Sam Lagattuta is well-known for his appearance at the Apalachin meeting of November 14, 1957. A New York State Policeman informed his colleagues about the big mob conclave that had descended on the small town in upstate New York. Lagattuta entered crime as early as 1933. In 1937 he was one of five men arrested for the murder of a Batavia, New York pool room operator. The slain pool room manager was the brother of bookmaker Frank Lotiempo. In the aftermath of Apalachin Lagattuta was a fugitive for thirteen months.