criminal actions had broad

repercussions, his later transformation into a consultant for fraud prevention and
security suggests a redemptive aspect to his story.
The victims of Abagnale’s schemes each left to grapple with the aftermath of
significant financial losses. The collateral damage extended beyond monetary
implications, as trust in institutions wavered, and individuals became more vigilant in
the wake of his elusive maneuvers. The impact in law enforcement was equally
profound, as authorities struggled to apprehend a master of disguise who seemed
always one step ahead. The impact of his criminal past, however, is a testament to the
unimaginable consequences of fraudulent activities on both individuals and societal
trust.

V. Status quo of the killer:

Rather than returning to a life of crime, Abagnale redirected his expertise
towards helping combat fraud and enhance security measures. He became a
consultant for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), sharing his unique insights
into the vulnerabilities he once treaded. He evolved into a respected authority on cyber
security and fraud prevention. His experiences formed the basis of lectures,
consultations, and eventually, his role as a prominent speaker and author.
Abagnale’s story was immortalized in his autobiography, “Catch Me If You
Can,” which inspired a Hollywood film adaptation. Rather than being defined solely by
his criminal past, Frank Abagnale emerged as an unlikely champion against the very
crimes he had once committed. His later years were characterized by a commitment
to public service, educating organizations and individuals on the intricacies of fraud,
and advocating for enhanced security measures in the digital age.
 The saga of Frank Abagnale serves as a cautionary tale, illustrating the far-
reaching result of a charismatic trickster whose criminal ingenuity left an invisible mark
on the lives of those unwittingly caught in his intricate woven web of deceit.
Adolf Hitler

Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler

I. Personal Background
Adolf Hitler was born on April 20,
1889 in Braunau am Inn, Austria-Hungary
(now Austria). His early life was marked by
struggles; his father died when he was
young, and Hitler faced financial
difficulties. In his early adulthood, he
moved to Vienna to pursue a career in art
but faced rejection from the Academy of
Fine Arts. These experiences likely fueled
his growing anti-Semitic and nationalistic
sentiments. Hitler joined the German
Workers’ Party on 1919, which later
became the National Socialist German
Workers’ Party (Nazi Party). Rising
through the ranks, he became the party’s
leader and, ultimately, the Chancellor of Germany in 1933.

II. Turning to point that led to criminality:

A. Nationalism and Anti-Semitism: Hitler’s extreme nationalism and anti-semitic

belief were central to his ideology. The scapegoating of Jews and other groups
served as a means to unite the German people under a common enemy,
providing a convenient explanation for Germany’s perceived problems.
B. Economic Hardship and Unemployment: The Weimar Republic, marked by
hyperinflation and widespread unemployment, created a fertile ground for
extremist ideologies. Hitler exploited these conditions to gain support by
promising economic stability and a return to German greatness.
C. Political Opportunism and Charisma: Hitler was a charismatic orator and a
skilled propagandist. His ability to capture the masses through speeches and
mass rallies played a crucial role in his rise to power. Political opportunism and
manipulation of public sentiment were key components of his strategy.
D. Weaknesses in the Weimar Republic: The democratic institutions of the
Weimar Republic were weak, and political instability prevailed. Hitler took
advantage of those weaknesses, using legal means to gradually dismantle
democratic processes and establish his authoritarian rule.

III. Criminal Career (History or list of the victims/ cases)

 CASE 1 – Approximately 2.7
million Jews were murdered
The Nazi German regime created
five killing centers specifically to
murder Jewish people using poison
gas. These killing centers were
called Chelmno, Belzec, Sobibor,
Treblinka, and Auschwitz-Birkenau.

CASE 2 – About 2 million Jews

were murdered in mass shooting
operation and related massacre
The Germans and their
allies and collaborators carried out
mass shooting operations and
related massacres of Jews in more
than 1,500 cities, towns, and
villages across occupied Eastern
Europe.

CASE 3 – Between 1 million to 800,000 Jews were murdered in ghettos, labor

camps, and concentration camps
In ghettos, concentration camps, and labor camps created by the Germans and their
allies and collaborators, Jews were murdered through deliberate privation, disease,
brutal treatment, and arbitrary acts of violence.

CASE 4 – At least 250,000 Jews were murdered in other acts of violence outside
of camp ghettos
The Germans and their allies and collaborators killed Jewish people in acts of violence
and deprivation that took place outside of detention sites. It included the Jews that
were murdered in Anti-Semitic riots; individuals’ executions; as partisans; and en route
to and between sites of detention. (on forced arches, trains, and ships).

IV. How much damage did Hitler left on the citizens of Germany and the
Jewish people?
 Adolf Hitler’s reign during the 1930s and 1940s inflicted profound and
devastating consequences on both the German populace and the Jewish community.
The citizens of Germany endured widespread economic hardship, political repression,
and the erosion of civil liberties under the totalitarian regime.
For the Jewish people, the impact was particularly tragic. The Holocaust,
orchestrated by the Nazi regime, resulted in the systematic genocide of six million
Jews. This dark chapter in history involved mass extermination through concentration
camps, forced labor, and other atrocities, leaving an indelible mark on the collective
memory of the Jewish community.
The aftermath of Hitler’s rule left scars on Germany, forcing introspection and
a commitment to prevent the recurrence of such horrors. The lasting legacy of this
period underscores the importance of vigilance against extremism and the
safeguarding of human rights to prevent the repetition of such catastrophic events.

V. Status quo of the killer:

Hitler’s political ascent was characterized by the aggressive pursuit of
expansionist and anti-Semitic policies. He orchestrated the Holocaust, leading to the
genocide of six million Jews during World War ll. Hitler’s militaristics ambitions and
ideological beliefs played a central role in the outbreak of the war. His rule ended with
his suicide in April 1945 as Allied forces closed in on Germany, marking the conclusion
of one of the darkest chapters in history. According to historical accounts, Hitler
ingested cyanide and simultaneously shot himself in the head together with his wife,
Eva Braun. Their bodies were later found in the bunker by their staff. The bodies were
dragged outside, doused in petrol, and set on fire by Hitler’s staff to prevent them from
falling into the hands of the advancing Allies.