By 1987, the Mafia boss, who had walked the casino floors of the Sans Souci in Cuba, dined and hobnobbed with Frank Sinatra in the nightclubs and hotels of South Beach, and who commanded a presence in Tampa that is still felt today, was suffering from a diseased kidney and bad heart. The next son was Luigi Santo Trafficante Jr. (his namesake and future Mafia boss), born on November 15, 1914. [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. Harris & Ewing/Library of Commons/Wikimedia Commons. 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. Or does he just look like one? based on information from your browser. We found ourselves in a love affair with Tony Soprano and we could not stop watching. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. We are one of them! Upon his return to the United States, he became determined to bring down the man who ended his empire. Santo TRAFFICANTE Obituary (2010) - Tampa, FL - TBO.com wills o' nats last of the summer wine. [2] Trafficante Jr. would frequently meet with Lucchese in New York City for dinner.[2]. JFK Assassination - Santo Trafficante Jr - gibson's world In January 1963, he married Geraldine Valenti, the daughter of J.C. Valenti, who owned a thriving produce business. "I thought all this would end when my uncle died. Send a note, share a story or upload a photo. It never did exist.". With that act, Santo Trafficante now reigned supreme in Tampa. Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. Please reset your password. James Traficant - Wikipedia Batista let Trafficante and other mobsters build as many casinos and hotels as they wanted in exchange for a cash kickback. Consequently, while generally recognized as the most powerful organized crime figure in Florida throughout much of the 20th century, Trafficante was not believed to have total control over Miami, Miami Beach, Ft. Lauderdale, or Palm Beach. The investigators were looking for proof of drug-money laundering. In 1965, Giancana was convicted of contempt of court, serving one year in prison. 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. 0 cemeteries found in Ybor City, Hillsborough County, Florida, USA. Over the next 30-plus years, Trafficante, Jr. rose to oversee Mafia operations across the state of Florida. Bankruptcy court documents show that Trafficante is owed $500,000 by a business partner. [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. The idea behind the assassination wasnt just to punish JFK but also to get his brother off the Mobs back. In this episode, we will discuss the fascinating life of Tampa's most powerful mobster: Santo Trafficante Jr. 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. Peter Moruzzi/Wikimedia Commons The glamorous casino in the Hotel Nacional De Cuba in Havana in 1958. Santo Jr., who had inherited the leadership of the Tampa Mafia around 1950 when his father, Santo Sr., fell ill, had now completed his consolidation of power in Tampa and beyond. 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 are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. Ed Giorandino/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images. My aim is to provide you with the best Service experience for you and your motorcycle. 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. 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. Anthony Accardo & Santo Trafficante Jr - Labor Union Kickbacks [1] Trafficante maintained several residences in New York City and Florida. 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. 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. He will always be remembered with fondness. 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. Trafficante tried to win Castro over to his side, but that didnt work. So, as the popular theory goes, the mob bosses that lent a helping hand in getting Kennedy into office wanted revenge. You have been in pain too long. The international narcotics trade was also an important topic on the Apalachin agenda. A year has passed. 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. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? Robert Anderson aka The Killer Between 50 and 100 buildings were burned. 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. This was proven in 1953 when he eliminated the last contender to the Tampa mob throne: Joe Antinori, son of the late Ignacio. The chairman cited a confession from Roselli that Trafficantes allies organized a sharpshooter, Lee Harvey Oswald, to take out the President. 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. But before Trafficante testified, someone conveniently killed Roselli. Authorities also said he urged former bank vice president Michael Pupello to impersonate him in calls to federal bank regulators. He was, in many ways, the archetypical old-school Mob boss. In the early 20th Century, Tampa was a small but growing city, and the organized crime it faced was modest. His health had declined in his later years. Dr. Dennis Pupello was looking for heart disease, brought on by his overweight and diabetic patient's "voracious eating.". He is just a businessman, he says, his money tied up in wholesale automobiles, an orange grove and real estate. He dressed nicely but not ostentatiously, and his choice of cars was never flashy. Our deepest condolences to the Trafficante family. Their plans ranged from simply shooting him to having him smoke poisoned cigars or drinking a tainted milkshake. Spoiled by mobsters, Meyer Lansky's daughter recalls family men, not Federal investigators brought racketeering and conspiracy charges against him in the summer of 1986. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Italian Club of Tampa Cemetery Fund, 1731 East 7th Ave., Tampa, FL 33605. Dennis Caruso/NY Daily News Archive via Getty ImagesFrank Ragano and Santo Trafficante Jr. (right). Like Trafficante Jr. before him, had many close calls with law enforcement, but always escaped serious charges. After Cuban revolution, the Mafia saw Castro as a threat to their business. To use this feature, use a newer browser. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. 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 was a well-respected boss, even among the far larger New York crime families. But considering the fiercely anti-Soviet atmosphere of the Cold War, its not that hard to believe. And then there are the infinite conspiracy theories about the assassination of President Kennedy, many of them featuring Trafficante. 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. After his father died in 1954, he became the head in Tampa and took over his fathers interests in Cuba. Born in Tampa, Florida in 1914, Trafficante hailed from a family already deeply involved in organized crime. 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. Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? tampa crime boss santo trafficante jr plays a central role in thriller 'mafia spies' Bolita , Mob Hits , Scott M. Deitche , Tampa Mafia SANTO TRAFFICANTE SR, A 'Sicilian of the Old School,' RULED TAMPA'S UNDERWORLD FOR MORE THAN A DECADE! He dropped out of high school before the 10th grade. The Trafficante Family Under Santo Junior . My uncle, never wore a ring," Trafficante says. A few months later, two members of that group took the train to New York City to drum up support for a move against Santo. 93461.". He was rumored to be part of a Mafia syndicate which owned many Cuban hotels and casinos. Santo Trafficante Senior died in 1954. He will be sorely missed and his heart of gold will be remembered by all who new him. By this point, Trafficante Jr. had fully taken over the oversight of drugs shipped between Florida, Cuba, and the rest of the States. When he applied to the state for a parimutuel license that would allow him to race his horses at Tampa Bay Downs, he was refused. the daughter of immigrants from the Italian region of Basilicata. His luck has not improved recently. He moved to Cuba in 1955 where he met the countrys authoritarian ruler Fulgencio Batista. He had a big heart and will be missed. ). Rosselli testified in 1975 to the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence on the efforts to kill Castro. Daughters: Mary Josephine Sarah Ann Brothers: Frank, Salvatore (Sam), Epifanio and Enrico (Henry) Uncle: Joseph M. CACCIATORE (convicted narcotic trafficker) CRIMINAL HISTORY: This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. She was predeceased in death, by other loving family members. Meet Santo Trafficante: The Silent Don Who Tried To Kill Fidel Castro And May Have Ordered JFKs Assassination. Santo Trafficante Jr. Learns About Sonny Franzese The CIA came to Trafficante, and asked for his help in enlisting the Mafia to assassinate the Cuban leader. 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. TRAFFICANTE, Santo Jose, 72, of Tampa, passed away July 13, 2010, To Plant Memorial Trees in memory, please visit our, All my Love to the family Michael R. Tartaro. The 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. Maheu hid the fact that he was sent by the CIA, instead portraying himself an advocate for international corporations. He dropped out of high school and spent time in New York learning the trade from some of the countries toughest mobsters. She touched all who knew her, and upon meeting her, she would embrace you, and you would instantly become part of the family. Trafficante was apprehended in November 1957, along with over 60 other mobsters, at the Apalachin meeting in Apalachin, New York. The first case stemmed from the FBIs well-known Donnie Brasco undercover sting operation. Trafficante was arrested frequently throughout the 1950s on various charges of bribery and of running illegal bolita lotteries in Tampa's Ybor City district. I found on Findagrave.com. Chris and I will never forget Santo's presence at Leia's welcome home party. Home - Boxer Cycle Works The IRS was unsuccessful, according to Fernandez, Trafficante's attorney. He has thought about it. department.". 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. While shouldering the legacy of his father and. Mobster Johnny Rosselli, who worked for both Trafficante and the Chicago Outfit, was another associate involved in the unsuccessful efforts to kill Castro and, according to some biographies, was the man who put Trafficante and Giancana together with Maheu. 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. Try again later. Join us for this one-of-a-kind walking tour of Tampa's most storied neighborhood. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. Pupello determined that his diabetic patient's arteries were healthy. His wife also was named in the fraud charges. The mobsters also attempted to get Castro into a poisoned wetsuit and even offered to blow him up with an exploding seashell. The senior Trafficante's name has been linked to gambling, drug-dealing and even plots to kill Fidel Castro and John F. Kennedy. Tampa Mafia Tour - Tampa Mafia RIP Santo. 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. The twister killed hls mother when lt touched down about 6, honored Wednesday us the nation's sute legislator. gerry,i am so sorry to hear about santo. And purchase valuable sports memorabilia for himself. Most mornings Trafficante spends a few hours at his modest wholesale automobile lot at the intersection of Dale Mabry Highway and W Broad Street. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.. Share to let others add their own memories and condolences. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. At Boxer Cycle Works. 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. Finally, in 1987, Trafficante died at the age of 72. He was married to his wife for 49 years. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. Are you sure that you want to remove this flower? Verify and try again. CANDLE HAS BEEN LIT CANDLES HAVE BEEN LIT, We are reviewing your submission. [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. [14] When this was pointed out, Aleman denied that he meant that he believed Kennedy was going to murdered and said he thought that Trafficante meant that Kennedy was going to be "hit" politically during the next election. In the early 1980s Trafficante was ensnared in two major cases that could have sent the aging don to prison for the first time in his life, apart from his time in the Triscornia detention camp in Cuba following Castros takeover in 1959. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. [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. His son was turned away from a date's house and his daughter has been refused jobs. Brother of Frank Cacciatore Trafficante; Private and Private. Whether or not a Mafia conspiracy was behind the assassination of Kennedy is still up for debate. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. He is hardly the "Dapper Don." Year should not be greater than current year. Wife : Josephine MARCHESE (Santo TRAFFICANTE Jr. married Josephine in Tampa, Florida on April 17, 1938). I thought you might like to see a memorial for Santo Trafficante Jr. 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. The original Malio's Restaurant located on South Dale Mabry Highway in Tampa, Florida. After the death of his wife, the Trafficante family sold their Tampa 1970-built home for $950,000. Leave a memory or share a photo or video below to show your support. His new attorney general his beloved brother, Robert F. Kennedy went after organized crime with a vengeance. For the last 20 years, everyone knew her as JuJu. After a violent mob war left several of Trafficantes rivals dead or weakened, his gang rapidly rose to prominence in Tampa. More importantly, Castro imprisoned Trafficante and then had him exiled from Cuba. [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. Comfort the family with flowers or a sympathy gift. Published: March 15th, 2017 - By Scott M. Deitche, Contributing Writer, Florida Mafia boss Santo Trafficante Jr. died 30 years ago March 17, El Chapos lawyers complain about strict rules at New York prison. After the Kennedy hubbub, Trafficante kept a low profile or, lower that is. We never paid cash. THE HIT THAT EXPOSED SOME OF TAMPAS ELITE. In a final disappointment, he sold a filly named "Run Marisa Run" (after his daughter) for $7,500. Try again later. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. He was the lynchpin in Tampa Charlie Wall The Kefauver hearings arrived in Tampa in December of 1950. A Hillsborough judge threw out the wiretaps, the spine of the state's case. In his previous statements, Roselli also tied Lee Harvey Oswalds killer, Jack Ruby, to Santo Trafficante. Conspiracy theorists consider Giancana along with Mafia leaders Santo Trafficante Jr. and Carlos Marcello associated with the assassination of Kennedy. 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. Died: March 17, 1987, Houston, Texas "[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. For all the power he wielded, Trafficante was often described as quiet and reserved. Josephine Marchese Trafficante, 95, died peacefully in her sleep, Wednesday morning at her home. "I'm in the I.O.U. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. The Trafficante Family - American Mafia History 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. As one of the most powerful mobsters in the US, Trafficante was invited to the Havana Conference in December 1946. [13] Trafficante also stated that he had no recollection of meeting Oswald or Oswald's assassin, Jack Ruby. Our prayers are with you. Mrs. Gerry, Gina, Dino, Joe and Marisa - they broke the mold with Traff. [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. A car registered to former state attorney and current state appellate judge E.J. From bolitaan illegal version of the now-legal Florida lotteryto narcotics, Tampas experience with organized crime is as notable as Chicagos or New Yorks. One small gang, led by Italian immigrant Santo Trafficante Senior, profited from the illegal lottery-style games they ran across Tampa. Santos Trafficante Jr. was the son of Santos Trafficante Sr., who owned several casinos in Havana. 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. In January 1963, he married Geraldine Valenti, the daughter. 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. She was a wonderful cook, and she loved to crochet and travel with her husband, but she lived her life for her family. Until last year, the younger Trafficante had never been accused of anything more dramatic than bookmaking, a charge that a judge dismissed. Born: November 15, 1914, Tampa, Florida At this point in our collective history, we're not sure anyone would be surprised to learn that there is, in fact, something called The Mafia. What you might be surprised to learn, however, is how prevalent-even rampantorganized crime in Tampa was in the early and mid-20th century. 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. "I was the most expensive forklift driver in the world," he says with a smile. (November 15, 1914 - March 17, 1987 ). On the day that investigators raided Key Bank, a cardiologist at St. Joseph's Hospital was inserting a catheter in Trafficante's groin. My ex-wife Erline Lazzara was a childhood friend you might remember. Indeed, some people would rather not dwell on the less-than-noble aspects of our local history. Santo Trafficante: Building the Family Business - Gangsters Inc Santo Trafficante Jr. - Wikipedia She was predeceased in death, by other loving family members. The report was given to the District Attorney's office. [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.
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