Cucchiara was born in Salemi, Sicily and became a naturalized American citizen in 1931. When boss Philip Buccola and Boston consigliere Giuseppe Lombardo left the New England rackets, a new boss was needed and Raymond L.S. Patriarca filled the void. Patriarca chose Frank "The Cheeseman" Cucchiara as his consigliere or counselor for his crime family. Cucchiara earned got the nickname "Cheeseman" because he owned the Purity Cheese company in Endicott, Boston. There is little known about Cucchiara besides the fact that he fast rising capo in the state of Massachusetts. He was once arrested for suspicion of murder, possession of morphine and dynamite. He was known to hide his illegal activities or launder his money through the disguise as a cheese importer.