Robilotto was a native of New York and first became associated with the Genovese crime family and was a partner with infamous mob turncoat, Joseph Valachi in a successful loan sharking business Joe had created. The business came under the scrutiny of powerful Genovese capo Anthony Strollo also known as "Tony Bender", a shifty, double-dealing crew boss, close to Vito Genovese. A compulsive gambler, Strollo let it be known he was losing heavily on the horses and wanted a share of Valachi and Robilotto's action. Valachi allegedly refused to give up any of his business to Strollo and was called to a meeting with his boss at a famous gangster rendezvous, Dukes restaurant in Cliffside Park, New Jersey. In the end Valachi and Robilotto had to give in to Strollo's demands, but rather than split hi