Organized Crime Figure. Immigrated to the United States in 1921 at age 16. He was soon working as a hitman for the Buffalo crime family in their Northern Pennsylvania territory. During the 1930s, Joseph was arrested for several murders, including the 1933 murder of rival bootlegger Sam Wichner. Wichner had gone to Barbara’s house for a business meeting, where Joseph allegedly strangled Wichner to death. Law enforcement never obtained enough evidence to prosecute Joseph. On May 24, 1936 Joseph married Josephine Vivona in Endicott, New York, and fathered three sons, Joseph Jr., Peter, and Angelo; and a daughter, Angela. He is best known as the host of the notorious Apalachin Mafia Conference on November 14, 1957 which was raided by local authorities. The Apalachin Conference put the media spotlight directly on the secretive Cosa Nostra, triggering both state and federal hearings. As a result, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) director J. Edgar Hoover could no longer deny the existence the Cosa Nostra in the United States and was forced to start investigating it. (bio by: Shock)  Family links:  Spouse:  Josephine Barbara (1912 – 2001)*  Children:  Angelina Barbara (1935 – 1937)* *Calculated relationshipCause of death: Heart attack