8. “The Fox” Who Paved the Way For Al Capone
Johnny Torrio, AKA “The Fox” and “Papa Johnny” (1882 – 1957), is best known as the founder of the Chicago Outfit – the criminal empire inherited and made infamous by his protege and successor, Al Capone. Torrio started his criminal career in an NYC street gang, became its leader, and steadily worked his way up the criminal world’s ranks with gambling and loan sharking. He eventually caught the eye of Paul Kelly, leader of the Five Points Gang, who took him on as a protege.
Torrio was invited to Chicago by his aunt’s husband, “Big Jim” Colosimo, who owned over a hundred brothels, to deal with extortionists preying on his businesses. Torrio did, and stayed on as Colosimo’s right hand and muscle. When Prohibition began in January of 1920, Torrio recognized the opportunity for fabulous riches to be made in making alcohol and selling it at a steep markup, now that it was illegal.