D'Elia was born in Trenton, New Jersey and began working for the Bufalino family in the late 1960s as Russell Bufalino's driver. His sister was married to the only son of Bufalino underboss Dave Osticco. D'Elia's business background in solid waste brokering and other areas would later be useful in making contacts in New York, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh. Rising through the ranks, D'Elia was said to be a mediator among mob families, meeting frequently with mobsters from the Philadelphia crime family, Western Pennsylvania, and New York City. He was said to be a close associate of mob boss John Stanfa with whom he allegedly plotted to murder hitmen Philip Colletti and John Veasey for their failure to kill Joseph Merlino and for being suspected FBI informants. The two were allegedly to be lur