You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. Trafficante was born in Tampa, Florida, to Sicilian parents Santo Trafficante Sr. and his wife Maria Giuseppa Cacciatore in 1914. They never returned. 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. A year later they had their first son, Frank, born on April 16, 1910. We never paid cash. By this point, Trafficante Jr. had fully taken over the oversight of drugs shipped between Florida, Cuba, and the rest of the States. Try again. Our prayers are with you. 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. Santo told the state attorney, I dont have an enemy in the world. The other case was a RICO indictment for insurance fraud. Santo Trafficante Jr. had long followed in his fathers footsteps, and proved to be an even more effective Mafia kingpin. But the news was not good on the Key Bank front. Another bank sued Trafficante and his wife in October for repayment of a $100,000 promissory note. Born Tampa, Florida March 24, 1920 "I was the most expensive forklift driver in the world," he says with a smile. From bolitaan illegal version of the now-legal Florida lotteryto narcotics, Tampas experience with organized crime is as notable as Chicagos or New Yorks. The American governments close ties to Santo Trafficante Jr. and the rest of the Mafia didnt end with their attempts to kill Castro. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. He will be sorely missed and his heart of gold will be remembered by all who new him. There is a problem with your email/password. Trafficante took control of the Tampa mob in 1954 after the death of his father, Santo Trafficante Sr. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. "Sam Gold" was Sam Giancana; "Joe" was Trafficante. Afterwards, the son he had groomed to take his place, Santo Trafficante Jr., took the reins of the Trafficante crime 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. Interestingly, Trafficante who was worth about $25 billion at his height in the 80s lived a fairly reserved, modest lifestyle. In February 2016, many of Trafficante's personal belongings were sold at an auction in St. Petersburg, Florida. He is currently working on his seventh book, The Jersey Mob., Feedback or questions? In 1975, the CIA declassified a report stating that Trafficante had been persuaded to poison Castro, an allegation he denied. To use this feature, use a newer browser. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. The original Malio's Restaurant located on South Dale Mabry Highway in Tampa, Florida. [13] Trafficante said that he introduced the trio to Cuban exiles in Florida. Who better than his son, Trafficante Jr., to inherit his throne? prosecution, fled temporarily to Cuba. Add to your scrapbook. 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. "Now when I walk in a bank," Trafficante says, "the president runs out the back door.". Santo Trafficante Senior died in 1954. They used to be my greatest friend," Trafficante says. 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. As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. An editor and public historian, Carly Silver has written for Smithsonian, Narratively, The Atlantic, Atlas Obscura, and Archaeology, among other publications. 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. 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. Other Mafia leaders, as well as newer organized crime networks, took over many of the rackets the family ran throughout the 20th Century. 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. ). He was, in many ways, the archetypical old-school Mob boss. Please enable JavaScript in your browser's settings to use this part of Geni. Daughters: Mary Josephine Sarah Ann Brothers: Frank, Salvatore (Sam), Epifanio and Enrico (Henry) Uncle: Joseph M. CACCIATORE (convicted narcotic trafficker) CRIMINAL HISTORY: "I'm a freak for that kind of stuff," he says. 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. This account has been disabled. Don Santo Trafficante Jr was one of the last of the old-time American Mafia bosses in the United States. That horse won $161,080 for its new owners, according to the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders Association. You'll learn about bolita, the rumored tunnels of Ybor, and the Era of Blood. Oops, something didn't work. Donnie Brasco. As such, Trafficante Sr. controlled gambling rackets for bolita, a lottery game popular in Florida and Cuba, until 1940 when the murder of Tampa boss Ignacio Antinori pushed the Trafficantes to assume ultimate power in the Florida underworld. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. "They wouldn't even let me go to the track. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. GitHub export from English Wikipedia. There was a problem getting your location. [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. Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? Our deepest condolences to the Trafficante family. 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. He died of natural causes, at the age of 72, in Houston, Texas. And the Trafficante Crime family found out that it had an unusual ally in their concerns about Castro: the Central Intelligence Agency. This site is provided as a service of SCI Shared Resources, LLC. TAMPA CRIME BOSS SANTO TRAFFICANTE JR PLAYS A CENTRAL ROLE IN THRILLER MAFIA SPIES. All photos uploaded successfully, click on the Done button to see the photos in the gallery. His uncle, the late Santo Trafficante Jr., was reputed to have been the boss of the local Mafia. Now he owns a 210-acre orange grove in southern Hillsborough. Organized Crime Figure. 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. While shouldering the legacy of his father and. Phil Alessi, a childhood friend, marvels at Trafficante's taste and capacity. It never did exist.". And despite relatively small time beginnings, Trafficante proved to be a shrewd mobster. RIP Santo. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. Upon his return to the United States, he became determined to bring down the man who ended his empire. Services will be followed by a graveside service at the Italian Club Cemetery and a reception at the family home. And then there are the infinite conspiracy theories about the assassination of President Kennedy, many of them featuring Trafficante. A Hillsborough judge threw out the wiretaps, the spine of the state's case. Join us for this one-of-a-kind walking tour of Tampa's most storied neighborhood. After his father died in 1954, he became the head in Tampa and took over his fathers interests in Cuba. His positioning in Florida was prime for drug shipping as the product often passed through these ports en route to elsewhere in America. "There's no such thing as organized crime in Hillsborough County," Trafficante says, clapping his hands for emphasis. "My wife's got money. Family members linked to this person will appear here. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. With that act, Santo Trafficante now reigned supreme in Tampa. There was an error deleting this problem. Read free previews and reviews from booklovers. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. "I'm in the I.O.U. His abiding passion is food. Zeng8r/Wikimedia Common A set of bolita balls. 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. Undercover detectives ran a gambling sting operation there, hoping to nab a circle of Tampa men they said were making illegal sports bets. 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,. However, while the Latin American drug trade has figured prominently in the sunshine states less savory history, so has the Mafia. Failed to delete memorial. Wikimedia CommonsPresident John F. Kennedy, FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, and Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy. Year should not be greater than current year. Desr Gerry, please know that I am thinking of you and never forget the kindness bestowed on me in my difficult time but especially the generosity and affection shown to my daughter and grandson. [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. Mobster dies, two nations. The idea behind the assassination wasnt just to punish JFK but also to get his brother off the Mobs back. 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. Weve updated the security on the site. Are you sure that you want to remove this flower? This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. They had three daughters, Antoinette born . On March 17, 1987, Trafficante died at the age of 72 at the Texas Heart Institute in Houston where he had gone for heart surgery. Santo Trafficante grew up in the Florida underworld, working his father's gambling rackets and getting experience in the business. I will never forget him as a fellow stroke survivor. Mrs. Gerry, Gina, Dino, Joe and Marisa - they broke the mold with Traff. Wife : Josephine MARCHESE (Santo TRAFFICANTE Jr. married Josephine in Tampa, Florida on April 17, 1938). "Banks are my greatest enemy. He went to Jesuit High School and played some football. They raided my apartment, they were looking for money, they tore up all the furniture, they used to come and get me at nighttime, take me out in the woods, trying to tell where I had my money, this and that, until I finally went into hiding.. Santo Trafficante Jr. (November 15, 1914 - March 17, 1987) was among the most powerful Mafia bosses in the United States. Reclaiming History: The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy. 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. He flew to Houston on March 15 for heart bypass surgery. 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. After a lifetime in organized crime, Trafficante Jr. died of national causes in 1987. Salcines was observed at the properties the weekend of June 9, 1967. Mob Lawyer Frank Ragano Says He Knows Who Killed JFK", "Book alleges plot to kill JFK in Tampa, cover-up", "At Santo Trafficante auction, a chance to buy a piece of Tampa's mob history", Donnie Brasco: My Undercover Life in the Mafia, Associated Press report on Trafficante's death, "Little Man: Meyer Lansky and the Gangster Life" By Robert Lacy, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Santo_Trafficante_Jr.&oldid=1140940042, This page was last edited on 22 February 2023, at 15:02. I am sorry I am unable to attend the services due to a illness. "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. The Trafficante Family Under Santo Junior. That was in part due to his lifestyle. Valenti hired his son-in-law at the produce company and allowed him to name his own salary. F. Kennedy not only failed to deliver on his promise to the mob but also actually put the Mafia under increasing pressure. 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. Nicknames: The Silent Don Indeed, some people would rather not dwell on the less-than-noble aspects of our local history. Search results for "Images of America" at Rakuten Kobo. Authorities also said he urged former bank vice president Michael Pupello to impersonate him in calls to federal bank regulators. 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 drove standard cars, lived in regular houses in quiet places, was married to the same woman, and generally described as a quiet man. 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. During the 1950s, Trafficante Jr. maintained a narcotic trafficking network with Tommy Lucchese, the boss of the Lucchese crime family in New York City. 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. Love and peace to you all. The chairman cited a confession from Roselli that Trafficantes allies organized a sharpshooter, Lee Harvey Oswald, to take out the President. Trafficante was a ruthless mob boss, and quickly consolidated control over the criminal networks in Tampa. [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. 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. Robert Anderson aka The Killer Between 50 and 100 buildings were burned. I thought you might like to see a memorial for Santo Trafficante Jr. Trafficante was one of the last surviving members of the original Luciano mob era upon his death, and the truth behind the JFK assassination may have perhaps died with him. Wife : Josephine MARCHESE (Santo TRAFFICANTE Jr. married Josephine in Tampa, Florida on April 17, 1938). Santo Jr. succeeded his father as the boss of Tampa upon his death. 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. View Source Suggest Edits Memorial Photos Flowers Memorials Region North America USA Florida "The Mob? At age 16, he boarded the S.S. Lombardia and set sail for American in search of a better life. 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. [3] Trafficante moved to Cuba in 1955, where he came into contact with Batista and Meyer Lansky. SANTO TRAFFICANTE SR, A Sicilian of the Old School, RULED TAMPAS UNDERWORLD FOR MORE THAN A DECADE! 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. department.". Trafficante would be charged with bank fraud, perjury and disclosure of criminal investigation. ", 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. Trafficante had now not only lost an ally but a significant portion of his income as his casinos were closed by the Marxist revolutionary. GREAT NEWS! [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. So, as the popular theory goes, the mob bosses that lent a helping hand in getting Kennedy into office wanted revenge. "When I woke up, they told me they raided Key Bank. We send our most sincere sympathies to the Trafficante family. please know that i am praying for you and your family. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. Now in his late 70s or early 80s, LoScalzo is reported to be retired. 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:. As law enforcement pressure increased on the Mafia in the late 1940s, Santo, fearing. After Cuban revolution, the Mafia saw Castro as a threat to their business. The report was given to the District Attorney's office. If the decision is upheld on appeal, charges against Trafficante may be dismissed. He wears tasselled leather loafers without socks. 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. Getty ImagesSanto Trafficante was wanted in 48 states by the time he was 43. Hoffa said to me, This has to be done.'. Don Santo Trafficante Jr. the godfather from Tampa, Florida, USA. 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. Hey, they have more convicts at the track than straight people," Trafficante says. . 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. Santo Trafficante, Jr. was born in the United States on November 15, 1914, as one of five sons of Mafia boss Santo Trafficante. Resend Activation Email. I have thought of you and Santo many times over the past 50 years. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. When his father died in 1954 he took control of these establishments. With over 1,900 locations, Dignity Memorial providers proudly serve over 375,000 families a year. Despite his arrest, Trafficante managed to escape charges and continue to fly under the laws radar. After this look at Santo Trafficante Jr., read the gruesome story of the murderous American dentist, Benjamin Salomon, of World War II. Many fond memories of Santo will continue with me. Early in Trafficantes federal court case in 1986, the judge declared a mistrial. 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. 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. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. [5] He has been featured on the History Channel, A&E, Discovery Channel, AHC, Oxygen Network and many local and national news shows. At Boxer Cycle Works. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. You'll learn about bolita, the rumored tunnels of Ybor, and the Era of Blood.Join us for this one-of-a-kind walking tour of Tampa's most storied neighborhood. Though his prison sentence wasnt long and he returned to a strong position in Florida, Trafficante never forgave Castro. 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. The twister killed hls mother when lt touched down about 6, honored Wednesday us the nation's sute legislator. The Trafficante Family Under Santo Junior . Trafficante's appetite and his legal woes seem linked like the strands of a cruller. May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow. Josephine Marchese Trafficante, 95, died peacefully in her sleep, Wednesday morning at her home. He owned and operated some of the most lavish casinos in pre-Castro Cuba. In fact, Florida had the dubious distinction of being home to a decades-old Mafia criminal network: the Trafficante Family. President John. Indeed, a wiretapped conversation picked up a Key Bank official calling Trafficante a "sacred cow," with loans in excess of a million dollars. [13] He stated that he received no payment for his involvement and that he acted out of patriotism. Our thoughts and prayers are with you Gerry and your family. While he had several close calls with law enforcement including the famed FBI Donnie Brasco investigation he never spent a single day of his life in jail. In his previous statements, Roselli also tied Lee Harvey Oswalds killer, Jack Ruby, to Santo Trafficante. The mobsters also attempted to get Castro into a poisoned wetsuit and even offered to blow him up with an exploding seashell. [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? My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.. Share to let others add their own memories and condolences.
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