Riela was born in Terranova, Sicily. Upon his arrival in the United States he first resided in Illinois where he became a close associate of Antonio Musso, founder of the Rockford crime family, with whom he worked closely during Prohibition in the 1920s and remained connected with even after moving away from Rockford. Riela was a very influential mobster during his days in Rockford, Illinois and was also associated with future crime bosses Gaspare Calo and Joseph Zammuto. Riela remained active in the Bonanno family into the 1980s. His date of death is unknown.