For the first time in more than 80 years, Chicago has a Public Enemy No. 1.

Whereas Al Capone was designated “most wanted” in 1930, today’s Public Enemy No. 1 is Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, head of the Mexican Sinaloa drug cartel. In 2011, Forbes ranked Guzmán as the tenth richest person in Mexico, with a net worth of about $1 billion.

The Chicago Crime Commission and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agreed together to put Guzmán at the top of the criminal list, even though he resides in Mexico. Nevertheless, his cartel is the main narcotics supplier to Chicago, making Guzman as important as a local crime boss.

Jack Riley, the DEA’s top official in Chicago, not only compared Guzmán to Capone, but he thinks the drug lord is more dangerous.

“If I was to put those two guys in a ring, El Chapo would eat that guy (Capone) alive,” Riley told the Associated Press.

In 1993 Guzmán was sentenced to more than 20 years in prison. While in prison, he was also convicted in connection with the murder of Cardinal Juan Jesús Posadas Ocampo. However, after bribing several guards, Guzmán escaped from a maximum security prison on January 19, 2001.

-Noel Brinkerhoff, David Wallechinsky

To Learn More:

Cartel kingpin Chicago's new Public Enemy No. 1 (by Michael Tarm, Associated Press)

Public Enemy Number One: Joaquín Guzmán Loera, aka “El Chapo” (Chicago Crime Commission)

Joaquín Guzmán Loera (Wikipedia)