Fecarotta claimed he made a living as a gambler, winning up to $25,000 a year betting on horse races. He never had a credit card, never declared his racetrack winnings on income tax returns and paid cash for everything, including his Mercedes. Fecarotta was described as having a 25-year relationship with North Side gambling boss Ken Eto, for whom he once worked as a "watchman" trying to catch cheaters.