Your Scrapbook is currently empty. The elder Trafficante set up illegal casinos in Cuba in the 1940s, which were sanctioned by Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista. 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. Our heartfelt condolences go out to your family. 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. Trafficante again escaped conviction. 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. 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. Peter Moruzzi/Wikimedia Commons The glamorous casino in the Hotel Nacional De Cuba in Havana in 1958. Please enter your email and password to sign in. Santo was one of the FBIs targets in that case. Indeed, he owes hundreds of thousands of dollars in foreclosures to local banks, which he says treat him "like I had leprosy" because of Key Bank. The next son was Luigi Santo Trafficante Jr. (his namesake and future Mafia boss), born on November 15, 1914. His sons, Dino and Joseph, run it for him, though he worries that sometimes they don't work hard. Send a note, share a story or upload a photo. The Trafficante Family Under Santo Junior. Chronicles of Events and Biographies Related to the American Mafia. 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. Departed this Life May 13, 2015 In the 1960 presidential election, Kennedy family patriarch Joe Kennedy Sr. used his ties to organized crime to secure votes for his son, John F. Kennedy. When Fidel Castro began his ascent to power in the 1950s, Santo Trafficante feared the radical Marxist revolutionary wouldnt cooperate with him. The international narcotics trade was also an important topic on the Apalachin agenda. Year should not be greater than current year. While the senior Trafficante had been a major mobster in his own right, nobody could have expected the heights that were going to be reached by his son. A Drive-By Historical Tour of Tampa's Notorious Wise Guys https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santo_Trafficante_Jr. Wife : Josephine MARCHESE (Santo TRAFFICANTE Jr. married Josephine in Tampa, Florida on April 17, 1938). 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. He even sent his son, Santo Trafficante Junior, to New York, to gain a better understanding of how the mafia operated there. [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. Plant a tree to honor the memory of your loved one. Santo Trafficante Jr. - Wikipedia CANDLE HAS BEEN LIT CANDLES HAVE BEEN LIT, We are reviewing your submission. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. Santo Trafficante Jr - Mafia Facts [1] Trafficante maintained several residences in New York City and Florida. The hit man and the mobster: Jack Ruby and Santos Trafficante The report was given to the District Attorney's office. Born in Tampa, Florida to Sicilian parents Mafia don Santo Trafficante, Sr. and his wife Maria Giuseppa Cacciatore. "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.". His positioning in Florida was prime for drug shipping as the product often passed through these ports en route to elsewhere in America. We have set your language to Try again later. There was an error deleting this problem. She lived an exciting life dividing her time between her multiple family members and friends in Tampa, Miami and Havana. He went to Jesuit High School and played some football. REPUTED FLORIDA GODFATHER TRAFFICANTE, 72, DIES - Sun Sentinel Trafficante would rather be force-fed raw carrot sticks for eternity than be seen talking to a reporter. Like many of the most prominent mobsters of the 20th century, his father, Santo Trafficante Sr., grew up in Sicily, Italy but became a major player in the criminal world after migrating to America. When you start talking about organized crime, things can get dicey. Returning to Miami, he joined his father, managing some . Thanks for your help! He drove standard cars, lived in regular houses in quiet places, was married to the same woman, and generally described as a quiet man. [1] In 1997, further declassified documents indicated that some mafiosi worked with the agency on assassination attempts against Castro. And despite relatively small time beginnings, Trafficante proved to be a shrewd mobster. Santo Trafficante Jr. (November 15, 1914 March 17, 1987) was among the most powerful Mafia bosses in the United States. His uncle, the late Santo Trafficante Jr., was reputed to have been the boss of the local Mafia. Other Mafia leaders, as well as newer organized crime networks, took over many of the rackets the family ran throughout the 20th Century. At 76,. 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. Another bank sued Trafficante and his wife in October for repayment of a $100,000 promissory note. And then there are the infinite conspiracy theories about the assassination of President Kennedy, many of them featuring Trafficante. 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. I am sorry I am unable to attend the services due to a illness. As we all know, he was right, and Kennedy was assassinated by a sniper in November 1963. Meanwhile, he continued to make money from the drugs that came through Tampa. As law enforcement pressure increased on the Mafia in the late 1940s, Santo, fearing. Ed Giorandino/NY Daily News Archive via Getty ImagesSanto Trafficante arrives at Queens Supreme Court in Kew Gardens. ", 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. Maheu hid the fact that he was sent by the CIA, instead portraying himself an advocate for international corporations. Josephine Marchese Trafficante We never paid cash. Resend Activation Email. According to some, he was even involved in the infamous assassination of President John F. Kennedy. 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. 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. He dropped out of high school and spent time in New York learning the trade from some of the countries toughest mobsters. His son was turned away from a date's house and his daughter has been refused jobs. Son of Santo Trafficante and Maria Giuseppa Trafficante Florida Mafia boss Santo Trafficante Jr. died 30 years ago March 17 He grimaces at the thought that the rumor has persisted so long. He maintained all of the lucrative casinos in Cuba, further cemented ties with powerful Mafia families he had established as a young man in New York, and ruthlessly put down any attempts to usurp his territory or power. Born Tampa, Florida March 24, 1920 In 1957 he was suspected of involvement in the barbershop slaying of Albert Anastasia, the . Episode 58: The Tampa Mafia- Santo Trafficante Jr - YouTube Please try again later. After months of wiretapped phone conversations, investigators seized boxloads of documents, some with Trafficante's name on them. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. He headed the . Some people also alleged that Trafficante Jr played a role in the assassination of President John F. Kennedy due to his anti-organized crime efforts, but Trafficante Jr. always denied it. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. ". "I'm in the I.O.U. Salcines was observed at the properties the weekend of June 9, 1967. "My wife's got money. One small gang, led by Italian immigrant Santo Trafficante Senior, profited from the illegal lottery-style games they ran across Tampa. "[12] He said that Trafficante complained about the honesty of the Kennedys and their "attacks" on Jimmy Hoffa and other associates. Santo Trafficante Jr. (1914-1987) - Find a Grave Memorial I can answer any questions you . JFK Assassination - Santo Trafficante Jr - gibson's world Afterwards, the son he had groomed to take his place, Santo Trafficante Jr., took the reins of the Trafficante crime family. The charges of bank fraud against Trafficante and more than a dozen bank employees and customers may well be dismissed. Photos of Santo Trafficante Jr. - Find a Grave Memorial Santo Trafficante Jr.: The Florida Godfather Who Tried To Kill Castro 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. He drove a forklift for 20 years. "Even my uncle (Santo Jr.) told me, "Santo, why don't you change your name?' This browser does not support getting your location. The mafiosos that made up the family are either retired, in prison, or have died due to old age. [4] All were fined, up to $10,000 each, and given prison sentences ranging from three to five years. It never did exist.". (November 15, 1914 - March 17, 1987 ). We are one of them! My uncle, never wore a ring," Trafficante says. Josephine Marchese Trafficante, 95, died peacefully in her sleep, Wednesday morning at her home. 12 talking about this. More importantly, Castro imprisoned Trafficante and then had him exiled from Cuba. Frank Ragano and Santo Trafficante Jr. (right). He offered to pay $150,000 to have Castro killed, but Roselli declined any pay and introduced Maheu to two men he referred to as "Sam Gold" and "Joe." 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. So, as the popular theory goes, the mob bosses that lent a helping hand in getting Kennedy into office wanted revenge. Welcome to Boxer Cycle Works. 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:. Trafficante was apprehended in November 1957, along with over 60 other mobsters, at the Apalachin meeting in Apalachin, New York. 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. But before Trafficante testified, someone conveniently killed Roselli. "[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. "The Mob? Comfort the family with flowers or a sympathy gift. Bankruptcy court documents show that Trafficante is owed $500,000 by a business partner. gerry,i am so sorry to hear about santo. Please enable JavaScript in your browser's settings to use this part of Geni. Read free previews and reviews from booklovers. He allegedly controlled organized crime operations in Florida and Cuba [7], In January 1958, Trafficante was questioned by the Cuban police regarding the Apalachin meeting. Passing before her were her parents Antonino and Sarafina Marchese; her beloved husband Santo Trafficante Jr.; her son-in-laws Augie Paniello and Richard Valdes; and her brothers, Bennie Marchese, Tommy Marchese, and Peter Marchese. Conspiracy theorists consider Giancana along with Mafia leaders Santo Trafficante Jr. and Carlos Marcello associated with the assassination of Kennedy. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. Indeed, some people would rather not dwell on the less-than-noble aspects of our local history. The wiretap evidence has been thrown out of court. He is just a businessman, he says, his money tied up in wholesale automobiles, an orange grove and real estate. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. At age 16, he boarded the S.S. Lombardia and set sail for American in search of a better life. 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 . Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. Wikimedia CommonsPresident John F. Kennedy, FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, and Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy. When the CIA decided to recruit the Mob in their efforts to assassinate Fidel Castro, they went to see Trafficante. 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's appetite and his legal woes seem linked like the strands of a cruller. Phil Alessi, a childhood friend, marvels at Trafficante's taste and capacity. . 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. "They'll sleep under trees on you.". [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. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. Trafficantes partnership with Batista was profitable for both parties and so the mobsters fate became inextricably tied to that of Cubas political climate. A A. He was going to be hit.. "When I woke up, they told me they raided Key Bank. Mrs. Gerry, Gina, Dino, Joe and Marisa - they broke the mold with Traff. The senior Trafficante's name has been linked to gambling, drug-dealing and even plots to kill Fidel Castro and John F. Kennedy. [5] Most mornings Trafficante spends a few hours at his modest wholesale automobile lot at the intersection of Dale Mabry Highway and W Broad Street. Santo Trafficante Jr. - The Mob Museum After a lifetime in organized crime, Trafficante Jr. died of national causes in 1987. love gloria "owens" hill. Trafficante was a ruthless mob boss, and quickly consolidated control over the criminal networks in Tampa. She misses him, but she's making do. During a recent trip to Lake Tahoe he bought two basketballs autographed by Michael Jordan. He flew to Houston on March 15 for heart bypass surgery. If the decision is upheld on appeal, charges against Trafficante may be dismissed. We found ourselves in a love affair with Tony Soprano and we could not stop watching. Fifteen years following the assassination, Trafficante testified in front of the United States House Select Committee on the murder of JFK in exchange for immunity. Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. Forget everything you think you know about Tampa mafia wives and girlfriends in the 1950s. In fact, Florida had the dubious distinction of being home to a decades-old Mafia criminal network: the Trafficante Family. And purchase valuable sports memorabilia for himself. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. Santo Trafficante, Jr (1914 - 1987) - Genealogy - geni family tree Geni requires JavaScript! Sam Giancana - Wikipedia He was again called to testify in April 1976 on the alleged conspiracy to kill Kennedy, but Rosselli never made it: His body was found in a barrel floating in Biscayne Bay off the coast of Florida. Afterwards, the son he had groomed to take his place, Santo Trafficante Jr., took the reins of the Trafficante crime family. [2] Trafficante Jr. would frequently meet with Lucchese in New York City for dinner.[2]. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. The Shore Acres home is 2,350-square-feet with 10 rooms that Capone reputedly built in 1925 for his mother. Try again later. Now in his late 70s or early 80s, LoScalzo is reported to be retired. Santo Trafficante Jr. was a reserved, modest man married to the same woman for 49 years. The beachfront properties were the site of many parties and barbecues. Many of the familys gangsters were in prison, or too old to be effective. Still, he lives comfortably enough to give his sons Jaguar sports cars, red for Dino and white for Joseph. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. 2023, Tampa Mafia. Rosselli later claimed to be involved with or to actually be a shooter in a Mob conspiracy to kill President John F. Kennedy, and some accounts have Trafficante involved in the alleged, and unproven, conspiracy. Santo Trafficante Jr Santo Trafficante Jr. (November 15, 1914 - March 17, 1987) was among the most powerful Mafia bosses in the United States. Trafficante took control of the Tampa mob in 1954 after the death of his father, Santo Trafficante Sr. He wants Trafficante, whom he considers to have an authoritative palate, to sample a new pastry that Alessi plans to sell at his bakery. As one of the most powerful mobsters in the US, Trafficante was invited to the Havana Conference in December 1946. Images of America Series de libros - eBooks | Rakuten Kobo Mxico He was right, and when Castro took power in 1959, Trafficantes burgeoning gambling-and-drugs empire went under siege. However, LoScalzo was nonetheless able to expand the families criminal reach into new locations across Florida, and took advantage of alliances with other Mafia families to ensure the mob maintained its hold on criminal activities. On the day that investigators raided Key Bank, a cardiologist at St. Joseph's Hospital was inserting a catheter in Trafficante's groin. I found on Findagrave.com. He is currently working on his seventh book, The Jersey Mob., Feedback or questions? Like Trafficante Jr. before him, had many close calls with law enforcement, but always escaped serious charges. [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. Join us for this one-of-a-kind walking tour of Tampa's most storied neighborhood. She touched all who knew her, and upon meeting her, she would embrace you, and you would instantly become part of the family. The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. His wife also was named in the fraud charges. wikipedia.en/Sam_Giancana.md at main chinapedia/wikipedia.en Drag images here or select from your computer for Santo Trafficante Jr. memorial. You and Santo will always have a special place in my heart. Santo Trafficante: Building the Family Business - Gangsters Inc THE HIDDEN HISTORY OF TAMPA'S UNDERWORLD IS OFTEN INTERTWINED WITH SOME OF Something went wrong. The IRS was unsuccessful, according to Fernandez, Trafficante's attorney. [13] He stated that he received no payment for his involvement and that he acted out of patriotism. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. It wasn't somebody going into a back room to kiss somebody's ring. Reclaiming History: The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy. "When my uncle visited it was like a family reunion. It may take up to 1 hour for your comment to appear on the website. As Jimmy Hoffas former lawyer Frank Ragano would later recall, Jimmy told me to tell [New Orleans boss Carlos] Marcello and Trafficante they had to kill the president. Daughters: Mary Josephine Sarah Ann Brothers: Frank, Salvatore (Sam), Epifanio and Enrico (Henry) Uncle: Joseph M. CACCIATORE (convicted narcotic trafficker) CRIMINAL HISTORY: For the U.S. government, it was a classic case of the enemy of my enemy is my friend.. He dropped out of high school before the 10th grade. Weve updated the security on the site. 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. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. 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. "[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. 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. The mobsters also attempted to get Castro into a poisoned wetsuit and even offered to blow him up with an exploding seashell. Trafficantes chance came in the 1960s when he became acquainted with mobster John Handsome Johnny Roselli. By Santo III's own estimation, this was a wise move. But then came Key Bank, a massive drug-money-laundering investigation. All photos uploaded successfully, click on the Done button to see the photos in the gallery. But the mobster tag has outlasted the case itself. 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. They used to be my greatest friend," Trafficante says. She is survived by her daughters, Mary Jo Paniello and Sarah Ann Valdes; her grandchildren, Dr. Santo Paniello and wife Susan; Dina Smith and husband Don; Melissa Castellana and husband John; and Valerie Cordell and husband Ian; her great-grandchildren, Michael Sierra, Elizabeth Paniello, Sam Paniello, Christopher Paniello, Christina Castellana, Augie Castellana, Alexa Cordell, Anna Cordell Drew Smith, Allison Hunt and husband Joey; as well as endless extended family. After Fidel Castro's revolutionary government seized the assets of Trafficante's Cuban businesses and expelled him from the country as an "undesirable alien," Trafficante came into contact with various US intelligence operatives, and was involved in several unsuccessful plans to assassinate Castro. Santo Trafficante, Jr. was born in the United States on November 15, 1914, as one of five sons of Mafia boss Santo Trafficante. Over the next 30-plus years, Trafficante, Jr. rose to oversee Mafia operations across the state of Florida. Don Santo Trafficante Jr was one of the last of the old-time American Mafia bosses in the United States. 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. [13] Trafficante also stated that he had no recollection of meeting Oswald or Oswald's assassin, Jack Ruby. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. However, by the late 1920s, facing little pressure, Sicilian gangsters began setting up lucrative gambling and narcotics rackets. Try again later. He maintained close working ties with the Lucchese crime family and the Bonanno crime family from New York City. Make sure that the file is a photo. 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.
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