Serving time at Alcatraz: What notorious criminals were housed on the island prison?

USA Today

05-05-2025

Serving time at Alcatraz: What notorious criminals were housed on the island prison? Al Capone, George 'Machine Gun' Kelly, James 'Whitey' Bulger, and the 'Birdman of Alcatraz' were among the San Francisco prison's most infamous inmates before it closed in 1963 because of high costs
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President Trump floats idea of reopening Alcatraz prison
President Donald Trump floated the idea of reopening and expanding the infamous Alcatraz prison as he expressed frustration with judges.
From Al Capone to George "Machine Gun" Kelly, more than 1,500 men were incarcerated at Alcatraz during the nearly 30 years it was in operation in the San Francisco Bay.
The infamous prison-turned-tourist-attraction is back in the news again after President Donald Trump said he has directed the Federal Bureau of Prisons to rebuild and reopen it.
"REBUILD, AND OPEN ALCATRAZ!" Trump posted to Truth Social on May 4. "When we were a more serious Nation, in times past, we did not hesitate to lock up the most dangerous criminals, and keep them far away from anyone they could harm."
Alcatraz was home to both infamous inmates and lesser-known prisoners who refused to conform to regulations at other federal institutions, were violent, or were considered escape risks, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
But the high-security prison closed in 1963 because it was too expensive to operate, the Federal Bureau of Prisons website states. It was nearly three times more costly to operate than any other federal prison.
As the U.S. looks at rehousing inmates on the island prison, here's a look at some of the most notorious criminals who stayed there in the past.
More: Trump says he wants to reopen Alcatraz. What is it? Why did the prison close?
Al Capone
Alphonse Capone, more commonly known as Al Capone, was a gangster based in Chicago during the Prohibition Era. He was incarcerated at Alcatraz from August 1934 through January 1939, according to The Mob Museum.
Capone's time at Alcatraz was cut short when an untreated case of syphilis sent him to the prison's hospital, The Mob Museum website states. Eventually, he was transferred to the Federal Correctional Institution at Terminal Island in Los Angeles and then to the Lewisburg Federal Penitentiary in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. He was released from prison in November 1939.
George 'Machine Gun' Kelly
George Kelly Barnes, also known as "Machine Gun Kelly," was a gangster from Memphis, Tennessee, also during the Prohibition Era. He was incarcerated at Alcatraz from 1934 to 1951, according to the National Archives at San Francisco.
Kelly adopted the name, "Machine Gun Kelly" due to his frequent use of a Thompson submachine gun during his heists. Perhaps his most notorious heist was that of the wealthy oil boss Charles Urschel, which resulted in his time at Alcatraz.
Robert Stroud, the 'Birdman of Alcatraz'
Robert Stroud is likely one of Alcatraz's most famous inmates, incarcerated there from 1942 through 1959. He was deemed the "Birdman of Alcatraz," but he never actually kept any birds while there.
It was the 30 or so years before, when Stroud was at the Federal Correctional Institution in Leavenworth, Kansas, that he was allowed to study birds because it was a "constructive use of his time," the Federal Bureau of Prisons website states. As a result, he published two books about canaries and their diseases.
But before long, contraband items were found hidden inside the bird cages that Stroud requested. He had been using the items to make alcohol. After that he was transferred to Alcatraz.
He was incarcerated originally for a slew of murders and spent 54 of his 73 years of life in prison.
Alvin 'Creepy' Karpis
Alvin Karpis, nicknamed "Creepy" for his sinister smile, was incarcerated at Alcatraz from August 1936 to April 1962. He was a criminal associated with the Barker-Karpis gang (responsible for numerous bank robberies, kidnappings and murder) during the Depression Era.
Karpis is known for being the prisoner with the longest sentence at Alcatraz.
Arthur 'Doc' Barker
Also a member of the Barker-Karpsi gang, Arthur Barker was a criminal during the Depression Era. He was sent to Alcatraz in 1935 and killed in 1939 while trying to escape the prison.
Barker was a key player in the kidnapping of wealthy banker Edward George Bremer Jr. in January 1934. Barker's fingerprints were found on an empty gas can found by police along the kidnapping route, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigations.
Mickey Cohen
A Los Angeles-based gangster and head of the Cohen crime family throughout the mid-20th century, Meyer "Mickey" Cohen was incarcerated on and off at Alcatraz between 1961 and 1963.
Cohen was sent to Alcatraz in July 1961 but released on bond in October 1961, according to Alcatraz History. However, he was sent back to the high-security prison in 1962 and stayed there until he was transferred to the federal penitentiary in Atlanta, Georgia.
James 'Whitey' Bulger
James "Whitey" Bulger was an organized crime figure from South Boston, Massachusetts from the 1970s through the 1990s. He was incarcerated at Alcatraz from November 1959 to July 1962.
Bulger was known for his Robin Hood-style behavior because he worked as an informant for the FBI, according to The Mob Museum.
Interested in more? Visit the National Archives
If you're interested in learning more about the inmates who served time at Alcatraz, the National Archives boasts an extensive collection of case files for nearly all the men who resided there. A portion of the collection is available online here.
Contributing: Reuters
Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at [e-mail].