Johnny Jack Nounes
Encyclopedia
"Johnny" Jack Nounes, also known as the "Beau Brummel of Galveston," was a gang leader in Galveston, Texas
in the United States
during the early 1900s. He, with George Musey, led the Downtown Gang, one of the two gangs which controlled most of the Galveston underworld until the mid 1920s. As the Prohibition era
began his gang came to be one of the dominant forces in the Galveston liquor trade. Galveston became the main port of entry for liquor supplying Texas and many parts of the Midwest.
Nounes' flamboyance attracted the attention of federal authorities leading to his conviction in 1924 and sentencing to Leavenworth Penitentiary
. His prison term was short but only two years after being released he was again sentenced to prison after being caught with a shipment of liquor in Seabrook
.
Frank Nitti
, a business partner of Nounes, would go on to become the "enforcer" for Al Capone
's crime organization in Chicago
.
Galveston, Texas
Galveston is a coastal city located on Galveston Island in the U.S. state of Texas. , the city had a total population of 47,743 within an area of...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
during the early 1900s. He, with George Musey, led the Downtown Gang, one of the two gangs which controlled most of the Galveston underworld until the mid 1920s. As the Prohibition era
Prohibition in the United States
Prohibition in the United States was a national ban on the sale, manufacture, and transportation of alcohol, in place from 1920 to 1933. The ban was mandated by the Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution, and the Volstead Act set down the rules for enforcing the ban, as well as defining which...
began his gang came to be one of the dominant forces in the Galveston liquor trade. Galveston became the main port of entry for liquor supplying Texas and many parts of the Midwest.
Nounes' flamboyance attracted the attention of federal authorities leading to his conviction in 1924 and sentencing to Leavenworth Penitentiary
United States Penitentiary, Leavenworth
The United States Penitentiary , Leavenworth was the largest maximum security federal prison in the United States from 1903 until 2005. It became a medium security prison in 2005.It is located in Leavenworth, Kansas...
. His prison term was short but only two years after being released he was again sentenced to prison after being caught with a shipment of liquor in Seabrook
Seabrook, Texas
Seabrook is a city in Harris county, with some water surface area located within Chambers county in the U.S. state of Texas. The population was 9,443 at the 2000 census....
.
Frank Nitti
Frank Nitti
Francesco Raffaele Nitto , also known as Frank "The Enforcer" Nitti, was an Italian American gangster. One of Al Capone's top henchmen, Nitti was in charge of all strong-arm and 'muscle' operations...
, a business partner of Nounes, would go on to become the "enforcer" for Al Capone
Al Capone
Alphonse Gabriel "Al" Capone was an American gangster who led a Prohibition-era crime syndicate. The Chicago Outfit, which subsequently became known as the "Capones", was dedicated to smuggling and bootlegging liquor, and other illegal activities such as prostitution, in Chicago from the early...
's crime organization in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
.
See also
- Dutch VoightDutch VoightDutch Voight was a German American gang leader in Galveston, Texas in the United States during the early 1900s. Voight was called Dutch for Deutsch meaning German. He, with Ollie Quinn, led the Beach Gang, one of the two gangs which controlled most of the Galveston underworld until the mid 1920s...
- Frank NittiFrank NittiFrancesco Raffaele Nitto , also known as Frank "The Enforcer" Nitti, was an Italian American gangster. One of Al Capone's top henchmen, Nitti was in charge of all strong-arm and 'muscle' operations...
- Free State of GalvestonFree State of GalvestonThe Free State of Galveston was a whimsical name given to the island city of Galveston in the U.S. state of Texas during the early-to-mid-20th century. Today, the term is sometimes used to describe the culture and history of that era...
- Ollie QuinnOllie QuinnOllie J. Quinn was a gang leader in Galveston, Texas in the United States during the early 1900s. He, with Dutch Voight, led the Beach Gang, one of the two gangs which controlled most of the Galveston underworld until the mid 1920s...
- Rosario MaceoRosario MaceoRosario Maceo , also known as Papa Rose or Rose Maceo, was a Sicilian immigrant and organized crime boss in Galveston, Texas in the United States. Because of his efforts and those of his brother Sam, Galveston Island became a nationally known resort town during the early and mid 20th century,...
- Sam MaceoSam MaceoSalvatore Maceo, also known as Sam Maceo, was a businessman, community leader, and organized crime boss in Galveston, Texas in the United States. Because of his efforts, Galveston Island became a nationally known resort town during the early and mid 20th century, a period known as Galveston's Open...