[8] Allusions to these historic connections were confirmed by the CIA's 2007 declassification of the "Family Jewels" documents. Now he owns a 210-acre orange grove in southern Hillsborough. TAMPA CRIME BOSS SANTO TRAFFICANTE JR PLAYS A CENTRAL ROLE IN THRILLER MAFIA SPIES. In the meantime, the allegation that he is a mobster has dogged him and his family. Don Santo Trafficante Jr was one of the last of the old-time American Mafia bosses in the United States. A year later they had their first son, Frank, born on April 16, 1910. Oops, something didn't work. Afterwards, the son he had groomed to take his place, Santo Trafficante Jr., took the reins of the Trafficante crime family. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. Please check your email for further instructions. Our thoughts and prayers with you. Organized Crime Figure. He went to Jesuit High School and played some football. prosecution, fled temporarily to Cuba. After the death of his wife, the Trafficante family sold their Tampa 1970-built home for $950,000. Santo Trafficante Jr. (November 15, 1914 March 17, 1987) was among the most powerful Mafia bosses in the United States. Send your deepest condolences with fresh flowers. "I thought I could just go down to (former Hillsborough State Attorney) Bill James and (Assistant State Attorney) Lee Atkinson and explain it all away in 15 minutes.". Trafficante Jr. was nonetheless a ruthless and old-school mob boss. Email blog@themobmuseum.org. Indeed, some people would rather not dwell on the less-than-noble aspects of our local history. Trafficantes partnership with Batista was profitable for both parties and so the mobsters fate became inextricably tied to that of Cubas political climate. [14] When this was pointed out, Aleman denied that he meant that he believed Kennedy was going to murdered and said he thought that Trafficante meant that Kennedy was going to be "hit" politically during the next election. His son, Santo Trafficante Jr., took over the crime family and became tangled in a web of conspiracies to kill the leader of revolutionary Cuba and, it is rumored, President John F. Kennedy. A A. A system error has occurred. [20], In 2005, Lamar Waldron and Thom Hartmann's book Ultimate Sacrifice said that Trafficante was behind an aborted plot to kill Kennedy in Tampa on November 18, 1963. Trafficante weathered the violence of Floridas Mob wars and the various conspiracy theories, the Cuban Revolution and the loss of his offshore casinos, as well as intense law enforcement scrutiny, without ever spending time in prison. English He was severed from that trial for medical reasons. Santo Jr. succeeded his father as the boss of Tampa upon his death. Santo Trafficante Jr. (November 15, 1914 - March 17, 1987) was among the most powerful Mafia bosses in the United States. Trafficante was arrested again in 1957 for attending the famous Apalachin summit of Mob leaders in New York, but those charges were dropped. Learn more about managing a memorial . This was proven in 1953 when he eliminated the last contender to the Tampa mob throne: Joe Antinori, son of the late Ignacio. "I was the most expensive forklift driver in the world," he says with a smile. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. Please check your entries and try again. Your entry has exceeded the maximum character limit. The Shore Acres home is 2,350-square-feet with 10 rooms that Capone reputedly built in 1925 for his mother. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. Love, Jimmy Schaffer. "I think it's all bull----," says Trafficante's former horse trainer, Arthur Pedregal Jr. "It's only because his name is Trafficante. Josephine Marchese Trafficante, 95, died peacefully in her sleep, Wednesday morning at her home. He attended the University of Florida for a year, then transferred to the University of Tampa and left without completing his degree. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. You'll learn about bolita, the rumored tunnels of Ybor, and the Era of Blood.Join us for this one-of-a-kind walking tour of Tampa's most storied neighborhood. Passing before her were her parents Antonino and Sarafina Marchese; her beloved husband Santo Trafficante Jr.; her son-in-law's Augie Paniello and Richard Valdes; and her brothers, Bennie Marchese, Tommy Marchese, and Peter Marchese. Santo, Jr. never spent a day in jail, and he died of natural causes in 1987. He was the lynchpin in Tampa Charlie Wall The Kefauver hearings arrived in Tampa in December of 1950. Don Santo Trafficante Jr. the godfather from Tampa, Florida, USA. Frank Ragano and Santo Trafficante Jr. (right). [18] According to Ragano, he met Hoffa at the Teamsters' headquarters in Washington, DC, then delivered the message to Trafficante and Marcello in a meeting at the Royal Orleans Hotel in New Orleans. He was accused of making false financial statements for loans he used to invest in his citrus business, to purchase luxury cars and to buy a beach condo. Every so often I think of the Jekyll Island and White Lake, NC trip and laugh. After Cuban revolution, the Mafia saw Castro as a threat to their business. Join us for this one-of-a-kind walking tour of Tampa's most storied neighborhood. She was a native of Tampa, a second-generation Sicilian immigrant who grew up in Ybor city. Scott M. Deitche is the author of six books on organized crime, including a biography of Santo Trafficante Jr., and has written dozens of articles on organized crime for magazines and newspapers. He attended the University of Florida for a year, then transferred to the University of Tampa and left without completing his degree. Year should not be greater than current year. His new attorney general his beloved brother, Robert F. Kennedy went after organized crime with a vengeance. By Santo III's own estimation, this was a wise move. Trafficantes chance came in the 1960s when he became acquainted with mobster John Handsome Johnny Roselli. In the early 20th Century, Tampa was a small but growing city, and the organized crime it faced was modest. Weve updated the security on the site. The American governments close ties to Santo Trafficante Jr. and the rest of the Mafia didnt end with their attempts to kill Castro. Daughters: Mary Josephine Sarah Ann Brothers: Frank, Salvatore (Sam), Epifanio and Enrico (Henry) Uncle: Joseph M. CACCIATORE (convicted narcotic trafficker) CRIMINAL HISTORY: His positioning in Florida was prime for drug shipping as the product often passed through these ports en route to elsewhere in America. However, by the late 1920s, facing little pressure, Sicilian gangsters began setting up lucrative gambling and narcotics rackets. Or does he just look like one? We cant help ourselves when it comes to watching mob films like The Godfather, Goodfellas, Casino and HBOs Boardwalk Empire and the iconic cable TV show, The Sopranos. If the decision is upheld on appeal, charges against Trafficante may be dismissed. He worked to expand the crime familys business holding and territory he was particularly interested in Cuba as a location for gambling, hotels and night clubs and worked to cement good ties with his fellow mobsters in. Several were wounded. Following his death, Mobster Vincent LoScalvo took over the Trafficante familys criminal network in Florida. Plant a tree to honor the memory of your loved one. "Now when I walk in a bank," Trafficante says, "the president runs out the back door.". love gloria "owens" hill. Failed to delete memorial. Upon his return to the United States, he became determined to bring down the man who ended his empire. The authorities continued to charge him with participating in illegal activities, but the aging mob boss escaped conviction each time. He allegedly controlled organized crime operations in Florida and Cuba The report was given to the District Attorney's office. With over 30 years experience in the field of Mechanics, I will work with you on a personal basis, I will discuss with you your specific needs pertaining to your motorcycle. [1] Trafficante maintained several residences in New York City and Florida. The twister killed hls mother when lt touched down about 6, honored Wednesday us the nation's sute legislator. Santo Trafficante Jr. was a reserved, modest man married to the same woman for 49 years. In this episode, we will discuss the fascinating life of Tampa's most powerful mobster: Santo Trafficante Jr. My thoughts and prayers are with you all! He had a big heart and will be missed. Trafficante was apprehended in November 1957, along with over 60 other mobsters, at the Apalachin meeting in Apalachin, New York. In the early 1980s Trafficante was ensnared in two major cases that could have sent the aging don to prison for the first time in his life, apart from his time in the Triscornia detention camp in Cuba following Castros takeover in 1959. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. "You hope things will just disappear two or three years from now.". She touched all who knew her, and upon meeting her, she would embrace you, and you would instantly become part of the family. He maintained all of the lucrative casinos in Cuba, further cemented, After Cuban revolution, the Mafia saw Castro as a threat to their business. [21], Trafficante was summoned to court in 1986 and questioned about his involvement with the King's Court Bottle Club operated by members of the Bonanno crime family, including undercover FBI agent Joseph D. "Joe" Pistone, a.k.a. Please try again later. Love and peace to you all. In Trafficante's food chain, reporters rank only marginally higher than prosecutors and bank regulators, whom he likes to refer to as "rat bastards.". While he had several close calls with law enforcement including the famed FBI, Late in life LoScalzo denied any connections to organized crime. His wife also was named in the fraud charges. Try again later. All Rights Reserved. [13] Trafficante said that he introduced the trio to Cuban exiles in Florida. The people of Tampa, especially the ones still around to remember those days still feel a duty of sorts to keep quite of these things, as if these people are still amongst us and can hear our chatter. The "Family Jewels" confirmed that in September 1960, the CIA recruited ex-FBI agent Robert Maheu to approach the West Coast representative of the Chicago mob, Johnny Roselli. Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. He maintained close working ties with the Lucchese crime family and the Bonanno crime family from New York City. By the time Prohibition and the Era of Blood ended, he was the top man in the Florida Mafia, operating with the blessing of exiled Mob boss Charlie Lucky Luciano, Frank Costello of the Five Families, and Meyer Lansky of the national Syndicate. In the 1950s, Tampas reputation for corruption and vice was so bad it prompted one national magazine to label the area the Hell Hole of the Gulf Coast. Given such negativity, who can blame people for just wanting to forget? The next son was Luigi Santo Trafficante Jr. (his namesake and future Mafia boss), born on November 15, 1914. the daughter of immigrants from the Italian region of Basilicata. Send a note, share a story or upload a photo. He convicted infamous criminal labor union head, Jimmy Hoffa. The guy really tried to do it right.". This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. Harris & Ewing/Library of Commons/Wikimedia CommonsCuban leader Fulgencio Batista in Washington, D.C. in 1938. Trafficante had been operating in Cuba since the late 1940s under his father, Santo Trafficante Sr., a mobster in Tampa, Florida. SANTO TRAFFICANTE SR, A Sicilian of the Old School, RULED TAMPAS UNDERWORLD FOR MORE THAN A DECADE! Daughters: Mary Josephine Sarah Ann Brothers: Frank, Salvatore (Sam), Epifanio and Enrico (Henry) Uncle: Joseph M. CACCIATORE (convicted narcotic trafficker) CRIMINAL HISTORY: And all this occurred throughout seven Sylvia at age 12 and her father Jimmy Velasco in California, June 1948 Jimmy Velasco was a political fixer. My ex-wife Erline Lazzara was a childhood friend you might remember. I hold such fond memories of Santo & Gerry when I was growing up. Whether or not a Mafia conspiracy was behind the assassination of Kennedy is still up for debate. 93461.". Santo Traficante Jr fue uno de los ltimos y mas poderosos capos de la mafia en Florida y Cuba. Published: March 15th, 2017 - By Scott M. Deitche, Contributing Writer, Florida Mafia boss Santo Trafficante Jr. died 30 years ago March 17, El Chapos lawyers complain about strict rules at New York prison. He buys Jaguars for his two sons, hobnobs with sports stars on resort golf courses and occasionally flies to Miami for lunch at a favorite restaurant, the Rascal House. Our deepest condolences to the Trafficante family. His business ventures have not always been successful. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. He headed the Trafficante crime family and controlled organized criminal operations in Florida and Cuba, which had previously been consolidated from several rival gangs by his father, Santo Trafficante Sr. Trafficante maintained links to the Bonanno crime family in New York City, but was more closely allied with Sam Giancana in Chicago. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. He was, in many ways, the archetypical old-school Mob boss. Santo was one of the FBIs targets in that case. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. "When my uncle visited it was like a family reunion. He headed the Trafficante crime family from 1954 to 1987 and controlled organized criminal operations in Florida and Cuba, which had previously been consolidated from several rival gangs by his father, Santo Trafficante Sr. There was a problem getting your location. The mafiosos that made up the family are either retired, in prison, or have died due to old age. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. He died of natural causes, at the age of 72, in Houston, Texas. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. Scott M. Deitche, Mob Museum Advisory Council member and mob http://www.scottdeitche.com/books.htmlauthor of Tampa's favorite books, Cigar City Mafia: A Complete History of the Tampa Underworld & The Silent Don: The Criminal Underworld of Santo Trafficante Jror Manny Leto, previous Editor of Cigar City Magazine and Tampa historian, will guide you on a 1.5 -2 hour walking tour to old gambling palaces, street corners, and alleys where some mobsters met their demise, and restaurants where wise guys, like famed boss Santo Trafficante Jr, held court. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. The first case stemmed from the FBIs well-known Donnie Brasco undercover sting operation. She is now living in Virginia. [11], In 1976, Cuban exile and FBI informant Jose Aleman told The Washington Post that in September 1962, Trafficante had offered him a loan of $1.5million to replace Aleman's three-story "ramshackle motel with a 12-story glass wonder. However, while the Latin American drug trade has figured prominently in the sunshine states less savory history, so has the Mafia. . When you think of Florida and organized crime, it is difficult to avoid conjuring up images of Tony Montana in. Santo Trafficante Jr. (November 15, 1914 - March 17, 1987) was among the most powerful Mafia bosses in the United States. He attended a notorious convention of Mafia bosses held in the upstate New York town of Apalachin on November 14, 1957. To add further credence to this theory of JFKs assassination, famed prosecutor Vincent Bugliosi (who also wrote the infamous true crime novel on the Manson Family, Helter Skelter), who penned Reclaiming History: The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy, quoted a witness who said that New Orleans boss Marcello had quipped: The dog [JFK] will keep biting you if you only cut off its tail [RFK]., The final piece of evidence for the theory that Santo Trafficante was involved in JFKs assassination was a witness who reported that the mobster had once said himself that JFK not going to make it to the [1964] election. In January 1963, he married Geraldine Valenti, the daughter. All the convictions were overturned on appeal in 1960. Like Trafficante Jr. before him, had many close calls with law enforcement, but always escaped serious charges. please know that i am praying for you and your family. After a violent mob war left several of Trafficantes rivals dead or weakened, his gang rapidly rose to prominence in Tampa. "I thought all this would end when my uncle died. Santo Trafficante Sr. was a Florida mobster who survived a series of vicious gang wars to become the leader of a powerful Mafia crime family based in Tampa. Wikimedia CommonsPresident John F. Kennedy, FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, and Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy. When his father died in 1954 he took control of these establishments. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. Ed Giorandino/NY Daily News Archive via Getty ImagesSanto Trafficante arrives at Queens Supreme Court in Kew Gardens. And the Trafficante Crime family found out that it had an unusual ally in their concerns about Castro: the Central Intelligence Agency. Santo Trafficante then categorically denied every allegation about stating he wanted RFK or JFK dead and got off scot-free. My uncle, never wore a ring," Trafficante says. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. Wife : Josephine MARCHESE (Santo TRAFFICANTE Jr. married Josephine in Tampa, Florida on April 17, 1938). Many fond memories of Santo will continue with me. A full report was made by the Cuban police, dated January 23, 1958, includes transcripts of long-distance telephone calls made from the Sans Souci during the period AugustDecember 1957. President John. That horse won $161,080 for its new owners, according to the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders Association. At Boxer Cycle Works. He returned to Tampa for the last time for internment in the LUnione Italiana Cemetery. "He's very creative in terms of the combination of things he eats," Alessi says. Santo Trafficante, Jr. was born in the United States on November 15, 1914, as one of five sons of Mafia boss Santo Trafficante. A few months later, two members of that group took the train to New York City to drum up support for a move against Santo. As one of the most powerful mobsters in the US, Trafficante was invited to the Havana Conference in December 1946. department.". ). She was the Matriarch of the Trafficante Family; and we will all miss her presence, guidance, love and affection. The Trafficante Family Under Santo Junior. Conspiracy theorists consider Giancana along with Mafia leaders Santo Trafficante Jr. and Carlos Marcello associated with the assassination of Kennedy. Another bank sued Trafficante and his wife in October for repayment of a $100,000 promissory note. He was rumored to be part of a Mafia syndicate which owned many Cuban hotels and casinos. For the last 20 years, everyone knew her as JuJu. Santo Trafficante Jr. was a reserved, modest man married to the same woman for 49 years. GitHub export from English Wikipedia. Chronicles of Events and Biographies Related to the American Mafia. Buy the time LoScalzo took over in 1987, the Trafficante Crime Family was far past its heyday. Afterwards, the son he had groomed to take his place, Santo Trafficante Jr., took the reins of the Trafficante crime family. [14] He stated that he was concerned for his safety and was not certain that he had ever correctly heard or understood Trafficante's comment. Husband of Private According to some, he was even involved in the infamous assassination of President John F. Kennedy. After months of wiretapped phone conversations, investigators seized boxloads of documents, some with Trafficante's name on them. During the rule of Cuba's authoritarian dictator Fulgencio Batista, Trafficante openly operated the Sans Souci Cabaret and the Casino International gambling establishments in Havana. When Fidel Castro began his ascent to power in the 1950s, Santo Trafficante feared the radical Marxist revolutionary wouldnt cooperate with him. He walked outside and got into a 1951 Mercury sedan driven by one of his associates. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. It never did exist.". Santo Trafficante was wanted in 48 states by the time he was 43. Forget everything you think you know about Tampa mafia wives and girlfriends in the 1950s. Trafficante admitted his anti-Castro activities to the United States House Select Committee on Assassinations in 1978, and vehemently denied allegations that he had knowledge of a plot to assassinate President John F. Kennedy. Undercover detectives ran a gambling sting operation there, hoping to nab a circle of Tampa men they said were making illegal sports bets. But then came Key Bank, a massive drug-money-laundering investigation. Claiming association with the CIA, Roselli knew of Trafficantes vendetta and told his new pal that the U.S. government also wanted to take down Castros Communist regime. Are you sure that you want to remove this flower? You've got to be a fool to marry wrong," he says. The investigators were looking for proof of drug-money laundering. Trafficante was jailed and deported when Fidel Castro rose to power, leading him to spend a good portion of his adult life hatching a plan of revenge. ", Christopher Sabella elected as Hillsborough Countys next chief judge, Tampa man arrested in death of person found in apartment with unharmed infant, deputies say, Suspect in Hillsborough slaying of woman IDd, man known as Ya Dig, deputies say, After nearly a century of fixing Tampas flat tires, downtown Firestone closes, Under investigation, HART CEO proposes settlement, payout and exit, Dead body found in Hillsborough apartment with unharmed infant, deputies say, NAACP wants reparations for Tampas Black cemeteries that governments stole, Latin Kings gang leaders among 21 arrested in Hillsborough drug operation, sheriff says, Estimated 630,000 gallons of raw sewage spilled into the Hillsborough River, records show, Tampa man who was first to face trial for Florida voter fraud in 2020 election gets probation. "[1][13] He stated that he was positive that he did not say it because he always spoke to Aleman in Spanish, and said that there was no way to state the phrase in Spanish. Santo Trafficante Jr. had long followed in his father's footsteps, and proved to be an even more effective Mafia kingpin. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. "My kids suffered a lot by it," he says. Make sure that the file is a photo. That was in part due to his lifestyle. This browser does not support getting your location. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Italian Club of Tampa Cemetery Fund, 1731 East 7th Ave., Tampa, FL 33605. Donnie Brasco. Many of the familys gangsters were in prison, or too old to be effective. THE HIT THAT EXPOSED SOME OF TAMPAS ELITE. The CIA came to Trafficante, and asked for his help in enlisting the Mafia to assassinate the Cuban leader. The senior Trafficante's name has been linked to gambling, drug-dealing and even plots to kill Fidel Castro and John F. Kennedy. But the news was not good on the Key Bank front. wills o' nats last of the summer wine. Thanks for your help! Geni requires JavaScript! [5] The idea behind the assassination wasnt just to punish JFK but also to get his brother off the Mobs back. The Dignity Memorial brand name is used to identify a network of licensed funeral, cremation and cemetery providers that include affiliates of Service Corporation International, 1929 Allen Parkway, Houston, Texas. She was predeceased in death, by other loving family members. You'll learn about bolita, the rumored tunnels of Ybor, and the Era of Blood. The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. View Source Suggest Edits Memorial Photos Flowers Memorials Region North America USA Florida On Oct. 26, 1937, Frank Trafficante named his first son after his own father, Santo Trafficante Sr. Trafficante would be charged with bank fraud, perjury and disclosure of criminal investigation. In 1959, the Cuban Revolution toppled the corrupt Batista government and the rebel leader, Fidel Castro, nationalized foreign-owned properties and shuttered the casinos, a huge financial blow to Trafficante, who was second only to Meyer Lansky in the depth of his investments in Havana. As we all know, he was right, and Kennedy was assassinated by a sniper in November 1963. Instead of Italian suits, he wears horizontally striped golf shirts. Born in Tampa, Florida in 1914, Trafficante hailed from a family already deeply involved in organized crime. Try again. One small gang, led by Italian immigrant Santo Trafficante Senior, profited from the illegal lottery-style games they ran across Tampa. "I'm a freak for that kind of stuff," he says. Santo Trafficante Jr. had long followed in his fathers footsteps, and proved to be an even more effective Mafia kingpin. Thanks for subscribing! Federal investigators brought racketeering and conspiracy charges against him in the summer of 1986. "Sam Gold" was Sam Giancana; "Joe" was Trafficante. When you think of Florida and organized crime, it is difficult to avoid conjuring up images of Tony Montana in Scarface, or the heyday of Miami Vice. During a recent trip to Lake Tahoe he bought two basketballs autographed by Michael Jordan.

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