Instead of Italian suits, he wears horizontally striped golf shirts. 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. 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. He even sent his son, Santo Trafficante Junior, to New York, to gain a better understanding of how the mafia operated there. Trafficante was a ruthless mob boss, and quickly consolidated control over the criminal networks in Tampa. Santos Trafficante Jr. was the son of Santos Trafficante Sr., who owned several casinos in Havana. The first case stemmed from the FBIs well-known Donnie Brasco undercover sting operation. 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. 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. As law enforcement pressure increased on the Mafia in the late 1940s, Santo, fearing. ", 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. Over the next 30-plus years, Trafficante, Jr. rose to oversee Mafia operations across the state of Florida. The twister killed hls mother when lt touched down about 6, honored Wednesday us the nation's sute legislator. Many of the familys gangsters were in prison, or too old to be effective. In 1963, the Mob allegedly had enough of Kennedy. 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. It was clear that federal and local law enforcement had an acute interest in the Trafficante family. 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. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. Salcines was observed at the properties the weekend of June 9, 1967. Trafficante again escaped conviction. He walked outside and got into a 1951 Mercury sedan driven by one of his associates. 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. Santo Trafficante Jr. (November 15, 1914 March 17, 1987) was among the most powerful Mafia bosses in the United States. Santo Trafficante Jr Santo Trafficante Jr. (November 15, 1914 - March 17, 1987) was among the most powerful Mafia bosses in the United States. 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.. She misses him, but she's making do. Santo Trafficante Jr. was a reserved, modest man married to the same woman for 49 years. The report was given to the District Attorney's office. 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 moved to Cuba in 1955 where he met the countrys authoritarian ruler Fulgencio Batista. Try again later. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. [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? A year later they had their first son, Frank, born on April 16, 1910. As one of the most powerful mobsters in the US, Trafficante was invited to the Havana Conference in December 1946. One small gang, led by Italian immigrant Santo Trafficante Senior, profited from the illegal lottery-style games they ran across Tampa. 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. Until last year, the younger Trafficante had never been accused of anything more dramatic than bookmaking, a charge that a judge dismissed. According to the account of Judith Exner, however, one of JFKs many mistresses, it was she who introduced Kennedy to Chicago boss Giancana. 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. Santo Trafficante Senior died in 1954. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. 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. Santo Traficante Jr fue uno de los ltimos y mas poderosos capos de la mafia en Florida y Cuba. Trafficante was a ruthless mob boss, and quickly consolidated control over the criminal networks in Tampa. Ed Giorandino/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images. And despite relatively small time beginnings, Trafficante proved to be a shrewd mobster. "The Mob? Verify and try again. Peter Moruzzi/Wikimedia Commons The glamorous casino in the Hotel Nacional De Cuba in Havana in 1958. Mrs. Gerry, Gina, Dino, Joe and Marisa - they broke the mold with Traff. Donnie Brasco. You've got to be a fool to marry wrong," he says. Santo Trafficante Jr. (November 15, 1914 March 17, 1987) was among the most powerful Mafia bosses in the United States. Daughters: Mary Josephine Sarah Ann Brothers: Frank, Salvatore (Sam), Epifanio and Enrico (Henry) Uncle: Joseph M. CACCIATORE (convicted narcotic trafficker) CRIMINAL HISTORY: But the mobster tag has outlasted the case itself. Let others know about your loved one's death. An email has been sent to the person who requested the photo informing them that you have fulfilled their request, There is an open photo request for this memorial. THE HIDDEN HISTORY OF TAMPA'S UNDERWORLD IS OFTEN INTERTWINED WITH SOME OF Something went wrong. F. Kennedy not only failed to deliver on his promise to the mob but also actually put the Mafia under increasing pressure. "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.". My thoughts and prayers are with you all! Reputed 'boss of bosses' dies at 72 TAMPA, Fla, "' Trafficante dies at age 72 TAMPA. Mobster dies, two nations. Add to your scrapbook. Indeed, some people would rather not dwell on the less-than-noble aspects of our local history. "My wife's got money. So is Santo Jose Trafficante III a mobster? A year has passed. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. 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.. The idea behind the assassination wasnt just to punish JFK but also to get his brother off the Mobs back. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. Perched on the edge of a leather chair in his attorney's office, Santo J. Trafficante III wears a pained expression on his jowly face. 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. Santo Trafficante Jr. was a reserved, modest man married to the same woman for 49 years. Wife : Josephine MARCHESE (Santo TRAFFICANTE Jr. married Josephine in Tampa, Florida on April 17, 1938). Bankruptcy court documents show that Trafficante is owed $500,000 by a business partner. With deepest sympathy and love. 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. According to Scott M. Deitche in The Silent Don, the family was profiting not only from its offshore casinos but from narcotics trafficking. While he had several close calls with law enforcement including the famed FBI, Late in life LoScalzo denied any connections to organized crime. 0 cemeteries found in Ybor City, Hillsborough County, Florida, USA. English He drove a forklift for 20 years. Trafficante was apprehended in November 1957, along with over 60 other mobsters, at the Apalachin meeting in Apalachin, New York. 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. Whether or not a Mafia conspiracy was behind the assassination of Kennedy is still up for debate. He has been featured on the History Channel, A&E, Discovery Channel, AHC, Oxygen Network and many local and national news shows. Services will be followed by a graveside service at the Italian Club Cemetery and a reception at the family home. All Rights Reserved. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. 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. Afterwards, the son he had groomed to take his place, Santo Trafficante Jr., took the reins of the Trafficante crime family. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. One small gang, led by Italian immigrant Santo Trafficante Senior, profited from the illegal lottery-style games they ran across Tampa. With over 1,900 locations, Dignity Memorial providers proudly serve over 375,000 families a year. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. wills o' nats last of the summer wine. Join us for this one-of-a-kind walking tour of Tampa's most storied neighborhood. Love, Jimmy Schaffer. In fact, Florida had the dubious distinction of being home to a decades-old Mafia criminal network: the Trafficante Family. Trafficantes chance came in the 1960s when he became acquainted with mobster John Handsome Johnny Roselli. They never returned. 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. But Santo knew who was behind the killing a rival Mafia faction. Santo Trafficante Jr. had long followed in his fathers footsteps, and proved to be an even more effective Mafia kingpin. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. Oops, we were unable to send the email. But the news was not good on the Key Bank front. His sons, Dino and Joseph, run it for him, though he worries that sometimes they don't work hard. Chris and I will never forget Santo's presence at Leia's welcome home party. In Trafficante's food chain, reporters rank only marginally higher than prosecutors and bank regulators, whom he likes to refer to as "rat bastards.". She was born on March 24, 1920. We are one of them! My ex-wife Erline Lazzara was a childhood friend you might remember. I will always remember your perseverance, happiness and smiles at Marisa's wedding. Trafficante tried to win Castro over to his side, but that didnt work. [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. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. Send your deepest condolences with fresh flowers. [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. [2] Trafficante Jr. had known Lucchese since the 1940s, when his father and Lucchese had trained him in the mafia traditions. Welcome to Boxer Cycle Works. The gunmen drove off, unaware they had failed to kill Trafficante, merely grazing his arm. She was predeceased in death, by other loving family members. He headed the . Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. There was a problem getting your location. She was an amazing daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt and friend. The choice was nothing more than honoring a tradition. Their plans ranged from simply shooting him to having him smoke poisoned cigars or drinking a tainted milkshake. 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. Try again later. 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. His son was turned away from a date's house and his daughter has been refused jobs. Resend Activation Email. When you think of Florida and organized crime, it is difficult to avoid conjuring up images of Tony Montana in. 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.". He wants Trafficante, whom he considers to have an authoritative palate, to sample a new pastry that Alessi plans to sell at his bakery. His new attorney general his beloved brother, Robert F. Kennedy went after organized crime with a vengeance. "I don't go to the bank and make all these billion-dollar deposits," he says. His business ventures have not always been successful. Try again later. It was all on the up and up. Send a note, share a story or upload a photo. 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. 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. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. Getty ImagesSanto Trafficante was wanted in 48 states by the time he was 43. Are you sure that you want to remove this flower? In 1965, Giancana was convicted of contempt of court, serving one year in prison. Still, he lives comfortably enough to give his sons Jaguar sports cars, red for Dino and white for Joseph. Ed Giorandino/NY Daily News Archive via Getty ImagesSanto Trafficante arrives at Queens Supreme Court in Kew Gardens. Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. After Fidel Castro's revolutionary government seized the assets of Trafficante's Cuban businesses and expelled him from the country as an "undesirable alien," Trafficante came into contact with various US intelligence operatives, and was involved in several unsuccessful plans to assassinate Castro. This site is provided as a service of SCI Shared Resources, LLC. Share Santo's life story with friends and family. Learn more about merges. Late in life LoScalzo denied any connections to organized crime. Born in Tampa, Florida in 1914, Trafficante hailed from a family already deeply involved in organized crime. The authorities continued to charge him with participating in illegal activities, but the aging mob boss escaped conviction each time. I have thought of you and Santo many times over the past 50 years. He dropped out of high school before the 10th grade. However the meeting came to be, the mob nonetheless brought influential states like Illinois into the Kennedy fold in exchange for the White House going easy on organized crime. Email blog@themobmuseum.org. 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. I can answer any questions you . 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. U.S., Newspapers.com Obituary Index, 1800s-current, U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947, Florida, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1823-1982, Thank you for fulfilling this photo request. He has thought about it. After Cuban revolution, the Mafia saw Castro as a threat to their business. Santo Trafficante Jr. had long followed in his fathers footsteps, and proved to be an even more effective Mafia kingpin. She handled great adversity and difficult, troubling times with grace, dignity, and style; with respect and love for all around her. 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. 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. He owned a West Tampa restaurant called Cafe Sevilla. Trafficante would rather be force-fed raw carrot sticks for eternity than be seen talking to a reporter. Century, Tampa was a small but growing city, and the organized crime it faced was modest. 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 wears tasselled leather loafers without socks. Like Trafficante Jr. before him, had many close calls with law enforcement, but always escaped serious charges. The Unbelievable Story Of Richard Lee McNair The Man Who Mailed Himself Out Of Prison, What JFK's Mob-Affiliated Mistress May Have Known About His Assassination, What Stephen Hawking Thinks Threatens Humankind The Most, 27 Raw Images Of When Punk Ruled New York, Join The All That's Interesting Weekly Dispatch. The investigators were looking for proof of drug-money laundering. He is hardly the "Dapper Don." [13] He stated that he received no payment for his involvement and that he acted out of patriotism. The elder Trafficante set up illegal casinos in Cuba in the 1940s, which were sanctioned by Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista. Cuban leader Fulgencio Batista in Washington, D.C. in 1938. Failed to delete memorial. [2] Trafficante Jr. would frequently meet with Lucchese in New York City for dinner.[2]. An editor and public historian, Carly Silver has written for Smithsonian, Narratively, The Atlantic, Atlas Obscura, and Archaeology, among other publications. Getting in bed with Trafficante and other leading members of Americas organized crime seems like a strange thing to do for the CIA. He offered to pay $150,000 to have Castro killed, but Roselli declined any pay and introduced Maheu to two men he referred to as "Sam Gold" and "Joe." 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. Trafficantes partnership with Batista was profitable for both parties and so the mobsters fate became inextricably tied to that of Cubas political climate. You may not upload any more photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 20 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 5 photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 30 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 15 photos to this memorial. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.. Share to let others add their own memories and condolences. After the Kennedy hubbub, Trafficante kept a low profile or, lower that is. On Oct. 26, 1937, Frank Trafficante named his first son after his own father, Santo Trafficante Sr. Don Santo Trafficante Jr was one of the last of the old-time American Mafia bosses in the United States. Returning to Miami, he joined his father, managing some . THE HIT THAT EXPOSED SOME OF TAMPAS ELITE. While shouldering the legacy of his father and. He was the lynchpin in Tampa Charlie Wall The Kefauver hearings arrived in Tampa in December of 1950. Failed to report flower. "[12] Aleman claimed to have reported Trafficante's comments to his FBI contacts, who "dismissed the Kennedy warnings as gangland braggadocio. Rosselli testified in 1975 to the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence on the efforts to kill Castro. 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. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. [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. He was rumored to be part of a Mafia syndicate which owned many Cuban hotels and casinos.
South Kingstown Police Arrests,
Intelligence Thread Gatech,
Signs A Virgo Man Still Loves You,
Russian Tanks Destroyed,
Long Island Teacher Salaries By District,
Articles S
