Al Capone’s Rise to Power Johnny Torrio was a notorious bootlegger from Chicago. He needed a man to run his illegal business. He chose Alfonso Capone from Five Points Gang in New York to be his lieutenant. Capone was able to rise to power by handling the emergencies and by handling political connections. In 1920, mobster Johnny Torrio had an inspiration. He discovered that there was big money to be made with an outlawed liquor business. He needed a lieutenant to run his business, and picked a 23-year-old bullheaded roughneck Al Capone from Five Points Gang of New York to run his business, to go to Chicago and bootleg. He promised him half the profit for his work. Al Capon