When John Riggi became the official boss of the DeCavalcante family he made Rotondo his underboss. For years Rotondo lived and operated in the Brooklyn area, operating in Manhattan often, he was also a close confidant of Gaetano Vastola, the two were paired together for well over two decades. Rotondo was considered a no-nonsense type of mobster. He held influence over the Brooklyn waterfront and was identified as an 'organizer' for Local 1814 of the ILA. Years later, his son Anthony Rotondo, became a capo in the DeCavalcante family and later turned informant.