Mormando was born in Ozone Park, Queens, and is a divorced father of two children.[2] In October 2009, Mormando became the first mobster to admit in open court that he is gay while on trial for the 2003 shooting of bagel store owner, Angelo Mugnolo.[3] Although the mafia ran gay bars and gay night clubs, including the Stonewall Inn, they frowned upon being gay. He had a close personal friendship with Richard G. Gotti, John Gotti's nephew.[4][5]