He was known for his custom-made, wiseguy-style long collar shirts & hawk-like features. Russo was once wanted for robbery in Cleveland, Ohio & by this time was already an ex-convict out on parole. He made his bid for Mob immortality, when he gunned down hitman-turned-FBI-informant, Joseph “The Animal” Barboza, in San Francisco in 1976.

The day after the Cutolo murder, DeRoss unsuccessfully ransacked Cutolo's home office in Staten Island for Cutolo's loansharking records and a $1.5 million cash stash (hidden in a stove vent).

He was a soldier of the JoJo Russo crew before being made a Capo in 1991. Clemenza was in the Orena faction (during the third Colombo war, & a loyal supporter of Vic Orena).