THE GODFATHER c1920s
The US prohibition of alcohol (1920–1933) gave rise to a) sought to exploit. Often seen sporting expensive gems (hence his nickname), Esposito became a notorious figure, offering protection to members of Chicago's Italian-American criminal fraternity while serving as an alderman for the city's 19th ward. We don't know why the mobster was photographed on a rooftop with a pair of pigeons (it may have been part of a political stunt), but we do know how he met his end. In 1928, Esposito was killed in a drive-by shooting, likely on the orders of his rival, Al Capone.