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Chapter 3
Historical Roots of Organized Crime: From Prohibition to Modern Era
The dim glow of a smoky speakeasy flickered across the stained glass windows of a clandestine Chicago hideout in the early 1920s. Men in tailored suits and slicked-back hair whispered secrets over flickering cigar flames, their voices thick with anticipation and menace. Al Capone, a towering figure cloaked in both charm and brutality, sat at the center of this gathering, orchestrating a web of illicit drinks and black-market deals that stretched far beyond these backroom walls. It was during this period that organized crime truly found its footing—an era driven by reckless ambition and a country’s desperation to buck the law. The chaos of Prohibition had created a fertile ground, transforming petty criminals into major players, cementing the foundation for what was to come.