John DeRoss is the father of Colombo family mobsters Jack J. DeRoss and Jamie T. DeRoss. He is a uncle to Carmine "Skippy" DeRoss and to Alphonse Persico which would make him a brother-in-law to Carmine Persico. Toward the mid 1980s, US authorities recognized DeRoss as Acting Underboss for Carmine Persico, as many Colombo crime family members went on trial and were imprisoned. In October 1984, DeRoss and Carmine Persico were indicted on racketeering charges involving several restaurants and construction companies. DeRoss was convicted and sentenced to 12 years.