His official jobs included labor organizer, secretary, and business agent for Manhattan Local 856 of the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA).
Clemente's criminal record included rape, assault, disorderly conduct, extortion, conspiracy to violate federal liquor laws, and perjury.
At one point, the president of a company managing stevedores paid Clemente $11,000 for one of his daughter's weddings.
In 1977, the government gained the cooperation of William Montella, a shipping company employee, and planted undercover surveillance devices in his office.
In 1979, Clemente was convicted on Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) charges including extortion and tax evasion and was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison.