Pasquale "Patsy" Conte was born on March 12, 1925, in Sicily, Italy, and immigrated to the United States, where he established himself both in legitimate business and in organized crime. He eventually settled in Roslyn, New York, a suburban enclave in Long Island. Despite his later reputation as a caporegime (captain) in the Gambino crime family, Conte maintained a strong presence in the legitimate business world.

He had significant ties to Tapps Supermarkets, holding a 23.9% stake in what was described as a family-run grocery chain. His son, Pasquale Conte Jr., served as the company’s vice president and treasurer, solidifying the family’s financial roots outside of the criminal world.

Despite this public image of a community businessman, Conte wielded significant influence within the Gambino family — one of the "Five Families" that dominate organized crime in New York City. His activities positioned him as a behind-the-scenes player in mob politics and alleged acts of violence.

Conte’s criminal journey began in February 1987, when federal agents arrested him at JFK Airport on charges of ordering the shooting of Sicilian mob figure Pietro Alfano. The image of Conte boarded for Puerto Rico, hands full of $7,000 cash, painted a brass-knuckles portrait—until the government dropped all charges by May 20, 1987, without explanation.

The more consequential drama unfolded with the 1990 murder of Louis DiBono, whose body was found riddled with bullets inside a Cadillac at the World Trade Center garage. Conte was charged in February 1993, but that trial hit a roadblock—a hung jury led to a mistrial in January 1994. Rather than ride the roller coaster of a retrial, Conte cut a deal. On June 21, 1994, he and two associates pleaded guilty to conspiracy to murder DiBono, earning a 7.5-year sentence.

His legal woes didn’t stop there. In 2001, he was handed an additional 3.5 years for racketeering. After a landlocked jail stretch, Conte walked free on September 26, 2003. He passed away December 27, 2017, at the age of 92.