You've got to be a fool to marry wrong," he says. That arrest also led Cuban authorities to become warier of the mobster, especially as the political tides seemed to be turning there. After that, he ordered casino owners to cough up employee back pay, then shut them down again. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. We never paid cash. [2] Trafficante Jr. would frequently meet with Lucchese in New York City for dinner.[2]. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. RIP Santo. 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. Santo Trafficante, Sr., the powerful Trafficante crime family's patriarch, was born on May 28, 1886, in Alexandria Della Rocca, Sicily. "Even my uncle (Santo Jr.) told me, "Santo, why don't you change your name?' Father of Private and Private Our heartfelt condolences go out to your family. As we all know, he was right, and Kennedy was assassinated by a sniper in November 1963. But the news was not good on the Key Bank front. Indeed, some people would rather not dwell on the less-than-noble aspects of our local history. That horse won $161,080 for its new owners, according to the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders Association. He was left with about 25 horses at his stable in Lutz that he couldn't race and couldn't sell for more than it cost to keep them fed. He even sent his son, Santo Trafficante Junior, to New York, to gain a better understanding of how the mafia operated there. In the meantime, the allegation that he is a mobster has dogged him and his family. "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. In 1957 he was suspected of involvement in the barbershop slaying of Albert Anastasia, the . After the death of his wife, the Trafficante family sold their Tampa 1970-built home for $950,000. He was known as an organized crimes figure. He was a well-respected boss, even among the far larger New York crime families. "Now when I walk in a bank," Trafficante says, "the president runs out the back door.". At 76,. The elder Trafficante set up illegal casinos in Cuba in the 1940s, which were sanctioned by Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista. There are few indicators that the family is still an active crime network. They used to be my greatest friend," Trafficante says. department.". Santo Trafficante was wanted in 48 states by the time he was 43. He dropped out of high school and spent time in New York learning the trade from some of the countries toughest mobsters. He drove a forklift for 20 years. 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. It was clear that federal and local law enforcement had an acute interest in the Trafficante family. Then, check out these photos of the aftermath from some of the bloodiest mob hits. Are you sure that you want to remove this flower? From bolitaan illegal version of the now-legal Florida lotteryto narcotics, Tampas experience with organized crime is as notable as Chicagos or New Yorks. There was a problem getting your location. After this look at Santo Trafficante Jr., read the gruesome story of the murderous American dentist, Benjamin Salomon, of World War II. 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. Family members linked to this person will appear here. Please reset your password. [5] [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. His health had declined in his later years. 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. 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. [13] Trafficante also stated that he had no recollection of meeting Oswald or Oswald's assassin, Jack Ruby. Other Mafia leaders, as well as newer organized crime networks, took over many of the rackets the family ran throughout the 20th Century. THE CHARLIE WALL STORY Kingpin Charlie Wall (center holding bottle, right of child) and his notorious gang. I found on Findagrave.com. Trafficantes chance came in the 1960s when he became acquainted with mobster John Handsome Johnny Roselli. Search results for "Images of America" at Rakuten Kobo. Santo Trafficante Jr. (November 15, 1914 - March 17, 1987) was among the most powerful Mafia bosses in the United States. 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. 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. Daughters: Mary Josephine Sarah Ann Brothers: Frank, Salvatore (Sam), Epifanio and Enrico (Henry) Uncle: Joseph M. CACCIATORE (convicted narcotic trafficker) CRIMINAL HISTORY: They had three daughters, Antoinette born . Trafficantes partnership with Batista was profitable for both parties and so the mobsters fate became inextricably tied to that of Cubas political climate. Santo met and married Maria Giuseppe Cacciatore on April 20, 1909. [8] Allusions to these historic connections were confirmed by the CIA's 2007 declassification of the "Family Jewels" documents. Try again later. On Oct. 26, 1937, Frank Trafficante named his first son after his own father, Santo Trafficante Sr. Santo was one of the FBIs targets in that case. 2023, Tampa Mafia. Santo Trafficante Jr Santo Trafficante Jr. (November 15, 1914 - March 17, 1987) was among the most powerful Mafia bosses in the United States. By Santo III's own estimation, this was a wise move. By December 1953, one more rival was dead and another was too scared to even venture out of his home. [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 Trafficante Family Under Santo Junior . That was in part due to his lifestyle. And while cocaine-fueled Latin American criminal networks have been a serious problem in Florida for decades, the Trafficante familys illicit activities were quite infamous as well. [3] His wife, Josephine, died in 2015 at the age of 95; he is survived by two of his daughters. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. English He convicted infamous criminal labor union head, Jimmy Hoffa. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. Now he owns a 210-acre orange grove in southern Hillsborough. Year should not be greater than current year. Pupello determined that his diabetic patient's arteries were healthy. I think it was a case of mistaken identity.. 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. Please enter your email and password to sign in. 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. I will never forget him as a fellow stroke survivor. 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. U.S. Treasury Department documents indicate that law enforcement believed Trafficante's legitimate business interests to include several legal casinos in Cuba; a Havana drive-in movie theater; and shares in several restaurants and bars in Trafficante's hometown of Tampa, Florida. In 1965, Giancana was convicted of contempt of court, serving one year in prison. Please allow 24 hours for your entry to be reviewed for appropriate content. 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. Daughters: Mary Josephine Sarah Ann Brothers: Frank, Salvatore (Sam), Epifanio and Enrico (Henry) Uncle: Joseph M. CACCIATORE (convicted narcotic trafficker) CRIMINAL HISTORY: Bankruptcy court documents show that Trafficante is owed $500,000 by a business partner. One of the last surviving mobsters from the Luciano era, he died of heart disease in a Houston, Texas, hospital in 1987. Trafficante again escaped conviction. [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 has thought about it. 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. When you think of Florida and organized crime, it is difficult to avoid conjuring up images of Tony Montana in. 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. Santo Trafficante grew up in the Florida underworld, working his father's gambling rackets and getting experience in the business. And despite relatively small time beginnings, Trafficante proved to be a shrewd mobster. Born in Tampa, Florida in 1914, Trafficante hailed from a family already deeply involved in organized crime. A full report was made by the Cuban police, dated January 23, 1958, includes transcripts of long-distance telephone calls made from the Sans Souci during the period AugustDecember 1957. However, while the Latin American drug trade has figured prominently in the sunshine states less savory history, so has the Mafia. "I thought all this would end when my uncle died. 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. Harris & Ewing/Library of Commons/Wikimedia Commons. She was predeceased in death, by other loving family members. [15] He repeated the claim two days later on ABC's Good Morning America,[16] in Newfield's Frontline report entitled JFK, Hoffa and Mob broadcast in November 1992,[17] and again in his 1994 autobiography Mob Lawyer. "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. Drag images here or select from your computer for Santo Trafficante Jr. memorial. Trafficante was arrested on a bookmaking conspiracy charge. In 1975, the CIA declassified a report stating that Trafficante had been persuaded to poison Castro, an allegation he denied. Shop eBooks and audiobooks at Rakuten Kobo. 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 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. cemeteries found in Ybor City, Hillsborough County, Florida, USA will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Chronicles of Events and Biographies Related to the American Mafia. [3] Trafficante moved to Cuba in 1955, where he came into contact with Batista and Meyer Lansky. Send your deepest condolences with fresh flowers. He attended the University of Florida for a year, then transferred to the University of Tampa and left without completing his degree. 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. Wikimedia CommonsPresident John F. Kennedy, FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, and Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy. Learn more about merges. He is hardly the "Dapper Don." Frank Ragano and Santo Trafficante Jr. (right). To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. During a recent trip to Lake Tahoe he bought two basketballs autographed by Michael Jordan. "My kids suffered a lot by it," he says. Or does he just look like one? Trafficante Jr. controlled his Tampa-based crime network for over three decades. 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. Dr. Dennis Pupello was looking for heart disease, brought on by his overweight and diabetic patient's "voracious eating.". Batista let Trafficante and other mobsters build as many casinos and hotels as they wanted in exchange for a cash kickback. Who better than his son, Trafficante Jr., to inherit his throne? Trafficante took control of the Tampa mob in 1954 after the death of his father, Santo Trafficante Sr. 2023 SCI SHARED RESOURCES, LLC. Please check your email for further instructions. [2] Trafficante Jr. had known Lucchese since the 1940s, when his father and Lucchese had trained him in the mafia traditions. 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. [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. Wife : Josephine MARCHESE (Santo TRAFFICANTE Jr. married Josephine in Tampa, Florida on April 17, 1938). Failed to delete memorial. 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. In 1946, Santo Sr. sent his son, already a family underboss, to Cuba to invest in the growing number of nightclubs and casinos in the island nation. But according to declassified documents released in 1992, Santo Trafficante Jr. made a deathbed confession of his involvement in the Presidents murder. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. Santo Trafficante Jr. continued to develop his interests in Cuba serving as Luciano and Lanskys local liaison. This browser does not support getting your location. Finally, in 1987, Trafficante died at the age of 72. One small gang, led by Italian immigrant Santo Trafficante Senior, profited from the illegal lottery-style games they ran across Tampa. Failed to remove flower. Trafficante admitted his anti-Castro activities to the United States House Select Committee on Assassinations in 1978, and vehemently denied allegations that he had knowledge of a plot to assassinate President John F. Kennedy. Over the next 30-plus years, Trafficante, Jr. rose to oversee Mafia operations across the state of Florida. Donnie Brasco. 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. Help tell the story of your loved ones unique life. His son was turned away from a date's house and his daughter has been refused jobs. I hold such fond memories of Santo & Gerry when I was growing up. For the last 20 years, everyone knew her as JuJu. [20], In 2005, Lamar Waldron and Thom Hartmann's book Ultimate Sacrifice said that Trafficante was behind an aborted plot to kill Kennedy in Tampa on November 18, 1963. Santo Jr. succeeded his father as the boss of Tampa upon his death. With that act, Santo Trafficante now reigned supreme in Tampa. "You hope things will just disappear two or three years from now.". 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. Every so often I think of the Jekyll Island and White Lake, NC trip and laugh. But the mobster tag has outlasted the case itself. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. Welcome to Boxer Cycle Works. In 1963, the Mob allegedly had enough of Kennedy. "Banks are my greatest enemy. To use this feature, use a newer browser. 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. His business ventures have not always been successful. Many of the familys gangsters were in prison, or too old to be effective. 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. According to Scott M. Deitche in The Silent Don, the family was profiting not only from its offshore casinos but from narcotics trafficking. SANTO TRAFFICANTE SR, A Sicilian of the Old School, RULED TAMPAS UNDERWORLD FOR MORE THAN A DECADE! 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. Like Trafficante Jr. before him, had many close calls with law enforcement, but always escaped serious charges. "They'll sleep under trees on you.". If you notice a problem with the translation, please send a message to [emailprotected] and include a link to the page and details about the problem. While shouldering the legacy of his father and. Cuban leader Fulgencio Batista in Washington, D.C. in 1938. 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. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. After a violent mob war left several of Trafficantes rivals dead or weakened, his gang rapidly rose to prominence in Tampa. In the mid-2000s, he would say he was a legitimate businessman, citing his ownership of a car dealership, and employment at various restaurants and night clubs over the years. A car registered to former state attorney and current state appellate judge E.J. My heart goes out to the family. He had a big heart and will be missed. 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. Santo Trafficante Jr. had long followed in his father's footsteps, and proved to be an even more effective Mafia kingpin. The mafiosos that made up the family are either retired, in prison, or have died due to old age. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. "I'm in the I.O.U. Services will be followed by a graveside service at the Italian Club Cemetery and a reception at the family home. Published: March 15th, 2017 - By Scott M. Deitche, Contributing Writer, Florida Mafia boss Santo Trafficante Jr. died 30 years ago March 17, El Chapos lawyers complain about strict rules at New York prison. Today, Santo Trafficantes criminal legacy lives on through his nephew and namesake, Santo Trafficante III, who was charged with organized fraud in 1992. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. Don Santo Trafficante Jr was one of the last of the old-time American Mafia bosses in the United States. Still, theres a fine line between exploring a topic and glorifying it. We found ourselves in a love affair with Tony Soprano and we could not stop watching. "He's very creative in terms of the combination of things he eats," Alessi says. 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. She misses him, but she's making do. She was a wonderful cook, and she loved to crochet and travel with her husband, but she lived her life for her family. My ex-wife Erline Lazzara was a childhood friend you might remember. You can always change this later in your Account settings. wills o' nats last of the summer wine. Reclaiming History: The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Died: March 17, 1987, Houston, Texas During the 1950s, Trafficante Jr. maintained a narcotic trafficking network with Tommy Lucchese, the boss of the Lucchese crime family in New York City. For all the power he wielded, Trafficante was often described as quiet and reserved. Ex-FBI agent and later Howard Hughes aide Robert Maheu of Las Vegas was one of the primary go-betweens for Trafficante. Trafficante Sr. passed away four years later, leaving Jr. his Tampa and Cuba-based criminal empire. Following his death, Mobster Vincent LoScalvo took over the Trafficante familys criminal network in Florida. Early in Trafficantes federal court case in 1986, the judge declared a mistrial. [13] Trafficante said that he introduced the trio to Cuban exiles in Florida. 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. 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. Sign up for service and obituary updates. The other case was a RICO indictment for insurance fraud. "If my uncle knew I was talking to the press, Christ, he'd shoot me," Trafficante says, half-laughing. In Trafficante's food chain, reporters rank only marginally higher than prosecutors and bank regulators, whom he likes to refer to as "rat bastards.". 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. Still, he lives comfortably enough to give his sons Jaguar sports cars, red for Dino and white for Joseph. You need a Find a Grave account to continue. [15][16] He stated he was chosen by Hoffa because, as both Hoffa and Trafficante's lawyer, he could be assured of attorneyclient privilege. In the early 1980s Trafficante was ensnared in two major cases that could have sent the aging don to prison for the first time in his life, apart from his time in the Triscornia detention camp in Cuba following Castros takeover in 1959. He maintained close working ties with the Lucchese crime family and the Bonanno crime family from New York City. Despite his arrest, Trafficante managed to escape charges and continue to fly under the laws radar. The beachfront properties were the site of many parties and barbecues. He died on March 17, 1987. He was accused of making false financial statements for loans he used to invest in his citrus business, to purchase luxury cars and to buy a beach condo. Upon his return to the United States, he became determined to bring down the man who ended his empire. But once Kennedy actually entered the White House, he didnt live up to his end of the bargain. My prayers are with all of you. Trafficante was arrested again in 1957 for attending the famous Apalachin summit of Mob leaders in New York, but those charges were dropped. Seven people were murdered. Contribute to chinapedia/wikipedia.en development by creating an account on GitHub. prosecution, fled temporarily to Cuba. 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. For the U.S. government, it was a classic case of the enemy of my enemy is my friend.. She was the Matriarch of the Trafficante Family; and we will all miss her presence, guidance, love and affection. He was severed from that trial for medical reasons. To add further credence to this theory of JFKs assassination, famed prosecutor Vincent Bugliosi (who also wrote the infamous true crime novel on the Manson Family, Helter Skelter), who penned Reclaiming History: The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy, quoted a witness who said that New Orleans boss Marcello had quipped: The dog [JFK] will keep biting you if you only cut off its tail [RFK]., The final piece of evidence for the theory that Santo Trafficante was involved in JFKs assassination was a witness who reported that the mobster had once said himself that JFK not going to make it to the [1964] election. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. [1] In 1997, further declassified documents indicated that some mafiosi worked with the agency on assassination attempts against Castro. In addition, "on January 23, 1958 the Cuban Department of Investigation, Havana, Cuba notified the Bureau of Narcotics that Santo Trafficante was registered in their Alien Office under No.

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