They fought for control of the island against the rival Beach Gang led by Ollie Quinn and Dutch Voight, and later their successors, the Maceo Crime Syndicate.

Nounes' flamboyance attracted the attention of federal authorities, leading to his conviction in 1924 and sentencing to Leavenworth Penitentiary.

The Nonus family had fifteen children but six died at infancy; the remaining nine were Mary, Lyda, Annie, Mellie, Lily, Beatrice, Mabel, Johnny, and Francis.

During this devastating storm, Emanuel managed to break a hole in the house's ceiling in order to get all the children to safety; Johnny was ten years old.

Among the earliest gang members were Theodore "Fatty" Owens, Otis Skains, Mitchell "Mitch" Frankovitch, Kye Gregory, Morris "Kid" Ross, Joe Varnell, Lawrence "King Coal" Balkey, and Tom Lera.

[4] Johnny owned a boat called the Cherokee which had an airplane engine installed in it so it could out run any federal prohibition agent that tried to catch it.

Nitti, who was probably just a mob soldier then, would come down from the Chicago Outfit to meet with Johnny Jack in order to conduct business dealing with liquor.

He would even hijack the Beach Gang's shipments and cheat the Cubans out of thinking soap coupons were money when buying booze.

[4] In the late 20s, New York's society experienced this flashy prominent mobster head of the Galveston Crime Syndicate.

Johnny also dated actress Theda Bara for a short time in the early 20s, with her also said to have had a champagne filled bath.

He had his suits custom-tailored in New York while also having an apartment overlooking Central Park for when he went up to conduct business and throw one of his extravagant parties.

[4] After Nounes' release, and around the time prohibition was ending, the Chicago Outfit's Frank Nitti was seen back in Galveston.

He would then run for mayor of West Beach, Galveston and win the election in 1947, however he was found guilty of voter fraud and was forced out of office in 1949.

[6] By the late 1960s Nounes had lost both of his legs due to diabetes, and later died on March 11, 1970,[6] at St. Mary's Hospital, Galveston.