Phillip Tatalglia immigrated from Naples, Italy to the US in 1910. Phillip was allegedly the illegitimate son of the Archbishop of Naples. When he was 13, he was seduced/raped by the Mother Superior of the Sister of Pompeii. This event was to shape his future as Phillip soon became enthralled with the sexual conquests of all women in a sado/masochistic way. Not the most attractive young man, his own conquests were more of a rape event themselves. It was rumored that at age 14 he was caught in the act by the girls father. A struggle ensued and Phillip killed the man. To escape prosecution, Phillip fled to America.

Once in America, Phillip found the streets of NYC were a place where an ambitious young thug could make a living and satisfy his sexual perversions. He settled in Brooklyn where through a series of street fights and "contract" jobs, he developed a reputation as a ruthless leader of a small gang that took pleasure in sadistic acts of brutality. His reputation soon caught the eye of the Brooklyn mob headed by Augustus Argento. By age 30, Tataglia took over the Argento mob when the head of Augustus was found on the steps of his home. The body was never found. Phillip soon controlled the prostitution and gambling in Brooklyn.