The wiretap evidence has been thrown out of court. The Trafficante Family Under Santo Junior . There are few indicators that the family is still an active crime network. Early in Trafficantes federal court case in 1986, the judge declared a mistrial. For the U.S. government, it was a classic case of the enemy of my enemy is my friend.. According to Scott M. Deitche in The Silent Don, the family was profiting not only from its offshore casinos but from narcotics trafficking. "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.". If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. 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. "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. May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow. In a final disappointment, he sold a filly named "Run Marisa Run" (after his daughter) for $7,500. The gunmen drove off, unaware they had failed to kill Trafficante, merely grazing his arm. And despite relatively small time beginnings, Trafficante proved to be a shrewd mobster. There is a problem with your email/password. Our heartfelt condolences go out to your family. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. A A. James Traficant - Wikipedia Our thoughts and prayers are with you Gerry and your family. 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. THE CHARLIE WALL STORY Kingpin Charlie Wall (center holding bottle, right of child) and his notorious gang. The twister killed hls mother when lt touched down about 6, honored Wednesday us the nation's sute legislator. She was a wonderful cook, and she loved to crochet and travel with her husband, but she lived her life for her family. Dennis Caruso/NY Daily News Archive via Getty ImagesFrank Ragano and Santo Trafficante Jr. (right). Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. 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. 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. Organized Crime Figure. "I was the most expensive forklift driver in the world," he says with a smile. One small gang, led by Italian immigrant Santo Trafficante Senior, profited from the illegal lottery-style games they ran across Tampa. In a 1978 legal testimony, Trafficante discussed how quickly Castro shut it all down, then reopened the casinos on his own terms. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. Their plans ranged from simply shooting him to having him smoke poisoned cigars or drinking a tainted milkshake. 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. Add to your scrapbook. With deepest sympathy and love. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. You've got to be a fool to marry wrong," he says. 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. After Cuban revolution, the Mafia saw Castro as a threat to their business. I hold such fond memories of Santo & Gerry when I was growing up. Donnie Brasco. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. A year has passed. He owned a West Tampa restaurant called Cafe Sevilla. Frank Ragano and Santo Trafficante Jr. (right). He maintained all of the lucrative casinos in Cuba, further cemented, After Cuban revolution, the Mafia saw Castro as a threat to their business. Trafficante along with 56 other mobsters was arrested in New York while discussing what to do about the recent death of Gambino family head, Albert Anastasia. His health had declined in his later years. Let others know about your loved one's death. 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. 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. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. Whether or not a Mafia conspiracy was behind the assassination of Kennedy is still up for debate. Trafficante Sr. passed away four years later, leaving Jr. his Tampa and Cuba-based criminal empire. 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.. Family members linked to this person will appear here. Santo Trafficante Jr. Wiki & Bio - everipedia.org 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." His son was turned away from a date's house and his daughter has been refused jobs. Batista let Trafficante and other mobsters build as many casinos and hotels as they wanted in exchange for a cash kickback. 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. 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. A car registered to former state attorney and current state appellate judge E.J. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. I am sorry I am unable to attend the services due to a illness. Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? The seeds for Trafficantes most interesting historical chapter were planted, as the mobster would go on to have a well-established relationship with the CIA in an ongoing effort to assassinate Castro. Try again. 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. He is just a businessman, he says, his money tied up in wholesale automobiles, an orange grove and real estate. Daughters: Mary Josephine Sarah Ann Brothers: Frank, Salvatore (Sam), Epifanio and Enrico (Henry) Uncle: Joseph M. CACCIATORE (convicted narcotic trafficker) CRIMINAL HISTORY: This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. Then, check out these photos of the aftermath from some of the bloodiest mob hits. A Hillsborough judge threw out the wiretaps, the spine of the state's case. Indeed, a wiretapped conversation picked up a Key Bank official calling Trafficante a "sacred cow," with loans in excess of a million dollars. [13] Trafficante also stated that he had no recollection of meeting Oswald or Oswald's assassin, Jack Ruby. But the news was not good on the Key Bank front. 0 cemeteries found in Ybor City, Hillsborough County, Florida, USA. Santo met and married Maria Giuseppe Cacciatore on April 20, 1909. Treasury Department History of Santo Trafficante Jr 1961 Buy the time LoScalzo took over in 1987, the Trafficante Crime Family was far past its heyday. Treasury Department History of Santo Trafficante Jr 1961 Santo Trafficante, Sr., the powerful Trafficante crime family's patriarch, was born on May 28, 1886, in Alexandria Della Rocca, Sicily. 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. In 1950, the aging Trafficante Sr. began to slow down. In the meantime, the allegation that he is a mobster has dogged him and his family. If the decision is upheld on appeal, charges against Trafficante may be dismissed. Reputed 'boss of bosses' dies at 72 TAMPA, Fla, "' Trafficante dies at age 72 TAMPA. Failed to delete memorial. 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. (November 15, 1914 - March 17, 1987) was among the most powerful Mafia bosses in the United States. Husband of Private Instead of Italian suits, he wears horizontally striped golf shirts. "[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. Authorities said he leaked a list of suspects in the case and then lied about it. Santo was one of the FBIs targets in that case. To use this feature, use a newer browser. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. Your entry has exceeded the maximum character limit. GREAT NEWS! 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. 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. 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. I thought you might like to see a memorial for Santo Trafficante Jr. Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. He will always be remembered with fondness. It may take up to 1 hour for your comment to appear on the website. The next son was Luigi Santo Trafficante Jr. (his namesake and future Mafia boss), born on November 15, 1914. Until last year, the younger Trafficante had never been accused of anything more dramatic than bookmaking, a charge that a judge dismissed. GitHub export from English Wikipedia. So, as the popular theory goes, the mob bosses that lent a helping hand in getting Kennedy into office wanted revenge. In 1963, the Mob allegedly had enough of Kennedy. He convicted infamous criminal labor union head, Jimmy Hoffa. "[12] Aleman claimed to have reported Trafficante's comments to his FBI contacts, who "dismissed the Kennedy warnings as gangland braggadocio. Santo Trafficante arrives at Queens Supreme Court in Kew Gardens. santo trafficante daughters It wasn't somebody going into a back room to kiss somebody's ring. [13], On January 14, 1992, Trafficante's former attorney, Frank Ragano, told Jack Newfield of the New York Post that he relayed a request from Hoffa to Trafficante and New Orleans boss Carlos Marcello to have Kennedy killed. With over 1,900 locations, Dignity Memorial providers proudly serve over 375,000 families a year. Contribute to chinapedia/wikipedia.en development by creating an account on GitHub. We guarantee you'll never look at Ybor City the same way again. When the CIA decided to recruit the Mob in their efforts to assassinate Fidel Castro, they went to see Trafficante. This was proven in 1953 when he eliminated the last contender to the Tampa mob throne: Joe Antinori, son of the late Ignacio. Died: March 17, 1987, Houston, Texas This site is provided as a service of SCI Shared Resources, LLC. He had a big heart and will be missed. Try again later. Please check your entries and try again. Santo Trafficante Jr. had long followed in his father's footsteps, and proved to be an even more effective Mafia kingpin. Father of Private and Private However, by the late 1920s, facing little pressure, Sicilian gangsters began setting up lucrative gambling and narcotics rackets. I found on Findagrave.com. "I thought all this would end when my uncle died. He dropped out of high school and spent time in New York learning the trade from some of the countries toughest mobsters. Conspiracy theorists consider Giancana along with Mafia leaders Santo Trafficante Jr. and Carlos Marcello associated with the assassination of Kennedy. As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. 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. 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. Now he owns a 210-acre orange grove in southern Hillsborough. RIP Santo. He allegedly controlled organized crime operations in Florida and Cuba 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. He maintained close working ties with the Lucchese crime family and the Bonanno crime family from New York City. Reclaiming History: The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy. It was also rumored that Santos was involved in a Mafia plot to kill President John F. Kennedy, though he denied there was any such conspiracy. They had three daughters, Antoinette born . 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. Alongside Chicago boss Sam Giancana, Roselli and Trafficante came up with some truly insane plots to kill Fidel Castro. Mrs. Gerry, Gina, Dino, Joe and Marisa - they broke the mold with Traff. Other Mafia leaders, as well as newer organized crime networks, took over many of the rackets the family ran throughout the 20th Century. From bolitaan illegal version of the now-legal Florida lotteryto narcotics, Tampas experience with organized crime is as notable as Chicagos or New Yorks. When you think of Florida and organized crime, it is difficult to avoid conjuring up images of Tony Montana in. [1] Trafficante maintained several residences in New York City and Florida. He headed the . Afterwards, the son he had groomed to take his place, Santo Trafficante Jr., took the reins of the Trafficante crime family. Santo Trafficante then categorically denied every allegation about stating he wanted RFK or JFK dead and got off scot-free. After a violent mob war left several of Trafficantes rivals dead or weakened, his gang rapidly rose to prominence in Tampa. But the mobster tag has outlasted the case itself. He wears tasselled leather loafers without socks. As one of the most powerful mobsters in the US, Trafficante was invited to the Havana Conference in December 1946. His abiding passion is food. 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. 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. His luck has not improved recently. 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. department.". Trafficante Jr. was nonetheless a ruthless and old-school mob boss. 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. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.. Share to let others add their own memories and condolences. Sam Giancana - Wikipedia "Even my uncle (Santo Jr.) told me, "Santo, why don't you change your name?' 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. "I'm in the I.O.U. A year later they had their first son, Frank, born on April 16, 1910. Who better than his son, Trafficante Jr., to inherit his throne? Born: November 15, 1914, Tampa, Florida Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. But considering the fiercely anti-Soviet atmosphere of the Cold War, its not that hard to believe. It never did exist.". In 1965, Giancana was convicted of contempt of court, serving one year in prison. The elder Trafficante set up illegal casinos in Cuba in the 1940s, which were sanctioned by Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista. . Trafficante would be charged with bank fraud, perjury and disclosure of criminal investigation. prosecution, fled temporarily to Cuba. Hey, they have more convicts at the track than straight people," Trafficante says. cemeteries found in Ybor City, Hillsborough County, Florida, USA will be saved to your photo volunteer list. After the Kennedy hubbub, Trafficante kept a low profile or, lower that is. His uncle, the late Santo Trafficante Jr., was reputed to have been the boss of the local Mafia. Florida Mafia boss Santo Trafficante Jr. died 30 years ago March 17 Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? prosecution, fled temporarily to Cuba. Santo Trafficante Sr., a 'Sicilian of the old school,' ruled Tampa's 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. "[1][13] He stated that he was positive that he did not say it because he always spoke to Aleman in Spanish, and said that there was no way to state the phrase in Spanish. He grimaces at the thought that the rumor has persisted so long. There was an error deleting this problem. 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., 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. Trafficantes partnership with Batista was profitable for both parties and so the mobsters fate became inextricably tied to that of Cubas political climate. He buys Jaguars for his two sons, hobnobs with sports stars on resort golf courses and occasionally flies to Miami for lunch at a favorite restaurant, the Rascal House. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. We cant help ourselves when it comes to watching mob films like The Godfather, Goodfellas, Casino and HBOs Boardwalk Empire and the iconic cable TV show, The Sopranos. 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. That was in part due to his lifestyle. The first case stemmed from the FBIs well-known Donnie Brasco undercover sting operation. Images of America Series de libros - eBooks | Rakuten Kobo Mxico Over the next 30-plus years, Trafficante, Jr. rose to oversee Mafia operations across the state of Florida. "When I woke up, they told me they raided Key Bank. the daughter of immigrants from the Italian region of Basilicata. Wife : Josephine MARCHESE (Santo TRAFFICANTE Jr. married Josephine in Tampa, Florida on April 17, 1938). I will always remember your perseverance, happiness and smiles at Marisa's wedding. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. "The Mob? His new attorney general his beloved brother, Robert F. Kennedy went after organized crime with a vengeance. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Santo Trafficante (53540265)? 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. Santo Trafficante Jr. (November 15, 1914 March 17, 1987) was among the most powerful Mafia bosses in the United States. Episode 58: The Tampa Mafia- Santo Trafficante Jr - YouTube Trafficante Sr. hung back and developed relationships with politicians and his Mob colleagues in New York and Chicago. Santo Trafficante was wanted in 48 states by the time he was 43. He attended a notorious convention of Mafia bosses held in the upstate New York town of Apalachin on November 14, 1957. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request.