Sonny Boy was heavily involved in the mainstays of mob activity including loansharking, gambling and racketeering, he had his base in the Boston suburb of Revere, he was the underboss of the New England mob from 1996-1998, he was 80 years old when he was elevated to the position. In 1998, Rizzo and others pleaded out to gambling and racketeering charges, during the trial Rizzo claimed he was nearly deaf and was released after less than a year in jail. Since 2007, at the age of 91, 'Sonny Boy' Rizzo has been considered retired and said to be in poor health.