America is a reputed soldier in the San Jose crime family and restaurateur. He came to the U.S. from Porticello, Sicily in 1966. America eventually owned and operated three very successful Bay Area restaurants, two in San Jose and one in Millbrae. He has always steadfastly denied any connection to organized crime, although a very close relationship between him and former San Jose crime boss Angelo Marino had been documented. America came from the same town in Sicily as Marino's mother and father. Marino was the Godfather of America's second child. It's even said Marino sponsored America's induction into La Cosa Nostra. America's brother, Antonino "Nino" America owned Grande Pizza in San Jose and was a reputed associate of the San Jose organization from the 1970s until his death in 1995.