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. More troubling for Trafficante was a court document that listed him for the first time as "a member of the Trafficante crime family.". Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? 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. Oops, something didn't work. 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:. Other Mafia leaders, as well as newer organized crime networks, took over many of the rackets the family ran throughout the 20th Century. So is Santo Jose Trafficante III a mobster? He sought treatment for stomach cancer and was ready to hand power over to a trusted lieutenant. 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. Santo Trafficante Jr. (November 15, 1914 - March 17, 1987) was among the most powerful Mafia bosses in the United States. He returned to Tampa for the last time for internment in the LUnione Italiana Cemetery. He was accused of making false financial statements for loans he used to invest in his citrus business, to purchase luxury cars and to buy a beach condo. Late in life LoScalzo denied any connections to organized crime. "I still don't think I did anything wrong," Trafficante says. His health had declined in his later years. 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. The CIA came to Trafficante, and asked for his help in enlisting the Mafia to assassinate the Cuban leader. In Trafficante's food chain, reporters rank only marginally higher than prosecutors and bank regulators, whom he likes to refer to as "rat bastards.". And the Trafficante Crime family found out that it had an unusual ally in their concerns about Castro: the Central, Trafficante Jr. controlled his Tampa-based crime network for over three decades. The American governments close ties to Santo Trafficante Jr. and the rest of the Mafia didnt end with their attempts to kill Castro. "Sam Gold" was Sam Giancana; "Joe" was Trafficante. His business ventures have not always been successful. Search results for "Images of America" at Rakuten Kobo. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. Santo was one of the FBIs targets in that case. On the day that investigators raided Key Bank, a cardiologist at St. Joseph's Hospital was inserting a catheter in Trafficante's groin. Learn more about merges. Verify and try again. Authorities said he leaked a list of suspects in the case and then lied about it. The "Family Jewels" confirmed that in September 1960, the CIA recruited ex-FBI agent Robert Maheu to approach the West Coast representative of the Chicago mob, Johnny Roselli. Then, check out these photos of the aftermath from some of the bloodiest mob hits. Afterwards, the son he had groomed to take his place, Santo Trafficante Jr., took the reins of the Trafficante crime family. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. Help tell the story of your loved ones unique life. 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. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. 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. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. He was, in many ways, the archetypical old-school Mob boss. He has thought about it. The other case was a RICO indictment for insurance fraud. And despite relatively small time beginnings, Trafficante proved to be a shrewd mobster. The international narcotics trade was also an important topic on the Apalachin agenda. She lived an exciting life dividing her time between her multiple family members and friends in Tampa, Miami and Havana. "[12] Aleman claimed to have reported Trafficante's comments to his FBI contacts, who "dismissed the Kennedy warnings as gangland braggadocio. Oops, we were unable to send the email. In a 1978 legal testimony, Trafficante discussed how quickly Castro shut it all down, then reopened the casinos on his own terms. Trafficante admitted his anti-Castro activities to the United States House Select Committee on Assassinations in 1978, and vehemently denied allegations that he had knowledge of a plot to assassinate President John F. Kennedy. gerry,i am so sorry to hear about santo. Alongside Chicago boss Sam Giancana, Roselli and Trafficante came up with some truly insane plots to kill Fidel Castro. Failed to report flower. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santo_Trafficante_Jr. Mobster dies, two nations. From bolitaan illegal version of the now-legal Florida lotteryto narcotics, Tampas experience with organized crime is as notable as Chicagos or New Yorks. CANDLE HAS BEEN LIT CANDLES HAVE BEEN LIT, We are reviewing your submission. You and Santo will always have a special place in my heart. Early in Trafficantes federal court case in 1986, the judge declared a mistrial. 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. Trafficante was born in Tampa, Florida, to Sicilian parents Santo Trafficante Sr. and his wife Maria Giuseppa Cacciatore in 1914. Santo Trafficante, Jr. was born in the United States on November 15, 1914, as one of five sons of Mafia boss Santo Trafficante. 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. Trafficantes chance came in the 1960s when he became acquainted with mobster John Handsome Johnny Roselli. 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. [13] During his testimony, Trafficante also admitted for the first time that he had worked with the CIA from 1960 to 1961 for an attempt to poison Castro but stated that his role was only as an interpreter between CIA officials and Cuban exiles. Chronicles of Events and Biographies Related to the American Mafia. Seven people were murdered. [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. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. The beachfront properties were the site of many parties and barbecues. Please reset your password. [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. "There's no such thing as organized crime in Hillsborough County," Trafficante says, clapping his hands for emphasis. He dropped out of high school and spent time in New York learning the trade from some of the countries toughest mobsters. It was all on the up and up. But those werent even their most ridiculous ideas. You can always change this later in your Account settings. After a violent mob war left several of Trafficantes rivals dead or weakened, his gang rapidly rose to prominence in Tampa. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. In the meantime, the allegation that he is a mobster has dogged him and his family. He was a well-respected boss, even among the far larger New York crime families. 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. Phil Alessi, a childhood friend, marvels at Trafficante's taste and capacity. 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. On March 17, 1987, Trafficante died at the age of 72 at the Texas Heart Institute in Houston where he had gone for heart surgery. Pupello determined that his diabetic patient's arteries were healthy. In 1957 he was suspected of involvement in the barbershop slaying of Albert Anastasia, the . the daughter of immigrants from the Italian region of Basilicata. He drove standard cars, lived in regular houses in quiet places, was married to the same woman, and generally described as a quiet man. It was clear that federal and local law enforcement had an acute interest in the Trafficante family. He was married to his wife for 49 years. Santo Trafficante Senior died in 1954. By Santo III's own estimation, this was a wise move. During the rule of Cuba's authoritarian dictator Fulgencio Batista, Trafficante openly operated the Sans Souci Cabaret and the Casino International gambling establishments in Havana. She was a native of Tampa, a second-generation Sicilian immigrant who grew up in Ybor city. "Now when I walk in a bank," Trafficante says, "the president runs out the back door.". Santo Trafficante Jr. (November 15, 1914 - March 17, 1987) was among the most powerful Mafia bosses in the United States. This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. Nicknames: The Silent Don He was rumored to be part of a Mafia syndicate which owned many Cuban hotels and casinos. Forget everything you think you know about Tampa mafia wives and girlfriends in the 1950s. Mrs. Gerry, Gina, Dino, Joe and Marisa - they broke the mold with Traff. In October 1966, while waiting in a Queens courthouse for his turn to be questioned by a grand jury about the infamous LaStella meeting (later dubbed "Little Apalachin") held a couple of weeks earlier on September 22, Santo Trafficante Jr., who was the boss of the Tampa Bay Crime Family, overheard reporters talking about someone . Trafficante would be charged with bank fraud, perjury and disclosure of criminal investigation. The Trafficante Family Under Santo Junior. Rosselli testified in 1975 to the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence on the efforts to kill Castro. SANTO TRAFFICANTE SR, A Sicilian of the Old School, RULED TAMPAS UNDERWORLD FOR MORE THAN A DECADE! It wasn't somebody going into a back room to kiss somebody's ring. Hoffa said to me, This has to be done.'. [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. His luck has not improved recently. GREAT NEWS! His new attorney general his beloved brother, Robert F. Kennedy went after organized crime with a vengeance. He drove a forklift for 20 years. 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. Husband of Private Santo Trafficante Jr. (November 15, 1914 March 17, 1987) was among the most powerful Mafia bosses in the United States. He is hardly the "Dapper Don." The glamorous casino in the Hotel Nacional De Cuba in Havana in 1958. There are few indicators that the family is still an active crime network. Until last year, the younger Trafficante had never been accused of anything more dramatic than bookmaking, a charge that a judge dismissed. This site is provided as a service of SCI Shared Resources, LLC. View Source Suggest Edits Memorial Photos Flowers Memorials Region North America USA Florida In 1954, Santo Sr. died of natural causes (at a time when some of his remaining rivals were still being violently dispatched), and his son took over leadership of the crime family. You need a Find a Grave account to continue. And then there are the infinite conspiracy theories about the assassination of President Kennedy, many of them featuring Trafficante. THE HIT THAT EXPOSED SOME OF TAMPAS ELITE. He attended the University of Florida for a year, then transferred to the University of Tampa and left without completing his degree. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.. Share to let others add their own memories and condolences. Ex-FBI agent and later Howard Hughes aide Robert Maheu of Las Vegas was one of the primary go-betweens for Trafficante. "When my uncle visited it was like a family reunion. Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. And the Trafficante Crime family found out that it had an unusual ally in their concerns about Castro: the Central Intelligence Agency. You have been in pain too long. Santo Trafficante Senior died in 1954. I can answer any questions you . 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. The twister killed hls mother when lt touched down about 6, honored Wednesday us the nation's sute legislator. 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. Born: November 15, 1914, Tampa, Florida (November 15, 1914 - March 17, 1987 ). After this look at Santo Trafficante Jr., read the gruesome story of the murderous American dentist, Benjamin Salomon, of World War II. This account has been disabled. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. [13] Trafficante also stated that he had no recollection of meeting Oswald or Oswald's assassin, Jack Ruby. A Hillsborough judge threw out the wiretaps, the spine of the state's case. 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. According to some, he was even involved in the infamous assassination of President John F. Kennedy. We found ourselves in a love affair with Tony Soprano and we could not stop watching. We guarantee you'll never look at Ybor City the same way again. "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. Trafficante Sr. hung back and developed relationships with politicians and his Mob colleagues in New York and Chicago. She is now living in Virginia. Upon his return to the United States, he became determined to bring down the man who ended his empire. Most mornings Trafficante spends a few hours at his modest wholesale automobile lot at the intersection of Dale Mabry Highway and W Broad Street. Geni requires JavaScript! 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. Wife : Josephine MARCHESE (Santo TRAFFICANTE Jr. married Josephine in Tampa, Florida on April 17, 1938). "[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. 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. Trafficante Sr. passed away four years later, leaving Jr. his Tampa and Cuba-based criminal empire. santo trafficante daughters He died of natural causes, at the age of 72, in Houston, Texas. While shouldering the legacy of his father and. He walked outside and got into a 1951 Mercury sedan driven by one of his associates. 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. The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. After the death of his wife, the Trafficante family sold their Tampa 1970-built home for $950,000. If the decision is upheld on appeal, charges against Trafficante may be dismissed. A A. 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. However, by the late 1920s, facing little pressure, Sicilian gangsters began setting up lucrative gambling and narcotics rackets. Trafficante was apprehended in November 1957, along with over 60 other mobsters, at the Apalachin meeting in Apalachin, New York. U.S. Treasury Department documents indicate that law enforcement believed Trafficante's legitimate business interests to include several legal casinos in Cuba; a Havana drive-in movie theater; and shares in several restaurants and bars in Trafficante's hometown of Tampa, Florida. She was the Matriarch of the Trafficante Family; and we will all miss her presence, guidance, love and affection. Batista let Trafficante and other mobsters build as many casinos and hotels as they wanted in exchange for a cash kickback. Afterwards, the son he had groomed to take his place, Santo Trafficante Jr., took the reins of the Trafficante crime family. Our prayers are with you. 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. She handled great adversity and difficult, troubling times with grace, dignity, and style; with respect and love for all around her. Organized Crime Figure. Santo Trafficante then categorically denied every allegation about stating he wanted RFK or JFK dead and got off scot-free. Authorities also said he urged former bank vice president Michael Pupello to impersonate him in calls to federal bank regulators. The chairman cited a confession from Roselli that Trafficantes allies organized a sharpshooter, Lee Harvey Oswald, to take out the President. But the mobster tag has outlasted the case itself. [1] In 1997, further declassified documents indicated that some mafiosi worked with the agency on assassination attempts against Castro. His uncle, the late Santo Trafficante Jr., was reputed to have been the boss of the local Mafia. You'll learn about bolita, the rumored tunnels of Ybor, and the Era of Blood. [13] He stated that he received no payment for his involvement and that he acted out of patriotism. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. The elder Trafficante set up illegal casinos in Cuba in the 1940s, which were sanctioned by Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. The people of Tampa, especially the ones still around to remember those days still feel a duty of sorts to keep quite of these things, as if these people are still amongst us and can hear our chatter. A system error has occurred. "I think it's all bull----," says Trafficante's former horse trainer, Arthur Pedregal Jr. "It's only because his name is Trafficante. An editor and public historian, Carly Silver has written for Smithsonian, Narratively, The Atlantic, Atlas Obscura, and Archaeology, among other publications.