Joseph Zito Sr. was a Mafioso who was mostly involved in upstate New York gambling ventures. A criminal turned FBI government informant, Zito sometimes wore an electronic device to assist federal agents. In 1973 he introduced an FBI agent to a New York City mobster. This was an era that witnessed the decline of underworld boss Stefano Magaddino of Buffalo. This decline was simultaneous with the rise of northeastern Pennsylvania mobster Russell Bufalino. Joseph Zito was heavily immersed in the coercion/shakedown of cigarette vending machine operators in the Monroe County, New York area.