Carabbia and his three brothers were all known as "the Crab", which was a play on their last name, and had become prominent in the organized crime scene in Youngstown, Ohio, working closely with the Cleveland Crime Family. Carabbia answered directly to Leo Moceri and later to Anthony Delsanter. Carabbia was suspected in the car-bombing death of Greek gambling boss Chris Sophocleos in a war for control of the Youngstown, Ohio rackets.