During the 1980s, DeCicco worked as a sidewalk soldier in the old crew of John Gotti, then run by Angelo Ruggiero, but because Ruggiero suffered from cancer in 1989, Gotti's brother Gene Gotti took over the crew, only to discover that he would be convicted of drug trafficking and narcotics charges and sentenced to 50 years in prison. Working with Gambino mobsters John Carneglia, Salvatore Scala and Arnold Squitieri for many years, DeCicco was at that time promoted to the rank of Caporegime in the family. He is the brother of Frank DeCicco.