Joseph Stalin's early revolutionary activities indeed involved criminal actions. Before rising to power, he was involved in various illegal activities to fund the Bolshevik cause. In Baku, Stalin was associated with a group that engaged in protection rackets, counterfeiting, and violent robberies. The Tiflis bank robbery in 1907 was one of the most notorious incidents linked to him, where his gang attacked a stagecoach carrying a large sum of money, resulting in numerous casualties. These actions were part of his early efforts to support the revolutionary movement financially.