By December 1953, one more rival was dead and another was too scared to even venture out of his home. You and Santo will always have a special place in my heart. At 7:25 p.m. on January 3, 1953, Florida Mafia boss Santo Trafficante Jr. had just finished dinner with his wife and children at his father-in-laws house in the Ybor City section of Tampa, Florida. The seeds for Trafficantes most interesting historical chapter were planted, as the mobster would go on to have a well-established relationship with the CIA in an ongoing effort to assassinate Castro. [5][6] Cuba was one of the Apalachin topics of discussion, particularly the gambling and narcotics smuggling interests of La Cosa Nostra on the island. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.. Share to let others add their own memories and condolences. Santo Trafficante Jr. was a reserved, modest man married to the same woman for 49 years. I am sorry I am unable to attend the services due to a illness. Every so often I think of the Jekyll Island and White Lake, NC trip and laugh. The elder Trafficante set up illegal casinos in Cuba in the 1940s, which were sanctioned by Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista. By 1987, the Mafia boss, who had walked the casino floors of the Sans Souci in Cuba, dined and hobnobbed with Frank Sinatra in the nightclubs and hotels of South Beach, and who commanded a presence in Tampa that is still felt today, was suffering from a diseased kidney and bad heart. Visitation will take place on Saturday, May 16th, from 9:30 to 11:30 AM, with service to follow at Gonzalez Funeral Home, 7209 N. Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa, FL. The IRS was unsuccessful, according to Fernandez, Trafficante's attorney. Try again later. Mobster Johnny Rosselli, who worked for both Trafficante and the Chicago Outfit, was another associate involved in the unsuccessful efforts to kill Castro and, according to some biographies, was the man who put Trafficante and Giancana together with Maheu. Santo Trafficante, Jr. was born in the United States on November 15, 1914, as one of five sons of Mafia boss Santo Trafficante. While shouldering the legacy of his father and. Under pressure of a court order granting him immunity from prosecution, but threatening him with contempt if he refused to talk, Santos admitted to a Congressional committee in 1975 that he had in the early 1960s recruited other mobsters to assassinate Castro. Until last year, the younger Trafficante had never been accused of anything more dramatic than bookmaking, a charge that a judge dismissed. love gloria "owens" hill. prosecution, fled temporarily to Cuba. Ex-FBI agent and later Howard Hughes aide Robert Maheu of Las Vegas was one of the primary go-betweens for Trafficante. This account has been disabled. Dennis Caruso/NY Daily News Archive via Getty ImagesFrank Ragano and Santo Trafficante Jr. (right). I found on Findagrave.com. Santo Trafficante Jr News reports - YouTube Images of America Series de libros - eBooks | Rakuten Kobo Mxico The authorities continued to charge him with participating in illegal activities, but the aging mob boss escaped conviction each time. I hold such fond memories of Santo & Gerry when I was growing up. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Santo Trafficante (53540265)? [3] His wife, Josephine, died in 2015 at the age of 95; he is survived by two of his daughters. REPUTED FLORIDA GODFATHER TRAFFICANTE, 72, DIES - Sun Sentinel Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. Resend Activation Email, Please check the I'm not a robot checkbox, If you want to be a Photo Volunteer you must enter a ZIP Code or select your location on the map. CANDLE HAS BEEN LIT CANDLES HAVE BEEN LIT, We are reviewing your submission. Trafficante was arrested frequently throughout the 1950s on various charges of bribery and of running illegal bolita lotteries in Tampa's Ybor City district. More importantly, Castro imprisoned Trafficante and then had him exiled from Cuba. Spoiled by mobsters, Meyer Lansky's daughter recalls family men, not Our deepest condolences to the Trafficante family. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. [13] On September 27, 1978, Aleman reiterated to HSCA investigators that Trafficante had complained to him for hours in June or July 1963 about Kennedy's crackdown on organized crime at a meeting to discuss a business loan. Valenti hired his son-in-law at the produce company and allowed him to name his own salary. Our heartfelt condolences go out to your family. A native and lifelong resident of Tampa, Mr. Traffi-cante is survived by his loving family, wife, Geraldine "Gerry" L. Trafficante; sons, Dino Jose and Joseph Frank Trafficante; daughters,. Departed this Life May 13, 2015 There was a problem getting your location. 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. Trafficante maintained links to the Bonanno crime family in New York City, but was more closely allied with Sam Giancana in Chicago. "Sam Gold" was Sam Giancana; "Joe" was Trafficante. [13] He testified that he was brought into the plot by Roselli and Giancana, who had been recruited by Maheu. His health had declined in his later years. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. Like Trafficante Jr. before him, had many close calls with law enforcement, but always escaped serious charges. RIP Santo. At age 16, he boarded the S.S. Lombardia and set sail for American in search of a better life. Fine food, and lots of it. Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. You have been in pain too long. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. His positioning in Florida was prime for drug shipping as the product often passed through these ports en route to elsewhere in America. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. Meet Santo Trafficante: The Silent Don Who Tried To Kill Fidel Castro And May Have Ordered JFKs Assassination. Please check your email for further instructions. While he had several close calls with law enforcement including the famed FBI Donnie Brasco investigation he never spent a single day of his life in jail. Trafficantes chance came in the 1960s when he became acquainted with mobster John Handsome Johnny Roselli. Then, check out these photos of the aftermath from some of the bloodiest mob hits. My ex-wife Erline Lazzara was a childhood friend you might remember. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. They never returned. A year later they had their first son, Frank, born on April 16, 1910. [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. She handled great adversity and difficult, troubling times with grace, dignity, and style; with respect and love for all around her. So, at his attorney Ralph Fernandez's urging, he has agreed to talk publicly, hoping to shore up his damaged reputation. [13] Trafficante also stated that he had no recollection of meeting Oswald or Oswald's assassin, Jack Ruby. He was the lynchpin in Tampa Charlie Wall The Kefauver hearings arrived in Tampa in December of 1950. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. When you think of Florida and organized crime, it is difficult to avoid conjuring up images of Tony Montana in. Daughters: Mary Josephine Sarah Ann Brothers: Frank, Salvatore (Sam), Epifanio and Enrico (Henry) Uncle: Joseph M. CACCIATORE (convicted narcotic trafficker) CRIMINAL HISTORY: Born in Tampa, Florida to Sicilian parents Mafia don Santo Trafficante, Sr. and his wife Maria Giuseppa Cacciatore. 93461.". Santo Trafficante Sr., a 'Sicilian of the old school,' ruled Tampa's We are one of them! Alongside Chicago boss Sam Giancana, Roselli and Trafficante came up with some truly insane plots to kill Fidel Castro. Santo Trafficante arrives at Queens Supreme Court in Kew Gardens. Santo Jr., who had inherited the leadership of the Tampa Mafia around 1950 when his father, Santo Sr., fell ill, had now completed his consolidation of power in Tampa and beyond. He had a big heart and will be missed. Tampa Mafia Tour - Tampa Mafia Nicknames: The Silent Don 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. Trafficantes father was the lucky survivor of what was called the Era of Blood, when rival gangs based in Tampa fought for control of Prohibition-era nightclubs and, crucially, the local numbers rackets called bolitas. Battling Mob rivals in South Florida essentially weakened each other financially and, through murder, the number of available soldiers. We never paid cash. Trafficante was arrested on a bookmaking conspiracy charge. Santo Trafficante was wanted in 48 states by the time he was 43. The beachfront properties were the site of many parties and barbecues. 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. He will always be remembered with fondness. Late in life LoScalzo denied any connections to organized crime. Santo Trafficante Jr. (November 15, 1914 - March 17, 1987) was among the most powerful Mafia bosses in the United States. 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. U.S., Newspapers.com Obituary Index, 1800s-current, U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947, Florida, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1823-1982, Thank you for fulfilling this photo request. [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. He sought treatment for stomach cancer and was ready to hand power over to a trusted lieutenant. The Trafficante Family Under Santo Junior. Resend Activation Email. From bolitaan illegal version of the now-legal Florida lotteryto narcotics, Tampas experience with organized crime is as notable as Chicagos or New Yorks. The Internal Revenue Service tried to collect $400,000 in back taxes owed on the business, saying it had not been run as business eligible for tax write-offs, but a hobby. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. Verify and try again. Peter Moruzzi/Wikimedia Commons The glamorous casino in the Hotel Nacional De Cuba in Havana in 1958. He was, in many ways, the archetypical old-school Mob boss. His business ventures have not always been successful. There was an error deleting this problem. The Trafficante family formed a strong alliance with the Batista government in Cuba and profited from their investments, although they never achieved the goal of dominating gambling on the island. However, by the late 1920s, facing little pressure, Sicilian gangsters began setting up lucrative gambling and narcotics rackets. It never did exist.". The charges of bank fraud against Trafficante and more than a dozen bank employees and customers may well be dismissed. Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? Love, Jimmy Schaffer. Santo Jr. was indicted several times through the 1950s but was convicted only once, on state charges in 1954 for bribery, and that conviction was overturned by the Florida Supreme Court. James Anthony Traficant Jr. (May 8, 1941 - September 27, 2014) was an American politician who served as a Democrat, and later independent, member of the United States House of Representatives from Ohio.He represented the 17th Congressional District, which centered on his hometown of Youngstown and included parts of three counties in northeast Ohio's Mahoning Valley. Son of Santo Trafficante and Maria Giuseppa Trafficante Read free previews and reviews from booklovers. In 1965, Giancana was convicted of contempt of court, serving one year in prison. Harris & Ewing/Library of Commons/Wikimedia Commons. Daughters: Mary Josephine Sarah Ann Brothers: Frank, Salvatore (Sam), Epifanio and Enrico (Henry) Uncle: Joseph M. CACCIATORE (convicted narcotic trafficker) CRIMINAL HISTORY: Don Santo Trafficante Jr was one of the last of the old-time American Mafia bosses in the United States. Trafficante along with 56 other mobsters was arrested in New York while discussing what to do about the recent death of Gambino family head, Albert Anastasia. 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. More troubling for Trafficante was a court document that listed him for the first time as "a member of the Trafficante crime family.". After Cuban revolution, the Mafia saw Castro as a threat to their business. When his father died in 1954 he took control of these establishments. You've got to be a fool to marry wrong," he says. Perched on the edge of a leather chair in his attorney's office, Santo J. Trafficante III wears a pained expression on his jowly face. "When my uncle visited it was like a family reunion. With that act, Santo Trafficante now reigned supreme in Tampa. His son was turned away from a date's house and his daughter has been refused jobs. Santo Jr., who had inherited the leadership of the Tampa Mafia around 1950 when his father, Santo Sr., fell ill, had now completed his consolidation of power in Tampa and beyond. Welcome to Boxer Cycle Works. Josephine Marchese Trafficante, 95, died peacefully in her sleep, Wednesday morning at her home. Frank Ragano and Santo Trafficante Jr. (right). Geni requires JavaScript! Buy the time LoScalzo took over in 1987, the Trafficante Crime Family was far past its heyday. On the day that investigators raided Key Bank, a cardiologist at St. Joseph's Hospital was inserting a catheter in Trafficante's groin. Those were some of the greatest memories growing up. 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. Reputedly the most powerful crime boss in Batista -era Cuba, he . Santos ran numerous legitimate businesses as well as illegal, including several legal casinos in Cuba, a Havana drive-in movie theater, and shares in restaurants and bars in Tampa. Associates: Sam Giancana, Charlie Lucky Luciano, Meyer Lansky, Cuba, Fidel Castro, Johnny Rosselli, Robert Maheu. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. On March 17, 1987, Trafficante died at the age of 72 at the Texas Heart Institute in Houston where he had gone for heart surgery. There are few indicators that the family is still an active crime network. Another bank sued Trafficante and his wife in October for repayment of a $100,000 promissory note. "Banks are my greatest enemy. THE HIT THAT EXPOSED SOME OF TAMPAS ELITE. He owned a West Tampa restaurant called Cafe Sevilla. "You hope things will just disappear two or three years from now.". Husband of Private His new attorney general his beloved brother, Robert F. Kennedy went after organized crime with a vengeance. No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments. [12] According to Aleman, when he told Trafficante that President John F. Kennedy would likely be re-elected, Trafficante replied, "No, Jose, he is going to be hit. He was rumored to be part of a Mafia syndicate which owned many Cuban hotels and casinos. Chris and I will never forget Santo's presence at Leia's welcome home party. "[12], In 1978, both Trafficante and Aleman were called to testify before members of the United States House Select Committee on Assassinations investigating possible links between Kennedy assassin Lee Harvey Oswald and anti-Castro Cubans, including the theory that Castro had Kennedy killed in retaliation for the CIA's attempts on his own life. But once Kennedy actually entered the White House, he didnt live up to his end of the bargain. Trafficante tried to win Castro over to his side, but that didnt work. Rosselli testified in 1975 to the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence on the efforts to kill Castro. Try again later. The chairman cited a confession from Roselli that Trafficantes allies organized a sharpshooter, Lee Harvey Oswald, to take out the President. The glamorous casino in the Hotel Nacional De Cuba in Havana in 1958. We have to admit we are fascinated by the whole idea of the mafia and the people we knew and the whispers we grew up hearing. Trafficante was a ruthless mob boss, and quickly consolidated control over the criminal networks in Tampa. 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. THE CHARLIE WALL STORY Kingpin Charlie Wall (center holding bottle, right of child) and his notorious gang. With deepest sympathy and love. By Santo III's own estimation, this was a wise move. "I was the most expensive forklift driver in the world," he says with a smile. 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. His abiding passion is food. The original Malio's Restaurant located on South Dale Mabry Highway in Tampa, Florida. "They wouldn't even let me go to the track. She was predeceased in death, by other loving family members. Florida Mafia boss Santo Trafficante Jr. died 30 years ago March 17 May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. The gunmen drove off, unaware they had failed to kill Trafficante, merely grazing his arm. ". He died of natural causes, at the age of 72, in Houston, Texas. As one of the most powerful mobsters in the US, Trafficante was invited to the Havana Conference in December 1946. The twister killed hls mother when lt touched down about 6, honored Wednesday us the nation's sute legislator. In the mid-2000s, he would say he was a legitimate businessman, citing, Tony "Joe Batters" Accardo - De Facto Boss of the Chicago Outfit, Giacomo Black Jack Tocco - Last of the Old School Detroit Partnership, Joseph Iacobacci - "Joe Loose" of the Cleveland Mob, John "Sonny" Franzese - A Colombo Family Legend. Treasury Department History of Santo Trafficante Jr 1961 He even sent his son, Santo Trafficante Junior, to New York, to gain a better understanding of how the mafia operated there. Consequently, while generally recognized as the most powerful organized crime figure in Florida throughout much of the 20th century, Trafficante was not believed to have total control over Miami, Miami Beach, Ft. Lauderdale, or Palm Beach. Trafficante took control of the Tampa mob in 1954 after the death of his father, Santo Trafficante Sr. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. Organized Crime Figure. Please allow 24 hours for your entry to be reviewed for appropriate content. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. The Shore Acres home is 2,350-square-feet with 10 rooms that Capone reputedly built in 1925 for his mother. Trafficante proceeded to open casinos in Cuba at his fathers behest and facilitated heroin smuggling by working together with famous mobsters Charles Lucky Luciano and Meyer Lansky. You may not upload any more photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 20 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 5 photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 30 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 15 photos to this memorial. Email blog@themobmuseum.org. After the death of his wife, the Trafficante family sold their Tampa 1970-built home for $950,000. Authorities also said he urged former bank vice president Michael Pupello to impersonate him in calls to federal bank regulators. tampa crime boss santo trafficante jr plays a central role in thriller 'mafia spies' Bolita , Mob Hits , Scott M. Deitche , Tampa Mafia SANTO TRAFFICANTE SR, A 'Sicilian of the Old School,' RULED TAMPA'S UNDERWORLD FOR MORE THAN A DECADE! "I don't go to the bank and make all these billion-dollar deposits," he says. One small gang, led by Italian immigrant Santo Trafficante Senior, profited from the illegal lottery-style games they ran across Tampa. 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. I will always remember your perseverance, happiness and smiles at Marisa's wedding. Wife : Josephine MARCHESE (Santo TRAFFICANTE Jr. married Josephine in Tampa, Florida on April 17, 1938). the daughter of immigrants from the Italian region of Basilicata. Let others know about your loved one's death. He escaped conviction all but once, receiving a five-year sentence for bribery in 1954, but his conviction was overturned by the Florida Supreme Court before he entered prison. In 1975, the CIA declassified a report stating that Trafficante had been persuaded to poison Castro, an allegation he denied. Trafficante was born in Tampa, Florida, to Sicilian parents Santo Trafficante Sr. and his wife Maria Giuseppa Cacciatore in 1914. 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. Consequently, while generally recognized as the most powerful organized crime figure in Florida throughout much of the 20th century, Trafficante was not believed to have total control over Miami, Miami Beach, Ft. Lauderdale, or Palm Beach. In 1950, the aging Trafficante Sr. began to slow down. Santo met and married Maria Giuseppe Cacciatore on April 20, 1909. According to the account of Judith Exner, however, one of JFKs many mistresses, it was she who introduced Kennedy to Chicago boss Giancana. Zeng8r/Wikimedia Common A set of bolita balls. Santo Trafficante Jr. had long followed in his father's footsteps, and proved to be an even more effective Mafia kingpin. All photos uploaded successfully, click on the Done button to see the photos in the gallery. In fact, Florida had the dubious distinction of being home to a decades-old Mafia criminal network: the Trafficante Family. 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. James Traficant - Wikipedia Try again. Santo Trafficante Jr., one of the last of the old-time reputed Mafia dons, who was reportedly enlisted in 1960 in a futile effort to kill Fidel Castro, has died at the age of 72. All the convictions were overturned on appeal in 1960. And despite relatively small time beginnings, Trafficante proved to be a shrewd mobster. On Oct. 26, 1937, Frank Trafficante named his first son after his own father, Santo Trafficante Sr. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. Oops, we were unable to send the email. Still, theres a fine line between exploring a topic and glorifying it. [1] Trafficante maintained several residences in New York City and Florida. The Trafficante Family - American Mafia History Sign up for service and obituary updates. [8] Allusions to these historic connections were confirmed by the CIA's 2007 declassification of the "Family Jewels" documents. Santo Trafficante, Jr. - facebook.com There are no volunteers for this cemetery. He has been featured on the History Channel, A&E, Discovery Channel, AHC, Oxygen Network and many local and national news shows. Trafficante enjoyed life in Cuba, developed a relationship with its strongman, the dictator Fulgencio Batista, and helped the Trafficante Crime family garner even more profits from its legitimate gambling operations there. He wears tasselled leather loafers without socks. Hoffa said to me, This has to be done.'. ). He attended a notorious convention of Mafia bosses held in the upstate New York town of Apalachin on November 14, 1957. View Source Suggest Edits Memorial Photos Flowers Memorials Region North America USA Florida Santo Trafficante Jr.: The Florida Godfather Who Tried To Kill Castro Failed to remove flower. This is a carousel with slides. In 1957 he was suspected of involvement in the barbershop slaying of Albert Anastasia, the .