Dialogue later in the film explains that Roth worked diligently with the Corleone family during Prohibition, helping them enter the bootlegging trade by setting up a molasses-smuggling operation between Havana and Canada.

Though in poor health, he is extremely wealthy, having made a fortune by running his own organized crime outfit, assisted by his right-hand man, Sicilian Johnny Ola.

Roth forms a partnership with Michael Corleone for a profitable business enterprise with the corrupt Cuban government of Fulgencio Batista and a number of major American corporations to take control of a casino in Reno.

Roth secretly plans to assassinate Michael, partly to avenge Moe Greene's murder (as depicted in The Godfather).

Remembering his father's advice to "keep your friends close, but your enemies closer", he maintains a good business relationship with Roth.

However, this assassination attempt is thwarted by Cuban soldiers who enter the hospital ward and open fire on Bussetta, killing him instead.

His request (like that of the real-life Meyer Lansky) is rejected by the Israeli High Court, reportedly due to his criminal ties.