Peter Casella was a turbulent figure in the annals of Philadelphia Mafia history. He was in trouble with the law beginning in 1927. Numerous violations included several suspicious character incidents were punctuated by a larceny charge and a Criminal Registration offense. In 1948 Casella was held during an inquisition into the death of Philadelphia cheese dealer Anthony Minerva Jr. Minerva's family had sold their first business to cheese king Michael Maggio. Shortly before Anthony Jr. was fatally gunned down the Minervas had been warned not to reenter the Philly cheese industry.