[1] In 1927, Coppola and Joseph Rao were arrested on suspicion of murdering a bootlegging rival named Salvatore Barbera.

Her death was claimed to have been the result of overhearing Coppola's plans to assassinate New York Republican Party political activist Joseph Scottoriggio, who was murdered in 1946, in response to his opposition to Vito Marcantonio.

[4][5] Doris Coppola died in March 1948, a day after giving birth,[6] reportedly murdered by her husband to prevent her from testifying against him after she had been charged with perjury[5] (her scheduled testimony had been postponed due to her pregnancy).

Found severely beaten on an isolated beach in October 1960,[12] Ann Drahmann (she reverted to her former name after divorcing) continued to aid the investigation.

[15] Following his release from prison, Coppola was unable to regain his previous power and lived in obscurity until his death in 1966 from nephritis at New England Baptist Hospital in Boston.