Manocchio has a criminal record dating back to the 1940s. In 1969, Manocchio was indicted for participating in the murders of Rudolph Marfeo and Anthony Melei. He fled to France, but later returned to the United States, living undercover in New York City for most of the 1970s. In 1979, Manocchio finally surrendered to law enforcement and pleaded guilty to several lesser charges. He was sentenced to 30 months in prison. Manocchio was also once arrested for theft after authorities found a stolen washing machine in his mother's house, which Manocchio had given to her as a gift.