Ciasullo was born in East Cleveland, Ohio to first generation emigrants from Ciaculli, Palermo, Italy. Although Ciasullo stood at only 5'8", he was burly, muscular and mean and played on the Shaw High School football team. Eugene had a natural ferocity with intimidating shark-like eyes. He was trained as a lathe worker and plasterer like his uncles, but decided to pursue a career in organized crime instead. He first started committing burglaries with close friend and Cleveland family soldier Butchie Cisternino, the gang they led would become known as the "Young Turks" and also included future Cleveland boss Joseph Iacobacci. The two became involved in loansharking, loaning out money for 5% weekly. Eugene was notorious among law enforcement and organized crime circles for his hair-trigger t