Eppolito joined the gambino crime family sometime in the 1950's, he was made capo by Carlo Gambino in the 1960's and was at one point a powerful capo who was involved in bookmaking. during the late 1970's when Paul Castellano became boss his power declined, he worked in partnership with Anthony Gaggi in a bookmaking operation in Brighton Beach,Brooklyn this relationship turned sour when Gaggi's solider Roy DeMeo cheated his son "Jim Jim" of $7,000 in a cocaine deal.