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The authorities continued to charge him with participating in illegal activities, but the aging mob boss escaped conviction each time. In fact, Florida had the dubious distinction of being home to a decades-old Mafia criminal network: the Trafficante Family. "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.". He was rumored to be part of a Mafia syndicate which owned many Cuban hotels and casinos. He dropped out of high school before the 10th grade. We have to admit we are fascinated by the whole idea of the mafia and the people we knew and the whispers we grew up hearing. They lived in modest, ranch-style houses in quiet neighborhoods in Tampa and Miami. This browser does not support getting your location. Learn more about merges. Federal investigators brought racketeering and conspiracy charges against him in the summer of 1986. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. Wife : Josephine MARCHESE (Santo TRAFFICANTE Jr. married Josephine in Tampa, Florida on April 17, 1938). Whether or not a Mafia conspiracy was behind the assassination of Kennedy is still up for debate. Please enable JavaScript in your browser's settings to use this part of Geni. James Traficant - Wikipedia In 1963, the Mob allegedly had enough of Kennedy. He wears tasselled leather loafers without socks. Getty ImagesSanto Trafficante was wanted in 48 states by the time he was 43. Associates: Sam Giancana, Charlie Lucky Luciano, Meyer Lansky, Cuba, Fidel Castro, Johnny Rosselli, Robert Maheu. An editor and public historian, Carly Silver has written for Smithsonian, Narratively, The Atlantic, Atlas Obscura, and Archaeology, among other publications. Plant a tree to honor the memory of your loved one. During a recent trip to Lake Tahoe he bought two basketballs autographed by Michael Jordan. I laughed _ until I realized it was a total f------ disaster," Trafficante says. But before Trafficante testified, someone conveniently killed Roselli. 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. I can answer any questions you . Love and peace to you all. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. 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:. 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. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. More troubling for Trafficante was a court document that listed him for the first time as "a member of the Trafficante crime family.". TAMPA CRIME BOSS SANTO TRAFFICANTE JR PLAYS A CENTRAL ROLE IN THRILLER MAFIA SPIES. based on information from your browser. I have thought of you and Santo many times over the past 50 years. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. Trafficante was apprehended in November 1957, along with over 60 other mobsters, at the Apalachin meeting in Apalachin, New York. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. Santo Trafficante Jr.: The Florida Godfather Who Tried To Kill Castro 93461.". 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. Santos married Josephine Marchese in 1938, they would have two daughters. [15] He repeated the claim two days later on ABC's Good Morning America,[16] in Newfield's Frontline report entitled JFK, Hoffa and Mob broadcast in November 1992,[17] and again in his 1994 autobiography Mob Lawyer. 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. 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. Trafficante was arrested on a bookmaking conspiracy charge. Mrs. Gerry, Gina, Dino, Joe and Marisa - they broke the mold with Traff. "[19] In his book Reclaiming History: The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy, Vincent Bugliosi has claimed there to be many flaws in Ragano's claims, including his own claim that Trafficante was most likely not in Tampa on the day in question, but was rather in North Miami Beach, Florida, receiving dialysis treatments. Batista let Trafficante and other mobsters build as many casinos and hotels as they wanted in exchange for a cash kickback. The mafiosos that made up the family are either retired, in prison, or have died due to old age. [3] Trafficante moved to Cuba in 1955, where he came into contact with Batista and Meyer Lansky. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. He sought treatment for stomach cancer and was ready to hand power over to a trusted lieutenant. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. 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. In January 1963, he married Geraldine Valenti, the daughter. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. With that act, Santo Trafficante now reigned supreme in Tampa. 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. [18] According to Ragano, he met Hoffa at the Teamsters' headquarters in Washington, DC, then delivered the message to Trafficante and Marcello in a meeting at the Royal Orleans Hotel in New Orleans. Santo Trafficante 5 10 (1.78 m) Born November 15, 1914 Tampa, Florida, USA Died March 17, 1987 Spouse Josephine Marchese April 17, 1938 - March 17, 1987 (his death, 2 children) Publicity listings 2 Portrayals Did you know Edit Trivia Represented by Frank Ragano. "They wouldn't even let me go to the track. "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. 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. Thanks for your help! [13] Trafficante said that he introduced the trio to Cuban exiles in Florida. A year has passed. Email blog@themobmuseum.org. Santo Trafficante Jr. - Wikipedia 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. Harris & Ewing/Library of Commons/Wikimedia Commons. Santo Trafficante Jr. (November 15, 1914 - March 17, 1987) was among the most powerful Mafia bosses in the United States. Santo Trafficante Jr. (November 15, 1914 March 17, 1987) was among the most powerful Mafia bosses in the United States. She touched all who knew her, and upon meeting her, she would embrace you, and you would instantly become part of the family. Santo Trafficante, Jr (1914 - 1987) - Genealogy - geni family tree For the last 20 years, everyone knew her as JuJu. A Drive-By Historical Tour of Tampa's Notorious Wise Guys You have been in pain too long. 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. One small gang, led by Italian immigrant Santo Trafficante Senior, profited from the illegal lottery-style games they ran across Tampa. THE CHARLIE WALL STORY Kingpin Charlie Wall (center holding bottle, right of child) and his notorious gang. Who better than his son, Trafficante Jr., to inherit his throne? Santo Trafficante was wanted in 48 states by the time he was 43. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. But according to declassified documents released in 1992, Santo Trafficante Jr. made a deathbed confession of his involvement in the Presidents murder. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. View Source Suggest Edits Memorial Photos Flowers Memorials Region North America USA Florida "[12] Aleman claimed to have reported Trafficante's comments to his FBI contacts, who "dismissed the Kennedy warnings as gangland braggadocio. The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. [4] All were fined, up to $10,000 each, and given prison sentences ranging from three to five years. Santo Trafficante then categorically denied every allegation about stating he wanted RFK or JFK dead and got off scot-free. Santo worked closely with Lucchese family boss Tommy Lucchese, who was a friend of his father, and a man who helped train him in the 1940s. His sons, Dino and Joseph, run it for him, though he worries that sometimes they don't work hard. Then, check out these photos of the aftermath from some of the bloodiest mob hits. Fine food, and lots of it. 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. He dropped out of high school and spent time in New York learning the trade from some of the countries toughest mobsters. He went to Jesuit High School and played some football. Oops, something didn't work. According to Scott M. Deitche in The Silent Don, the family was profiting not only from its offshore casinos but from narcotics trafficking. 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. 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. [13] Trafficante also stated that he had no recollection of meeting Oswald or Oswald's assassin, Jack Ruby. Trafficante Jr. was nonetheless a ruthless and old-school mob boss. Late in life LoScalzo denied any connections to organized crime. 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. Trafficante proceeded to open casinos in Cuba at his fathers behest and facilitated heroin smuggling by working together with famous mobsters Charles Lucky Luciano and Meyer Lansky. department.". Mobster dies, two nations. His positioning in Florida was prime for drug shipping as the product often passed through these ports en route to elsewhere in America. Images of America Series de libros - eBooks | Rakuten Kobo Mxico [3] His wife, Josephine, died in 2015 at the age of 95; he is survived by two of his daughters. Trafficante had now not only lost an ally but a significant portion of his income as his casinos were closed by the Marxist revolutionary. As one of the most powerful mobsters in the US, Trafficante was invited to the Havana Conference in December 1946. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. He was going to be hit.. 0 cemeteries found in Ybor City, Hillsborough County, Florida, USA. Your Scrapbook is currently empty. [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 despite relatively small time beginnings, Trafficante proved to be a shrewd mobster. Send a note, share a story or upload a photo. The glamorous casino in the Hotel Nacional De Cuba in Havana in 1958. The Trafficante Family - American Mafia History The American governments close ties to Santo Trafficante Jr. and the rest of the Mafia didnt end with their attempts to kill Castro. Following his death, Mobster Vincent LoScalvo took over the Trafficante familys criminal network in Florida. Bankruptcy court documents show that Trafficante is owed $500,000 by a business partner. He has thought about it. 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. All photos uploaded successfully, click on the Done button to see the photos in the gallery. Buy the time LoScalzo took over in 1987, the Trafficante Crime Family was far past its heyday. [15], Ragano also claimed that Trafficante, four days prior to his death, delivered a deathbed confession which suggested that Marcello was meant to assassinate Robert F. Kennedy instead of his brother, the President. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. 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. When you start talking about organized crime, things can get dicey. The idea behind the assassination wasnt just to punish JFK but also to get his brother off the Mobs back. Trafficante Jr. controlled his Tampa-based crime network for over three decades. In a final disappointment, he sold a filly named "Run Marisa Run" (after his daughter) for $7,500. [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. Our heartfelt condolences go out to your family. He headed the . And despite relatively small time beginnings, Trafficante proved to be a shrewd mobster. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. 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. No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments. 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. [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. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Santo Trafficante (53540265)? He maintained close working ties with the Lucchese crime family and the Bonanno crime family from New York City. 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. Please check your entries and try again. Many fond memories of Santo will continue with me. He convicted infamous criminal labor union head, Jimmy Hoffa. She was the Matriarch of the Trafficante Family; and we will all miss her presence, guidance, love and affection. I am sorry I am unable to attend the services due to a illness. 2023 SCI SHARED RESOURCES, LLC. 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. (November 15, 1914 - March 17, 1987 ). 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. Treasury Department History of Santo Trafficante Jr 1961 She was an amazing daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt and friend. The guy really tried to do it right.". His new attorney general his beloved brother, Robert F. Kennedy went after organized crime with a vengeance. While he had several close calls with law enforcement including the famed FBI, Late in life LoScalzo denied any connections to organized crime. "Banks are my greatest enemy. [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. Their plans ranged from simply shooting him to having him smoke poisoned cigars or drinking a tainted milkshake. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. By December 1953, one more rival was dead and another was too scared to even venture out of his home. [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. 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. Weve updated the security on the site. Welcome to Boxer Cycle Works. My prayers are with all of you. "I think it's all bull----," says Trafficante's former horse trainer, Arthur Pedregal Jr. "It's only because his name is Trafficante. He was severed from that trial for medical reasons. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. Most mornings Trafficante spends a few hours at his modest wholesale automobile lot at the intersection of Dale Mabry Highway and W Broad Street. 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. One small gang, led by Italian immigrant Santo Trafficante Senior, profited from the illegal lottery-style games they ran across Tampa. 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. 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. Our deepest condolences to the Trafficante family. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. "If my uncle knew I was talking to the press, Christ, he'd shoot me," Trafficante says, half-laughing. Organized Crime Figure. With deepest sympathy and love. We are one of them! Although a judge dismissed the charge for lack of evidence, the arrest had a lasting impact on another of Trafficante's ventures: thoroughbred breeding and racing. Santo Trafficante Jr. (1914-1987) - Find a Grave Memorial The choice was nothing more than honoring a tradition. And then there are the infinite conspiracy theories about the assassination of President Kennedy, many of them featuring Trafficante. Trafficantes chance came in the 1960s when he became acquainted with mobster John Handsome Johnny Roselli. On the day that investigators raided Key Bank, a cardiologist at St. Joseph's Hospital was inserting a catheter in Trafficante's groin. Oops, we were unable to send the email. Santo Trafficante Senior died in 1954. He died on March 17, 1987. But considering the fiercely anti-Soviet atmosphere of the Cold War, its not that hard to believe. There are few indicators that the family is still an active crime network. GREAT NEWS! Search above to list available cemeteries. After a violent mob war left several of Trafficantes rivals dead or weakened, his gang rapidly rose to prominence in Tampa. You'll learn about bolita, the rumored tunnels of Ybor, and the Era of Blood. So is Santo Jose Trafficante III a mobster? Ed Giorandino/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images. According to the account of Judith Exner, however, one of JFKs many mistresses, it was she who introduced Kennedy to Chicago boss Giancana. Resend Activation Email, Please check the I'm not a robot checkbox, If you want to be a Photo Volunteer you must enter a ZIP Code or select your location on the map. Sign up for service and obituary updates. All Rights Reserved. A Hillsborough judge threw out the wiretaps, the spine of the state's case. 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. Spoiled by mobsters, Meyer Lansky's daughter recalls family men, not Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). "[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. Santo Trafficante Jr. Learns About Sonny Franzese Reclaiming History: The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Santo Trafficante Jr. - IMDb 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. Santo Trafficante Jr. Wiki & Bio - everipedia.org Santo Trafficante Jr. (November 15, 1914 - March 17, 1987) was among the most powerful Mafia bosses in the United States. Instead of Italian suits, he wears horizontally striped golf shirts. Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. 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. Failed to delete memorial. "When my uncle visited it was like a family reunion. Trafficante Sr. hung back and developed relationships with politicians and his Mob colleagues in New York and Chicago. In 1975, the CIA declassified a report stating that Trafficante had been persuaded to poison Castro, an allegation he denied. Wikimedia CommonsPresident John F. Kennedy, FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, and Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy. View Source Suggest Edits Memorial Photos Flowers Memorials Region North America USA Florida There are no volunteers for this cemetery. 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. Maheu hid the fact that he was sent by the CIA, instead portraying himself an advocate for international corporations. [15][16] He stated he was chosen by Hoffa because, as both Hoffa and Trafficante's lawyer, he could be assured of attorneyclient privilege. "My kids suffered a lot by it," he says. She is survived by her daughters, Mary Jo Paniello and Sarah Ann Valdes; her grandchildren, Dr. Santo Paniello and wife Susan; Dina Smith and husband Don; Melissa Castellana and husband John; and Valerie Cordell and husband Ian; her great-grandchildren, Michael Sierra, Elizabeth Paniello, Sam Paniello, Christopher Paniello, Christina Castellana, Augie Castellana, Alexa Cordell, Anna Cordell Drew Smith, Allison Hunt and husband Joey; as well as endless extended family. [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. In Trafficante's food chain, reporters rank only marginally higher than prosecutors and bank regulators, whom he likes to refer to as "rat bastards.". [13] On September 27, 1978, Aleman reiterated to HSCA investigators that Trafficante had complained to him for hours in June or July 1963 about Kennedy's crackdown on organized crime at a meeting to discuss a business loan. "[12] He said that Trafficante complained about the honesty of the Kennedys and their "attacks" on Jimmy Hoffa and other associates. Trafficantes partnership with Batista was profitable for both parties and so the mobsters fate became inextricably tied to that of Cubas political climate. The Trafficante Family Under Santo Junior . My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.. Share to let others add their own memories and condolences. "I'm a freak for that kind of stuff," he says. He was right, and when Castro took power in 1959, Trafficantes burgeoning gambling-and-drugs empire went under siege. Santo Trafficante grew up in the Florida underworld, working his father's gambling rackets and getting experience in the business. 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. Santo Trafficante Jr. had long followed in his father's footsteps, and proved to be an even more effective Mafia kingpin. My thoughts and prayers are with you all! But once Kennedy actually entered the White House, he didnt live up to his end of the bargain. Trafficante would rather be force-fed raw carrot sticks for eternity than be seen talking to a reporter. He will be sorely missed and his heart of gold will be remembered by all who new him. And while cocaine-fueled Latin American criminal networks have been a serious problem in Florida for decades, the Trafficante familys illicit activities were quite infamous as well. Chronicles of Events and Biographies Related to the American Mafia. 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.