Robert Occhipinti was a Cosa Nostra figure who was closely tied to the DeCavalcante and Gambino families. His cousin was Sam "the Plumber" DeCavalcante. Together Occhipinti and DeCavalcante planned the execution of rival mobster Joseph Feola in 1965. Feola formerly controlled the New York City garbage industry racket. With the assistance of DeCavalcante and Occhipinti, Joseph Gambino of the Gambino crime family gained control of this very lucrative racket. Occhipinti later became a fugitive in 1969 after he walked away from a hearing convened by the New Jersey State Investigative Commission.