[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. [1] In 1997, further declassified documents indicated that some mafiosi worked with the agency on assassination attempts against Castro. He returned to Tampa for the last time for internment in the LUnione Italiana Cemetery. [2] Trafficante Jr. had known Lucchese since the 1940s, when his father and Lucchese had trained him in the mafia traditions. They raided my apartment, they were looking for money, they tore up all the furniture, they used to come and get me at nighttime, take me out in the woods, trying to tell where I had my money, this and that, until I finally went into hiding.. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. 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 New York City. "If my uncle knew I was talking to the press, Christ, he'd shoot me," Trafficante says, half-laughing. Please allow 24 hours for your entry to be reviewed for appropriate content. After this look at Santo Trafficante Jr., read the gruesome story of the murderous American dentist, Benjamin Salomon, of World War II. Email blog@themobmuseum.org. 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. Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? She misses him, but she's making do. It may take up to 1 hour for your comment to appear on the website. After Cuban revolution, the Mafia saw Castro as a threat to their business. He maintained all of the lucrative casinos in Cuba, further cemented, After Cuban revolution, the Mafia saw Castro as a threat to their business. Santo Jr.'s daughters still owns 3610, where Santo spent time when he wasn't in Tampa or Miami. The authorities continued to charge him with participating in illegal activities, but the aging mob boss escaped conviction each time. "You hope things will just disappear two or three years from now.". Santo Trafficante Jr. had long followed in his fathers footsteps, and proved to be an even more effective Mafia kingpin. He dropped out of high school before the 10th grade. He will always be remembered with fondness. He died on March 17, 1987. Late in life LoScalzo denied any connections to organized crime. 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,. Trafficante was a ruthless mob boss, and quickly consolidated control over the criminal networks in Tampa. A A. 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. In a final disappointment, he sold a filly named "Run Marisa Run" (after his daughter) for $7,500. 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. After his father died in 1954, he became the head in Tampa and took over his fathers interests in Cuba. Try again later. Indeed, a wiretapped conversation picked up a Key Bank official calling Trafficante a "sacred cow," with loans in excess of a million dollars. Anthony Accardo & Santo Trafficante Jr - Labor Union Kickbacks (1977- 1981)https://www.nytimes.com/1981/06/05/us/16-indicted-over-union-fund-use.htmlCredit:. Still, theres a fine line between exploring a topic and glorifying it. He convicted infamous criminal labor union head, Jimmy Hoffa. Search above to list available cemeteries. Trafficante scrambled out the passenger-side door. Undercover detectives ran a gambling sting operation there, hoping to nab a circle of Tampa men they said were making illegal sports bets. He moved to Cuba in 1955 where he met the countrys authoritarian ruler Fulgencio Batista. Honorary Pallbearers are Joe Castellana, Malio Iavarone, FrankCookie Fava, Antonino Marchese, Derek Iavarone, Frank Albano, Drew Smith, Joey Hunt, Michael Sierra, Tony Marchese, Peter Albano, Mario Pullara, Frank Miranda, Dino Trafficante, and Joseph Trafficante. Trafficante was apprehended in November 1957, along with over 60 other mobsters, at the Apalachin meeting in Apalachin, New York. [4] All were fined, up to $10,000 each, and given prison sentences ranging from three to five years. Try again later. Contribute to chinapedia/wikipedia.en development by creating an account on GitHub. Try again later. Wife : Josephine MARCHESE (Santo TRAFFICANTE Jr. married Josephine in Tampa, Florida on April 17, 1938). 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. Josephine Marchese Trafficante, 95, died peacefully in her sleep, Wednesday morning at her home. Thanks for subscribing! The Shore Acres home is 2,350-square-feet with 10 rooms that Capone reputedly built in 1925 for his mother. 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. One bank filed suit in November against him and a business partner, alleging that they defaulted on an $85,000 loan for a piece of property. After the Kennedy hubbub, Trafficante kept a low profile or, lower that is. 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. Getting in bed with Trafficante and other leading members of Americas organized crime seems like a strange thing to do for the CIA. Several were wounded. He wants Trafficante, whom he considers to have an authoritative palate, to sample a new pastry that Alessi plans to sell at his bakery. With over 1,900 locations, Dignity Memorial providers proudly serve over 375,000 families a year. ). From bolitaan illegal version of the now-legal Florida lotteryto narcotics, Tampas experience with organized crime is as notable as Chicagos or New Yorks. 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. Over the next 30-plus years, Trafficante, Jr. rose to oversee Mafia operations across the state of Florida. He was, in many ways, the archetypical old-school Mob boss. When he applied to the state for a parimutuel license that would allow him to race his horses at Tampa Bay Downs, he was refused. Son of Santo Trafficante and Maria Giuseppa Trafficante Trafficante Sr. passed away four years later, leaving Jr. his Tampa and Cuba-based criminal empire. "[19] In his book Reclaiming History: The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy, Vincent Bugliosi has claimed there to be many flaws in Ragano's claims, including his own claim that Trafficante was most likely not in Tampa on the day in question, but was rather in North Miami Beach, Florida, receiving dialysis treatments. But then came Key Bank, a massive drug-money-laundering investigation. For all the power he wielded, Trafficante was often described as quiet and reserved. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. It was also rumored that Santos was involved in a Mafia plot to kill President John F. Kennedy, though he denied there was any such conspiracy. Santo Trafficante Jr, was born on November 15, 1914 in Tampa, Florida and followed in the footsteps of his father, Santo Trafficante Sr, into a life of organized crime. Other Mafia leaders, as well as newer organized crime networks, took over many of the rackets the family ran throughout the 20th Century. Santo Trafficante 5 10 (1.78 m) Born November 15, 1914 Tampa, Florida, USA Died March 17, 1987 Spouse Josephine Marchese April 17, 1938 - March 17, 1987 (his death, 2 children) Publicity listings 2 Portrayals Did you know Edit Trivia Represented by Frank Ragano. With that act, Santo Trafficante now reigned supreme in Tampa. 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. I think it was a case of mistaken identity.. 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. It was all on the up and up. Love and peace to you all. As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. Santo Trafficante Jr. was a reserved, modest man married to the same woman for 49 years. "But then you get into alias this and alias that and when they get you in court, you probably just create more problems," he says. TAMPA The daughter sits on the front porch of a little bungalow in Seminole Heights, her new home since her husband died a few months ago down south. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. please know that i am praying for you and your family. If the decision is upheld on appeal, charges against Trafficante may be dismissed. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. "I was going to ask him to come over and try our beignets to see how they compare to the Cafe Du Monde in New Orleans," Alessi says. [9][10] The CIA and the Mafia had a common enemy in Castro, a communist revolutionary who had shut down Cuba's lucrative casino businesses. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.. Share to let others add their own memories and condolences. 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. Born Tampa, Florida March 24, 1920 However the meeting came to be, the mob nonetheless brought influential states like Illinois into the Kennedy fold in exchange for the White House going easy on organized crime. Phil Alessi, a childhood friend, marvels at Trafficante's taste and capacity. As one of the most powerful mobsters in the US, Trafficante was invited to the Havana Conference in December 1946. Santo Trafficante grew up in the Florida underworld, working his father's gambling rackets and getting experience in the business. Organized Crime Figure. The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. Santo Trafficante Senior died in 1954. Read free previews and reviews from booklovers. The report was given to the District Attorney's office. I thought you might like to see a memorial for Santo Trafficante Jr. 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. The mafiosos that made up the family are either retired, in prison, or have died due to old age. Wikimedia CommonsPresident John F. Kennedy, FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, and Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy. "My wife's got money. Weve updated the security on the site. Authorities said he leaked a list of suspects in the case and then lied about it. Trafficante was one of the last surviving members of the original Luciano mob era upon his death, and the truth behind the JFK assassination may have perhaps died with him. Santo Trafficante, Sr., the powerful Trafficante crime family's patriarch, was born on May 28, 1886, in Alexandria Della Rocca, Sicily. Though his prison sentence wasnt long and he returned to a strong position in Florida, Trafficante never forgave Castro. Trafficante tried to win Castro over to his side, but that didnt work. Our prayers are with you. The east coast of Florida was a loosely knit conglomerate of New York family interests with links to Meyer Lansky, Bugsy Siegel, Angelo Bruno, Carlos Marcello, and Frank Ragano. TRAFFICANTE, Santo Jose, 72, of Tampa, passed away July 13, 2010, To Plant Memorial Trees in memory, please visit our, All my Love to the family Michael R. Tartaro. Upon his return to the United States, he became determined to bring down the man who ended his empire. Santo told the state attorney, I dont have an enemy in the world. I laughed _ until I realized it was a total f------ disaster," Trafficante says. Trafficante again escaped conviction. Afterwards, the son he had groomed to take his place, Santo Trafficante Jr., took the reins of the Trafficante crime family. 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. I found on Findagrave.com. Drag images here or select from your computer for Santo Trafficante Jr. memorial. Don Santo Trafficante Jr. the godfather from Tampa, Florida, USA. View Source Suggest Edits Memorial Photos Flowers Memorials Region North America USA Florida Santo Trafficante, Jr. was born in the United States on November 15, 1914, as one of five sons of Mafia boss Santo Trafficante. His abiding passion is food. Trafficante had now not only lost an ally but a significant portion of his income as his casinos were closed by the Marxist revolutionary. This site is provided as a service of SCI Shared Resources, LLC. Please reset your password. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Daughters: Mary Josephine Sarah Ann Brothers: Frank, Salvatore (Sam), Epifanio and Enrico (Henry) Uncle: Joseph M. CACCIATORE (convicted narcotic trafficker) CRIMINAL HISTORY: [14], After a grant of immunity from prosecution, Trafficante testified before the HSCA the following day, September 28, and denied the allegation that he told Aleman that "Kennedy was going to be hit. Or does he just look like one? Trafficante took control of the Tampa mob in 1954 after the death of his father, Santo Trafficante Sr. [1] Trafficante maintained several residences in New York City and Florida. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. THE HIT THAT EXPOSED SOME OF TAMPAS ELITE. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. In a 1978 legal testimony, Trafficante discussed how quickly Castro shut it all down, then reopened the casinos on his own terms. 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. 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? We never paid cash. 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. 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 mobsters also attempted to get Castro into a poisoned wetsuit and even offered to blow him up with an exploding seashell. Fla. (AP), Source: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/52792202/frank-cacciatore-trafficante, L'Unione Italiana Cemetery, Ybor City, Hillsborough County, Florida, USA, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santo_Trafficante_Jr, Death of Santo Trafficante, Jr at Houston, TX. He was rumored to be part of a Mafia syndicate which owned many Cuban hotels and casinos. And despite relatively small time beginnings, Trafficante proved to be a shrewd mobster. 2023 SCI SHARED RESOURCES, LLC. "They wouldn't even let me go to the track. Rosselli testified in 1975 to the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence on the efforts to kill Castro. "Sam Gold" was Sam Giancana; "Joe" was Trafficante. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Despite all of this or, perhaps, because of it, a few writers and filmmakers have chosen to focus on organized crime, determined to give Tampa its due. The charges of bank fraud against Trafficante and more than a dozen bank employees and customers may well be dismissed. Santo, Jr. never spent a day in jail, and he died of natural causes in 1987. Make sure that the file is a photo. 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. In 1957 he was suspected of involvement in the barbershop slaying of Albert Anastasia, the . 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. 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. In 1965, Giancana was convicted of contempt of court, serving one year in prison. He is just a businessman, he says, his money tied up in wholesale automobiles, an orange grove and real estate. In the meantime, the allegation that he is a mobster has dogged him and his family. The other case was a RICO indictment for insurance fraud. Santo Trafficante Jr. (November 15, 1914 March 17, 1987) was among the most powerful Mafia bosses in the United States. As such, Trafficante Sr. controlled gambling rackets for bolita, a lottery game popular in Florida and Cuba, until 1940 when the murder of Tampa boss Ignacio Antinori pushed the Trafficantes to assume ultimate power in the Florida underworld. "[12] He said that Trafficante complained about the honesty of the Kennedys and their "attacks" on Jimmy Hoffa and other associates. Salcines was observed at the properties the weekend of June 9, 1967. They used to be my greatest friend," Trafficante says. Century, Tampa was a small but growing city, and the organized crime it faced was modest. Until last year, the younger Trafficante had never been accused of anything more dramatic than bookmaking, a charge that a judge dismissed. The other guys are two doctors, who say they'll testify if they're summoned to court. He went to Jesuit High School and played some football. Bankruptcy court documents show that Trafficante is owed $500,000 by a business partner. Services will be followed by a graveside service at the Italian Club Cemetery and a reception at the family home. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. Many fond memories of Santo will continue with me. And as for the rest of the Trafficante Crime family? Indeed, some people would rather not dwell on the less-than-noble aspects of our local history. "There's no such thing as organized crime in Hillsborough County," Trafficante says, clapping his hands for emphasis. His wife also was named in the fraud charges. In 1975, the CIA declassified a report stating that Trafficante had been persuaded to poison Castro, an allegation he denied. With deepest sympathy and love. Please check your entries and try again. The men started to drive away when another sedan drove past the Mercury, the occupants unloading a blast of buckshot as they passed. The American governments close ties to Santo Trafficante Jr. and the rest of the Mafia didnt end with their attempts to kill Castro. The twister killed hls mother when lt touched down about 6, honored Wednesday us the nation's sute legislator. Santo was one of the FBIs targets in that case. "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.". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santo_Trafficante_Jr. However, while the Latin American drug trade has figured prominently in the sunshine states less savory history, so has the Mafia. Returning to Miami, he joined his father, managing some . 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. Santo Trafficante Jr. continued to develop his interests in Cuba serving as Luciano and Lanskys local liaison. An editor and public historian, Carly Silver has written for Smithsonian, Narratively, The Atlantic, Atlas Obscura, and Archaeology, among other publications. "I still don't think I did anything wrong," Trafficante says. Add to your scrapbook. Trafficante was arrested frequently throughout the 1950s on various charges of bribery and of running illegal bolita lotteries in Tampa's Ybor City district. Trafficante Jr. was nonetheless a ruthless and old-school mob boss. His son was turned away from a date's house and his daughter has been refused jobs. While he had several close calls with law enforcement including the famed FBI, Late in life LoScalzo denied any connections to organized crime. Our thoughts and prayers are with you Gerry and your family. To use this feature, use a newer browser. cemeteries found in Ybor City, Hillsborough County, Florida, USA will be saved to your photo volunteer list.

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