Tony Accardo's weapon conviction

[Antiliar]

Paying income in general was just gathering steam since 1913. In Capone's case he didn't know that he had to pay tax on ILLEGAL income.

[Dwalin2014]

Paying income in general was just gathering steam since 1913. In Capone's case he didn't know that he had to pay tax on ILLEGAL income.

But if it was taxes from illegal activities income, why wasn't he convicted for these activities as well, apart from tax evasion? I mean, for example if you shake down a businessman, threatening him with death, and don't pay taxes from the extorted money, and the tax agents grab you for not having paid the taxes in this case, how can you avoid being automatically indicted for extortion as well? Or, if you sold drugs and didn't pay taxes from it, they should indict you not only for tax evasion, but for drug trafficking also, right?
I noticed many of prominent gangsters did time for tax evasion at some point, but "tax evasion ONLY", no additional charges. Why?

[rayray]

One explanation is living well beyond what they would be bringing in for an income. In Capone's case, what was he claiming for income, was it anything, a job? I imagine it's easier for the government to prove not paying your fair share in taxes then where the money came from, especially if it's a cash business. This was a major learning curve for any successful gangster, to have a job, a business to justify an income and your lifestyle.


Didn't Accardo have some sales job giving him a 6 figure income that completely justified his lifestyle.

[Chicago]

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[JCB1977]

Paying income in general was just gathering steam since 1913. In Capone's case he didn't know that he had to pay tax on ILLEGAL income.

But if it was taxes from illegal activities income, why wasn't he convicted for these activities as well, apart from tax evasion? I mean, for example if you shake down a businessman, threatening him with death, and don't pay taxes from the extorted money, and the tax agents grab you for not having paid the taxes in this case, how can you avoid being automatically indicted for extortion as well? Or, if you sold drugs and didn't pay taxes from it, they should indict you not only for tax evasion, but for drug trafficking also, right?
I noticed many of prominent gangsters did time for tax evasion at some point, but "tax evasion ONLY", no additional charges. Why?

They couldn't convict Capone on anything except not paying taxes on a huge income.
In a criminal case, you have to be able to prove your case beyond a reasonable doubt.
The sure slam dunk case they had against Capone was NOT for distributing liquor but instead was for living wayyyy beyond his means and not paying taxes on all his income. That's all they needed to convict him. They didn't need to prove beyond a reasonable doubt anything else.
Income tax evasion was enough to put him away. When you are a Prosecutor, you go with the strongest case you have in order to win. You don't have to waste time trying to win every point.

Tax law 101