Anthony Ruggiano Jr was born into the mafia via his father Anthony ‘Fat Andy’ Ruggiano Sr. in 1953. His mother was distant as opposed to his father who, despite being a mafia hitman, was a warm and loving figure throughout his life. Anthony was born in East New York and moved to Ozone Park when he was five. He has one brother and one sister. Due to his exposure to a life in crime from such a young age, it was only unavoidable he later joined his father and ran his own crew. 

​Anthony’s father 'Fat Andy' became a made member of the mafia in 1953 under the tutelage of Albert Anastasia, and quickly became a feared boss with one of the biggest crews in New York City. Fat Andy was featured in the beginning of Goodfellas, for having been part of the biggest robbery known to man. For as tough as Fat Andy could be he was also a loving and caring son, father, neighbor and grandfather.​

It wasn't until Anthony was thirteen however, that he truly pieced together who his father truly was. Fat Andy took him to clubs where he met the likes of John Gotti, and he began to read up about his father through articles. At the age of 16 Anthony was suspended from high school, and his father asked him what he wanted to do with his life. Anthony said he wanted to work for him, at this point knowing full well what that meant. 

Fat Andy kept exposing his son to other bosses and captains like O’Neil, who was the underboss of the Gambino family. At this point, through Fat Andy and his partner Tony Lee's guidance, Anthony began to form his own crew. The NYPD quickly learned who he was and began to arrest him in hopes they could shake off some money from his father. Anthony was also exposed to cocaine and the drug world too. 

At twenty-three Anthony was convicted of burglary and grand larceny but due to the lavish party his father threw in his honor, he wasn't aware of the consequences of going to jail. Upon Anthony’s release, Fat Andy moved to South Miami where he began to run a crew, until his arrest and 40-year conviction. At this point, Anthony's addiction began to accelerate and take its toll. 

Over the course of the next twenty-one years, Fat Andy and Anthony were either both in prison at the same time or one was out and the other was in. His father continued to run his crew through Anthony and Tony Lee where extreme acts of violence and other crimes were being committed through his blessing.