Pollina was born in Caccamo, Sicily and became a naturalized American citizen on July 12, 1944. His rap sheet dated back to 1927 and included arrests for murder, concealed weapons, untaxed liquor, assault & battery. His legitimate employment was as a cheese salesman for Maggio Cheese Co. Pollina was one of the top leaders of the mafia group known as 'The Greaser Gang' or Philadelphia crime family and controlled a large loanshark operation.