Liberatore served 20 years in prison for a 1938 murder conviction. Upon his release he was active in the labor unions and became a prominent member of the Cleveland Mafia. In 1972 he was granted a full pardon by the State of Ohio. He would eventually become a business manager for Local 860 and in 1975 was appointed to a regional governing municipality by the mayor of Cleveland. Once he was made into the Cleveland family, boss James Licavoli thought so much of him that he was quickly elevated to capo status.