In January 1963, he married Geraldine Valenti, the daughter of J.C. Valenti, who owned a thriving produce business. And purchase valuable sports memorabilia for himself. Make sure that the file is a photo. He was severed from that trial for medical reasons. Robert F. Kennedy even taunted those mobsters he brought into court, telling Chicago mob boss Sam Giancana that I thought only little girls giggled, Mr. Giancana.. After this look at Santo Trafficante Jr., read the gruesome story of the murderous American dentist, Benjamin Salomon, of World War II. The report was given to the District Attorney's office. 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. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. [5] 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 born in Tampa, Florida, to Sicilian parents Santo Trafficante Sr. and his wife Maria Giuseppa Cacciatore in 1914. Returning to Miami, he joined his father, managing some . Several were wounded. Your entry has exceeded the maximum character limit. The Dignity Memorial brand name is used to identify a network of licensed funeral, cremation and cemetery providers that include affiliates of Service Corporation International, 1929 Allen Parkway, Houston, Texas. "I still don't think I did anything wrong," Trafficante says. "[12], In 1978, both Trafficante and Aleman were called to testify before members of the United States House Select Committee on Assassinations investigating possible links between Kennedy assassin Lee Harvey Oswald and anti-Castro Cubans, including the theory that Castro had Kennedy killed in retaliation for the CIA's attempts on his own life. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. [19] He claimed three witnesses could support his statement that he met Trafficante in Tampa, but refused to name them, adding: "One guy is afraid of retaliation. Let others know about your loved one's death. After a violent mob war left several of Trafficantes rivals dead or weakened, his gang rapidly rose to prominence in Tampa. All the convictions were overturned on appeal in 1960. Comfort the family with flowers or a sympathy gift. 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. So is Santo Jose Trafficante III a mobster? Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. ). Trafficante's appetite and his legal woes seem linked like the strands of a cruller. And the Trafficante Crime family found out that it had an unusual ally in their concerns about Castro: the Central, Trafficante Jr. controlled his Tampa-based crime network for over three decades. View Source Suggest Edits Memorial Photos Flowers Memorials Region North America USA Florida Don Santo Trafficante Jr was one of the last of the old-time American Mafia bosses in the United States. Santo Trafficante Jr. had long followed in his fathers footsteps, and proved to be an even more effective Mafia kingpin. [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. Santo Trafficante, Sr., the powerful Trafficante crime family's patriarch, was born on May 28, 1886, in Alexandria Della Rocca, Sicily. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. 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. They used to be my greatest friend," Trafficante says. Trafficantes father was the lucky survivor of what was called the Era of Blood, when rival gangs based in Tampa fought for control of Prohibition-era nightclubs and, crucially, the local numbers rackets called bolitas. Battling Mob rivals in South Florida essentially weakened each other financially and, through murder, the number of available soldiers. I will never forget him as a fellow stroke survivor. In October 1966, while waiting in a Queens courthouse for his turn to be questioned by a grand jury about the infamous LaStella meeting (later dubbed "Little Apalachin") held a couple of weeks earlier on September 22, Santo Trafficante Jr., who was the boss of the Tampa Bay Crime Family, overheard reporters talking about someone . 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. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. When you start talking about organized crime, things can get dicey. 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. "[12] He said that Trafficante complained about the honesty of the Kennedys and their "attacks" on Jimmy Hoffa and other associates. Santo Trafficante grew up in the Florida underworld, working his father's gambling rackets and getting experience in the business. She misses him, but she's making do. This account has been disabled. 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. Trafficante Jr. was nonetheless a ruthless and old-school mob boss. Santo Jr. succeeded his father as the boss of Tampa upon his death. Anthony Accardo & Santo Trafficante Jr - Labor Union Kickbacks Share this memorial using social media sites or email. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. Santo Trafficante Jr - Mafia Facts Josephine Marchese Trafficante Trafficante was a ruthless mob boss, and quickly consolidated control over the criminal networks in Tampa. 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. Harris & Ewing/Library of Commons/Wikimedia Commons. Oops, something didn't work. However, by the late 1920s, facing little pressure, Sicilian gangsters began setting up lucrative gambling and narcotics rackets. [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. It was all on the up and up. 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. 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. And all this occurred throughout seven Sylvia at age 12 and her father Jimmy Velasco in California, June 1948 Jimmy Velasco was a political fixer. Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. However, while the Latin American drug trade has figured prominently in the sunshine states less savory history, so has the Mafia. [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. Donnie Brasco. 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. After the death of his wife, the Trafficante family sold their Tampa 1970-built home for $950,000. "Even my uncle (Santo Jr.) told me, "Santo, why don't you change your name?' After the Kennedy hubbub, Trafficante kept a low profile or, lower that is. She is now living in Virginia. RIP Santo. Santo TRAFFICANTE Obituary (2010) - Tampa, FL - TBO.com Notoriety comes with family name - Tampa Bay Times [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. And the Trafficante Crime family found out that it had an unusual ally in their concerns about Castro: the Central Intelligence Agency. 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 . Trafficante had now not only lost an ally but a significant portion of his income as his casinos were closed by the Marxist revolutionary. prosecution, fled temporarily to Cuba. Salcines was observed at the properties the weekend of June 9, 1967. Born Tampa, Florida March 24, 1920 English Reputed 'boss of bosses' dies at 72 TAMPA, Fla, "' Trafficante dies at age 72 TAMPA. Try again. The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. He escaped conviction all but once, receiving a five-year sentence for bribery in 1954, but his conviction was overturned by the Florida Supreme Court before he entered prison. During the 1950s, Trafficante Jr. maintained a narcotic trafficking network with Tommy Lucchese, the boss of the Lucchese crime family in New York City. She touched all who knew her, and upon meeting her, she would embrace you, and you would instantly become part of the family. Indeed, some people would rather not dwell on the less-than-noble aspects of our local history. Instead of Italian suits, he wears horizontally striped golf shirts. 2023 SCI SHARED RESOURCES, LLC. 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. He sought treatment for stomach cancer and was ready to hand power over to a trusted lieutenant. 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. [2] Trafficante Jr. had known Lucchese since the 1940s, when his father and Lucchese had trained him in the mafia traditions. 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. You'll learn about bolita, the rumored tunnels of Ybor, and the Era of Blood. [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. With that act, Santo Trafficante now reigned supreme in Tampa. Love and peace to you all. Though his prison sentence wasnt long and he returned to a strong position in Florida, Trafficante never forgave Castro. Born in Tampa, Florida in 1914, Trafficante hailed from a family already deeply involved in organized crime. Trafficante had been operating in Cuba since the late 1940s under his father, Santo Trafficante Sr., a mobster in Tampa, Florida. It wasn't somebody going into a back room to kiss somebody's ring. The other guys are two doctors, who say they'll testify if they're summoned to court. Trafficante was apprehended in November 1957, along with over 60 other mobsters, at the Apalachin meeting in Apalachin, New York. In his previous statements, Roselli also tied Lee Harvey Oswalds killer, Jack Ruby, to Santo Trafficante. Santo Trafficante Jr. (November 15, 1914 March 17, 1987) was among the most powerful Mafia bosses in the United States. After Cuban revolution, the Mafia saw Castro as a threat to their business. The other case was a RICO indictment for insurance fraud. Santo Trafficante Jr. was a reserved, modest man married to the same woman for 49 years. 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. Daughters: Mary Josephine Sarah Ann Brothers: Frank, Salvatore (Sam), Epifanio and Enrico (Henry) Uncle: Joseph M. CACCIATORE (convicted narcotic trafficker) CRIMINAL HISTORY: So, at his attorney Ralph Fernandez's urging, he has agreed to talk publicly, hoping to shore up his damaged reputation. 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. The gunmen drove off, unaware they had failed to kill Trafficante, merely grazing his arm. 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. When his father died in 1954 he took control of these establishments. Photos of Santo Trafficante Jr. - Find a Grave Memorial Father of Private and Private The mobsters also attempted to get Castro into a poisoned wetsuit and even offered to blow him up with an exploding seashell. [13] Trafficante also stated that he had no recollection of meeting Oswald or Oswald's assassin, Jack Ruby. 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. [3] Trafficante moved to Cuba in 1955, where he came into contact with Batista and Meyer Lansky. You need a Find a Grave account to continue. 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. The mafiosos that made up the family are either retired, in prison, or have died due to old age. He wants Trafficante, whom he considers to have an authoritative palate, to sample a new pastry that Alessi plans to sell at his bakery. The idea behind the assassination wasnt just to punish JFK but also to get his brother off the Mobs back. In February 2016, many of Trafficante's personal belongings were sold at an auction in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Trafficante family formed a strong alliance with the Batista government in Cuba and profited from their investments, although they never achieved the goal of dominating gambling on the island. Our prayers are with you. 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. [15][16] He stated he was chosen by Hoffa because, as both Hoffa and Trafficante's lawyer, he could be assured of attorneyclient privilege. 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. The Museum is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with a mission to advance the public understanding of organized crime's history and impact on American society. Santo Trafficante Jr., one of the last of the old-time reputed Mafia dons, who was reportedly enlisted in 1960 in a futile effort to kill Fidel Castro, has died at the age of 72. Welcome to Boxer Cycle Works. Wife : Josephine MARCHESE (Santo TRAFFICANTE Jr. married Josephine in Tampa, Florida on April 17, 1938). "I thought all this would end when my uncle died. I will always remember your perseverance, happiness and smiles at Marisa's wedding. Images of America Series de libros - eBooks | Rakuten Kobo Mxico Century, Tampa was a small but growing city, and the organized crime it faced was modest. Santo Trafficante, Jr. was born in the United States on November 15, 1914, as one of five sons of Mafia boss Santo Trafficante. They never returned. The glamorous casino in the Hotel Nacional De Cuba in Havana in 1958. Ed Giorandino/NY Daily News Archive via Getty ImagesSanto Trafficante arrives at Queens Supreme Court in Kew Gardens. His new attorney general his beloved brother, Robert F. Kennedy went after organized crime with a vengeance. Failed to delete memorial. By this point, Trafficante Jr. had fully taken over the oversight of drugs shipped between Florida, Cuba, and the rest of the States. Today, Santo Trafficantes criminal legacy lives on through his nephew and namesake, Santo Trafficante III, who was charged with organized fraud in 1992. Santo Trafficante Jr.: The Florida Godfather Who Tried To Kill Castro To use this feature, use a newer browser. Finally, in 1987, Trafficante died at the age of 72. [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? The American governments close ties to Santo Trafficante Jr. and the rest of the Mafia didnt end with their attempts to kill Castro. Despite his arrest, Trafficante managed to escape charges and continue to fly under the laws radar. This is a carousel with slides. But considering the fiercely anti-Soviet atmosphere of the Cold War, its not that hard to believe. Trafficante Sr. hung back and developed relationships with politicians and his Mob colleagues in New York and Chicago. That arrest also led Cuban authorities to become warier of the mobster, especially as the political tides seemed to be turning there. His son was turned away from a date's house and his daughter has been refused jobs. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. He moved to Cuba in 1955 where he met the countrys authoritarian ruler Fulgencio Batista. But before Trafficante testified, someone conveniently killed Roselli. Trafficante Jr. controlled his Tampa-based crime network for over three decades. This was proven in 1953 when he eliminated the last contender to the Tampa mob throne: Joe Antinori, son of the late Ignacio. My uncle, never wore a ring," Trafficante says. Home - Boxer Cycle Works Santo Trafficante arrives at Queens Supreme Court in Kew Gardens. Bankruptcy court documents show that Trafficante is owed $500,000 by a business partner. cemeteries found in Ybor City, Hillsborough County, Florida, USA will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Santo Trafficante (53540265)? Ex-FBI agent and later Howard Hughes aide Robert Maheu of Las Vegas was one of the primary go-betweens for Trafficante. Trafficante took control of the Tampa mob in 1954 after the death of his father, Santo Trafficante Sr. The guy really tried to do it right.". Now he owns a 210-acre orange grove in southern Hillsborough. 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. 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. By December 1953, one more rival was dead and another was too scared to even venture out of his home. Trafficante tried to win Castro over to his side, but that didnt work. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. In 1965, Giancana was convicted of contempt of court, serving one year in prison. 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 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. 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. They lived in modest, ranch-style houses in quiet neighborhoods in Tampa and Miami. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? 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. His luck has not improved recently. 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. ". 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 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. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. All photos uploaded successfully, click on the Done button to see the photos in the gallery. He grimaces at the thought that the rumor has persisted so long. Try again later. According to Scott M. Deitche in The Silent Don, the family was profiting not only from its offshore casinos but from narcotics trafficking. After his father died in 1954, he became the head in Tampa and took over his fathers interests in Cuba. Santo Trafficante then categorically denied every allegation about stating he wanted RFK or JFK dead and got off scot-free. 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. Are you sure that you want to remove this flower? Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. [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. "I think it's all bull----," says Trafficante's former horse trainer, Arthur Pedregal Jr. "It's only because his name is Trafficante. Santo Trafficante Jr. (November 15, 1914 - March 17, 1987) was among the most powerful Mafia bosses in the United States. After a violent mob war left several of Trafficantes rivals dead or weakened, his gang rapidly rose to prominence in Tampa. That horse won $161,080 for its new owners, according to the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders Association. A year later they had their first son, Frank, born on April 16, 1910. Now in his late 70s or early 80s, LoScalzo is reported to be retired. According to some, he was even involved in the infamous assassination of President John F. Kennedy. F. Kennedy not only failed to deliver on his promise to the mob but also actually put the Mafia under increasing pressure. Santos Trafficante Jr. was the son of Santos Trafficante Sr., who owned several casinos in Havana. His wife also was named in the fraud charges. He flew to Houston on March 15 for heart bypass surgery. 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. Try again later. [13] He stated that he received no payment for his involvement and that he acted out of patriotism. You've got to be a fool to marry wrong," he says. 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. The beachfront properties were the site of many parties and barbecues. Authorities said he leaked a list of suspects in the case and then lied about it. Santo Trafficante Jr. (November 15, 1914 - March 17, 1987) was among the most powerful Mafia bosses in the United States. "There's no such thing as organized crime in Hillsborough County," Trafficante says, clapping his hands for emphasis. Please enter your email and password to sign in. Nicknames: The Silent Don Alongside Chicago boss Sam Giancana, Roselli and Trafficante came up with some truly insane plots to kill Fidel Castro. It may take up to 1 hour for your comment to appear on the website. 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. 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. His son, Santo Trafficante Jr., took over the crime family and became tangled in a web of conspiracies to kill the leader of revolutionary Cuba and, it is rumored, President John F. Kennedy. In a final disappointment, he sold a filly named "Run Marisa Run" (after his daughter) for $7,500.
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