He had a fiancée named Pia Moresco, whom he knew since they were kids. He joined Latimer's crime ring to help support the family of another marine who was killed in Afghanistan after they swapped seats in a Humvee. Under Latimer's leadership Joey and the rest of the crew mainly carried out high end robberies.
Reese joined the crime ring to protect Joey's life, which he was able to do successfully. But to protect him from Latimer, who later betrayed them, Reese convinced Joey to flee the city with Pia. He promised Joey that the family of the marine killed in Afghanistan would be looked after. Joey and Pia finally left the city to start a new life together.