As capo Santoro operated out of East Harlem and the Bronx controlling a large heroin drug trafficking operations during the 1950s.
In 1967, Lucchese died of a brain tumor and Santoro's longtime friend Anthony Corallo was seen as the most obvious candidate for boss, however, Corallo was imprisoned during the time and the family leadership went to Carmine "Gribbs" Tramunti, who also favored the imprisoned Santoro, as well as Corallo.