[1] With his parents and siblings, Andrew, James and Pasqualina, he immigrated to the United States in April 1908,[2] settling in Buffalo, New York.
[3] In 1921, he moved in Pittston, Pennsylvania,[3] working as a coal miner; Sciandra became an enforcer and bootlegger for Bufalino crime family boss Santo Volpe.
[3] Like so many crime families, they are built upon blood ties, long standing friendships and various powerful arms.
These included Santo "King of the Night" Volpe, Angelo Polizzi, Joseph "Joe the Barber" Barbara and Sciandra.
In 1933, after being questioned about his possible involvement in the murder of Samuel Wichner, Santo Volpe appointed John Sciandra as boss and quietly worked behind the scenes within the family while also devoting more attention to legitimate business.