The family consists of two distinct factions, one based in Providence, Rhode Island , and the other in Boston , Massachusetts. Raymond Patriarca became boss of the family in and led the organization from the Federal Hill neighborhood of Providence until his death in Under Patriarca's leadership, the family profited primarily from illegal gambling, loansharking, pornography and trafficking in stolen goods. Upon the death of Patriarca Sr.
Patriarca Jr. Internal warfare in the Patriarca family continued in the s as a renegade faction within the Boston underworld led by Robert F. Carrozza challenged Salemme loyalists for control of the family. Salemme and Carrozza were imprisoned during a string of convictions, and Luigi Manocchio took over as boss in , returning the family's leadership to Providence.
As of , the family's membership is estimated at approximately 30 "made" members. Before the start of Prohibition , two separate Mafia families emerged in New England : one based in Boston , Massachusetts, and the other based in Providence, Rhode Island.
In , Messina stepped down as boss of the Boston family, assuming a businessman's role while working with Frank Cucchiara and Paolo Pagnotta from a grocery store on Prince Street in the North End.
East Boston mobster Filippo Buccola emerged as the boss of the Boston family. During the early s, Buccola battled other ethnic gangs for territory in Boston, along with his underboss Joseph Lombardo, another mobster from the North End. He died in of natural causes at the age of In , Patriarca made drastic changes in the family, the biggest being the relocation of their base of operations to Providence, using the National Cigarette Service Company and Coin-O-Matic Distributors, a vending machine and pinball business on Atwells Avenue, as a front organization.
