Ciccone was born on July 19th 1934 to Sebastian Ciccone and Gelsamina Piccolla from Pacentro, Italy. One sister, Rosaria. Before his incarceration, Ciccone briefly lived in Springfield, New York. On December 19, 1991, in a consent decree to a civil suit brought by the federal government, Ciccone agreed to resign his posts with Local 1841 of the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA). This decree also barred Ciccone from participating in any ILA or waterfront activities. From 2000 until 2001, Ciccone helped direct a Gambino bookmaking racket in Costa Rica.