Frank Valenti was born in 1911 and began his criminal career inside streetgangs, committing petty crimes. Since 1933 he had several arrests including extortion, counterfeiting and bootlegging. During the 1950's Valenti became a well earning member of the Pittsburgh Family, which was then under the command of John LaRocca. Valenti became a crew member of Antonio Ripepi, the father-in-law of his brother. When Valenti's brother started to run a crew in Rochester and took over the criminal activities there, Frank was also sent over to help. The Rochester territory however was mainly in the hands of Buffalo crime family big-shot Stefano Magaddino, but they were authorized to operate there. During this period Valenti also became associated with the Bonanno crime family.