Mr. Cariffe was raised in Newburgh, New York, widely recognized as one of the most dangerous cities in the U.S.

“I realized my family was different when racks of new coats appeared in my living room to the delight of my Italian American family. According to my father, the coats had ‘fallen off a truck,’ an expression synonymous with mafia truck hijackings in the 70’s.”

“Sundays were a special time to attend church, and visit my grandfather in prison, serving time for racketeering.” Family and friends included mobsters, bosses, and hitmen.

Mr. Cariffe went on to hold sworn law enforcement positions in the U.S. Army Military Police, the FBI, and San Francisco Police Department.