"I don't go to the bank and make all these billion-dollar deposits," he says. Oops, we were unable to send the email. Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? Hoffa said to me, This has to be done.'. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. "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.". [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. The IRS was unsuccessful, according to Fernandez, Trafficante's attorney. Santo Trafficante, Sr., the powerful Trafficante crime family's patriarch, was born on May 28, 1886, in Alexandria Della Rocca, Sicily. TAMPA CRIME BOSS SANTO TRAFFICANTE JR PLAYS A CENTRAL ROLE IN THRILLER MAFIA SPIES. The glamorous casino in the Hotel Nacional De Cuba in Havana in 1958. Verify and try again. 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 mobster would later testify: I got news that Cuban officials were looking for to put me in jail because one of the things was that I was a Batista collaborator. He wears tasselled leather loafers without socks. 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. the daughter of immigrants from the Italian region of Basilicata. In this episode, we will discuss the fascinating life of Tampa's most powerful mobster: Santo Trafficante Jr. She lived an exciting life dividing her time between her multiple family members and friends in Tampa, Miami and Havana. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. 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. He dropped out of high school and spent time in New York learning the trade from some of the countries toughest mobsters. [22], sfn error: no target: CITEREFDouglass2010 (, Last edited on 22 February 2023, at 15:02, United States House Select Committee on Assassinations, Reclaiming History: The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy, "With Santo Trafficante, an era is ending", "SANTO TRAFFICANTE, REPUTED MAFIA CHIEF, DIES AT 72", "Why mob bigs who met to crown a king had to run like roaches", "For Sale, a House WithAcreage.Connections Extra;Site of 1957 Gangland Raid Is Part of Auction on Saturday", "20 Apalachin Convictions Ruled Invalid On Appeal", "Narcotic Traffic Called Topic In Apalachin Talks", Memorandum for the Director of Central Intelligence, Subject: Roselli, Johnny, "Witness denies assassination, Cuba tied", "Mafia Linked In JFK Probe; By Cuban Exile", "Hoffa Lawyer: Jimmy Recruited Mob for JFK Hit", "Lawyer Says Hoffa Told 2 Mob Bosses to Have President Kennedy Killed", "Frank Ragano, 75, Lawyer for Mob and Hoffa", "The Sins of the Godfather? In 1975, the CIA declassified a report stating that Trafficante had been persuaded to poison Castro, an allegation he denied. The other guys are two doctors, who say they'll testify if they're summoned to court. Please check your entries and try again. My thoughts and prayers are with you all! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santo_Trafficante_Jr. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. This browser does not support getting your location. Love, Jimmy Schaffer. Authorities also said he urged former bank vice president Michael Pupello to impersonate him in calls to federal bank regulators. Family members linked to this person will appear here. In the early 20th Century, Tampa was a small but growing city, and the organized crime it faced was modest. Getty ImagesSanto Trafficante was wanted in 48 states by the time he was 43. 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. The CIA came to Trafficante, and asked for his help in enlisting the Mafia to assassinate the Cuban leader. Still, he lives comfortably enough to give his sons Jaguar sports cars, red for Dino and white for Joseph. 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. He was right, and when Castro took power in 1959, Trafficantes burgeoning gambling-and-drugs empire went under siege. Santo Trafficante Jr. had long followed in his fathers footsteps, and proved to be an even more effective Mafia kingpin. She misses him, but she's making do. Indeed, a wiretapped conversation picked up a Key Bank official calling Trafficante a "sacred cow," with loans in excess of a million dollars. 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. You need a Find a Grave account to continue. But considering the fiercely anti-Soviet atmosphere of the Cold War, its not that hard to believe. Wife : Josephine MARCHESE (Santo TRAFFICANTE Jr. married Josephine in Tampa, Florida on April 17, 1938). He was going to be hit.. Born in Tampa, Florida in 1914, Trafficante hailed from a family already deeply involved in organized crime. [7], In January 1958, Trafficante was questioned by the Cuban police regarding the Apalachin meeting. The first case stemmed from the FBIs well-known Donnie Brasco undercover sting operation. Upon his return to the United States, he became determined to bring down the man who ended his empire. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. Santo Trafficante grew up in the Florida underworld, working his father's gambling rackets and getting experience in the business. "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. She was predeceased in death, by other loving family members. "When my uncle visited it was like a family reunion. This was proven in 1953 when he eliminated the last contender to the Tampa mob throne: Joe Antinori, son of the late Ignacio. Associates: Sam Giancana, Charlie Lucky Luciano, Meyer Lansky, Cuba, Fidel Castro, Johnny Rosselli, Robert Maheu. Geni requires JavaScript! The elder Trafficante set up illegal casinos in Cuba in the 1940s, which were sanctioned by Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista. Our thoughts and prayers with you. 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. 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,. Santo Jr.'s daughters still owns 3610, where Santo spent time when he wasn't in Tampa or Miami. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. She was the Matriarch of the Trafficante Family; and we will all miss her presence, guidance, love and affection. ". Meet Santo Trafficante: The Silent Don Who Tried To Kill Fidel Castro And May Have Ordered JFKs Assassination. He is just a businessman, he says, his money tied up in wholesale automobiles, an orange grove and real estate. But once Kennedy actually entered the White House, he didnt live up to his end of the bargain. CANDLE HAS BEEN LIT CANDLES HAVE BEEN LIT, We are reviewing your submission. 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. As a leading member of the syndicate, he also was suspected of having behind-the-scenes interests in other syndicate-owned Cuban casinos: the Hotel Habana Riviera, the Tropicana Club, the Sevilla-Biltmore, the Capri Hotel Casino, the Commodoro, the Deauville, and the Havana Hilton. "There's no such thing as organized crime in Hillsborough County," Trafficante says, clapping his hands for emphasis. Sign up for service and obituary updates. After the death of his wife, the Trafficante family sold their Tampa 1970-built home for $950,000. Failed to remove flower. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. The gunmen drove off, unaware they had failed to kill Trafficante, merely grazing his arm. 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. She was a wonderful cook, and she loved to crochet and travel with her husband, but she lived her life for her family. There was an error deleting this problem. He was severed from that trial for medical reasons. 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. "I thought all this would end when my uncle died. The idea behind the assassination wasnt just to punish JFK but also to get his brother off the Mobs back. By December 1953, one more rival was dead and another was too scared to even venture out of his home. He died of natural causes, at the age of 72, in Houston, Texas. After the Kennedy hubbub, Trafficante kept a low profile or, lower that is. 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. 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? However, while the Latin American drug trade has figured prominently in the sunshine states less savory history, so has the Mafia. 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. A Hillsborough judge threw out the wiretaps, the spine of the state's case. Early in Trafficantes federal court case in 1986, the judge declared a mistrial. department.". The guy really tried to do it right.". My aim is to provide you with the best Service experience for you and your motorcycle. We send our most sincere sympathies to the Trafficante family. Share Santo's life story with friends and family. prosecution, fled temporarily to Cuba. 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. 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. [3] Trafficante moved to Cuba in 1955, where he came into contact with Batista and Meyer Lansky. He walked outside and got into a 1951 Mercury sedan driven by one of his associates. Fine food, and lots of it. "Even my uncle (Santo Jr.) told me, "Santo, why don't you change your name?' 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. She was born on March 24, 1920. 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. His luck has not improved recently. Learn more about managing a memorial . prosecution, fled temporarily to Cuba. Don Santo Trafficante Jr was one of the last of the old-time American Mafia bosses in the United States. Today, Santo Trafficantes criminal legacy lives on through his nephew and namesake, Santo Trafficante III, who was charged with organized fraud in 1992. "I'm a freak for that kind of stuff," he says. (November 15, 1914 - March 17, 1987 ). Century, Tampa was a small but growing city, and the organized crime it faced was modest. Shop eBooks and audiobooks at Rakuten Kobo. Let others know about your loved one's death. More troubling for Trafficante was a court document that listed him for the first time as "a member of the Trafficante crime family.". But before Trafficante testified, someone conveniently killed Roselli. Phil Alessi, a childhood friend, marvels at Trafficante's taste and capacity. Many of the familys gangsters were in prison, or too old to be effective. "I think it's all bull----," says Trafficante's former horse trainer, Arthur Pedregal Jr. "It's only because his name is Trafficante. Please check your email for further instructions. That was in part due to his lifestyle. He drove standard cars, lived in regular houses in quiet places, was married to the same woman, and generally described as a quiet man. 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. Ex-FBI agent and later Howard Hughes aide Robert Maheu of Las Vegas was one of the primary go-betweens for Trafficante. He was a well-respected boss, even among the far larger New York crime families. One small gang, led by Italian immigrant Santo Trafficante Senior, profited from the illegal lottery-style games they ran across Tampa. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. "Sam Gold" was Sam Giancana; "Joe" was Trafficante. Or does he just look like one? 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. Trafficante Jr. controlled his Tampa-based crime network for over three decades. Father of Private and Private Following his death, Mobster Vincent LoScalvo took over the Trafficante familys criminal network in Florida. Pallbearers are Augie Castellana, Sam Paniello, Christopher Paniello, Anthony B. Marchese, Peter Marchese Jr., Ian Cordell, Don Smith, Frank Pancho Trafficante, John Castellana, and Dr. Santo Paniello. Welcome to Boxer Cycle Works. [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. Santo Trafficante Senior died in 1954. Santo Trafficante Jr. (November 15, 1914 March 17, 1987) was among the most powerful Mafia bosses in the United States. My ex-wife Erline Lazzara was a childhood friend you might remember. [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. Our thoughts and prayers are with you Gerry and your family. Now he owns a 210-acre orange grove in southern Hillsborough. After that, he ordered casino owners to cough up employee back pay, then shut them down again. Try again later. Please enable JavaScript in your browser's settings to use this part of Geni. Born in Tampa, Florida to Sicilian parents Mafia don Santo Trafficante, Sr. and his wife Maria Giuseppa Cacciatore. THE CHARLIE WALL STORY Kingpin Charlie Wall (center holding bottle, right of child) and his notorious gang. 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. He attended the University of Florida for a year, then transferred to the University of Tampa and left without completing his degree. GREAT NEWS! [13] Trafficante said that he introduced the trio to Cuban exiles in Florida. [8] Allusions to these historic connections were confirmed by the CIA's 2007 declassification of the "Family Jewels" documents. So, as the popular theory goes, the mob bosses that lent a helping hand in getting Kennedy into office wanted revenge. In the meantime, the allegation that he is a mobster has dogged him and his family. Trafficante was arrested on a bookmaking conspiracy charge. After months of wiretapped phone conversations, investigators seized boxloads of documents, some with Trafficante's name on them. Trafficante would be charged with bank fraud, perjury and disclosure of criminal investigation. Cuban leader Fulgencio Batista in Washington, D.C. in 1938. We found ourselves in a love affair with Tony Soprano and we could not stop watching. Please reset your password. [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. love gloria "owens" hill. Frank Ragano and Santo Trafficante Jr. (right). Santo Trafficante Jr. (November 15, 1914 - March 17, 1987) was among the most powerful Mafia bosses in the United States. His new attorney general his beloved brother, Robert F. Kennedy went after organized crime with a vengeance. From bolitaan illegal version of the now-legal Florida lotteryto narcotics, Tampas experience with organized crime is as notable as Chicagos or New Yorks. Buy the time LoScalzo took over in 1987, the Trafficante Crime Family was far past its heyday. When the CIA decided to recruit the Mob in their efforts to assassinate Fidel Castro, they went to see Trafficante. [4] All were fined, up to $10,000 each, and given prison sentences ranging from three to five years. Harris & Ewing/Library of Commons/Wikimedia Commons. He will always be remembered with fondness. Trafficante Sr. hung back and developed relationships with politicians and his Mob colleagues in New York and Chicago. After a violent mob war left several of Trafficantes rivals dead or weakened, his gang rapidly rose to prominence in Tampa. In fact, Florida had the dubious distinction of being home to a decades-old Mafia criminal network: the Trafficante Family. Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? However, there were events outside of the United States and even organized crime that inadvertently led Santo Trafficante Jr. to put his own peculiar stamp on American history. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. The mobsters also attempted to get Castro into a poisoned wetsuit and even offered to blow him up with an exploding seashell. 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. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. gerry,i am so sorry to hear about santo. This site is provided as a service of SCI Shared Resources, LLC. Although a judge dismissed the charge for lack of evidence, the arrest had a lasting impact on another of Trafficante's ventures: thoroughbred breeding and racing. His son was turned away from a date's house and his daughter has been refused jobs. Thanks for subscribing! I laughed _ until I realized it was a total f------ disaster," Trafficante says. With that act, Santo Trafficante now reigned supreme in Tampa. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. The authorities continued to charge him with participating in illegal activities, but the aging mob boss escaped conviction each time. His sons, Dino and Joseph, run it for him, though he worries that sometimes they don't work hard. To use this feature, use a newer browser. She is now living in Virginia. Though his prison sentence wasnt long and he returned to a strong position in Florida, Trafficante never forgave Castro. Send a note, share a story or upload a photo. At this point in our collective history, we're not sure anyone would be surprised to learn that there is, in fact, something called The Mafia. What you might be surprised to learn, however, is how prevalent-even rampantorganized crime in Tampa was in the early and mid-20th century. Finally, after the infamous failed Bay of Pigs Invasion, the CIA gave up on their attempts to kill the Cuban dictator and thus Trafficantes attempts at revenge never materialized. Try again. As law enforcement pressure increased on the Mafia in the late 1940s, Santo, fearing. The mafiosos that made up the family are either retired, in prison, or have died due to old age. Trafficante was arrested frequently throughout the 1950s on various charges of bribery and of running illegal bolita lotteries in Tampa's Ybor City district. He moved to Cuba in 1955 where he met the countrys authoritarian ruler Fulgencio Batista. However, by the late 1920s, facing little pressure, Sicilian gangsters began setting up lucrative gambling and narcotics rackets. Trafficante took control of the Tampa mob in 1954 after the death of his father, Santo Trafficante Sr. In 1963, the Mob allegedly had enough of Kennedy. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. Afterwards, the son he had groomed to take his place, Santo Trafficante Jr., took the reins of the Trafficante crime family. "When I woke up, they told me they raided Key Bank. I think it was a case of mistaken identity.. But he was also the most powerful crime boss in pre-Castro Cuba, with influence that extended into Florida and the rest of the United States. 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. In 1954, Santo Sr. died of natural causes (at a time when some of his remaining rivals were still being violently dispatched), and his son took over leadership of the crime family. But the news was not good on the Key Bank front. According to some, he was even involved in the infamous assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Dennis Caruso/NY Daily News Archive via Getty ImagesFrank Ragano and Santo Trafficante Jr. (right). 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. President John. This account has been disabled. When you start talking about organized crime, things can get dicey. Santo Trafficante was wanted in 48 states by the time he was 43. Make sure that the file is a photo. I thought you might like to see a memorial for Santo Trafficante Jr. 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.
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