He was an early American Mafia boss who was the founder of what has for many years been called the Lucchese crime family in New York City.

[2] He married Angelina Olivera and the couple had nine children: five sons Giacomo - who became a member of the Lucchese family - [3] Henry, Sam, John and Bernard,[4] and four daughters, Anna, Carmela "Mildred" Valachi - who married Joe Valachi in 1932 -[3][5] Rose Bongrieco and Lucy Sterling.

[6] In November 1914, wealthy poultryman Barnet Baff was murdered by competitors in the poultry industry who had hired Sicilian gunmen to commit the crime.

Thus, by 1920, he ruled as boss of his own crime family controlling criminal operations in The Bronx and parts of East Harlem.

In the late 1920s, Reina formed an alliance with Masseria, who had absorbed into his now powerful organization the remnants of the much weakened Morello family.