Giovanni Schillaci was part of an old gang that was active in New York's Lower East Side in the 1920s. The details of this organization's operations came to light during October 1963 testimony offered by ex-mobster Joseph "Joe Cargo" Valachi. Valachi was a prominent member of a criminal syndicate run by Vito "Don Vitone" Genovese. Vallachi was the first prominent Mafioso to turn against La Cosa Nostra. The imprisoned ex-gangster testified before a U.S. Senate Crime Subcommittee that was investigating organized crime.