Prohibition Reorganization Act of May 27, 1930

This Act transfers The Bureau of Prohibition from U.S. Department of Treasury to the U.S. Department of Justice.

By 1930, events redirect federal law enforcement’s trajectory, in general, and ATF's legacy, in particular. The Bureau of Prohibition is transferred from the U.S. Department of the Treasury to the U.S. Department of Justice. Since the Bureau increasingly focuses on fighting violent crime, this dangerous new mission begins to clash with the Treasury Department’s responsibility (since 1791) of ensuring tax compliance. The Justice Department is deemed the organization better suited to lead the Bureau of Prohibition in the fight against organized crime.

President Herbert Hoover also issues a directive "to get Capone." Fed up with Al Capone's brazen and far reaching arm of power and corruption, Hoover declares war on Capone and his "Outfit." This Presidential declaration sets in motion Chicago's U.S. Attorney, George E.Q. Johnson's two-pronged investigative attack. One effort, led by the Bureau of Prohibition Investigative Division’s newly appointed Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Eliot Ness and his team of agents, are ordered to cripple Capone's operations and gather evidence of prohibition violations. The other, is led by lawmen Elmer Irey and Frank Wilson of the Internal Revenue Service, and investigates Capone’s finances for evidence of money laundering and tax evasion. 

For more on Eliot Ness click here.

Last Reviewed September 28, 2016