It was speculated that Calandra was a member of the Cleveland mob although it is more widely believed that he was just a high ranking associate and never officially made a member of La Cosa Nostra. Whatever his official status in the Cleveland family, he acted as a lieutenant to his close friend and associate James Licavoli in Cleveland's East side rackets. Calandra was one of many mobsters who took part in the planning of the murder of Irish mob Boss Danny Greene, he met many times with Los Angeles hitman Ray Ferritto and conspired with him to kill Greene.