Boriello grew up in South Brooklyn, New York, surrounded by mobsters from the Gambino, Genovese, and Colombo crime families. His older brother Stevie was a close friend of neighborhood gangsters Joey Gallo, Albert Gallo and Frank Illiano, and after Joey's murder, Stevie was instrumental in securing the crew's South Brooklyn rackets. A burly, 6-foot, 3-inch man, Boriello was a feared enforcer for the Gallo gang. During his early days, Boriello was suspected in several gangland slayings, as well as involvement in extortion, loan sharking, and drug trafficking.