Around 1960 he started working as an associate for the Gambino crime family. He was inducted into the Gambino crime family in 1986.
Was twice convicted of racketeering in federal court, in 2004 and 2005 and was due to be released from custody in 2031.
Was serving a 25-year sentence for a federal racketeering conviction in the Butner Federal Prison in North Carolina when he died.
Boss of the Gambino crime family in the US Mafia/LCN officially in June 2002. He was replaced by Dominic Cefalu in July 2011.
In March 2003 he was convicted of extortion, money laundering and racketeering activities centered on the Brooklyn and Staten Island waterfronts, and for the attempted extortion of film actor Steven Seagal.
His "legal" job was as a New York City sanitation worker.