Century, Tampa was a small but growing city, and the organized crime it faced was modest. Meanwhile, he continued to make money from the drugs that came through Tampa. 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. Reclaiming History: The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy. The other case was a RICO indictment for insurance fraud. They had three daughters, Antoinette born . Trafficante scrambled out the passenger-side door. In the early 20th Century, Tampa was a small but growing city, and the organized crime it faced was modest. His sons, Dino and Joseph, run it for him, though he worries that sometimes they don't work hard. Meet Santo Trafficante: The Silent Don Who Tried To Kill Fidel Castro And May Have Ordered JFKs Assassination. 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. As one of the most powerful mobsters in the US, Trafficante was invited to the Havana Conference in December 1946. 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.. [3] Trafficante moved to Cuba in 1955, where he came into contact with Batista and Meyer Lansky. Forget everything you think you know about Tampa mafia wives and girlfriends in the 1950s. Alongside Chicago boss Sam Giancana, Roselli and Trafficante came up with some truly insane plots to kill Fidel Castro. If the decision is upheld on appeal, charges against Trafficante may be dismissed. Santo Trafficante Jr. had long followed in his fathers footsteps, and proved to be an even more effective Mafia kingpin. [22], sfn error: no target: CITEREFDouglass2010 (, Last edited on 22 February 2023, at 15:02, United States House Select Committee on Assassinations, Reclaiming History: The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy, "With Santo Trafficante, an era is ending", "SANTO TRAFFICANTE, REPUTED MAFIA CHIEF, DIES AT 72", "Why mob bigs who met to crown a king had to run like roaches", "For Sale, a House WithAcreage.Connections Extra;Site of 1957 Gangland Raid Is Part of Auction on Saturday", "20 Apalachin Convictions Ruled Invalid On Appeal", "Narcotic Traffic Called Topic In Apalachin Talks", Memorandum for the Director of Central Intelligence, Subject: Roselli, Johnny, "Witness denies assassination, Cuba tied", "Mafia Linked In JFK Probe; By Cuban Exile", "Hoffa Lawyer: Jimmy Recruited Mob for JFK Hit", "Lawyer Says Hoffa Told 2 Mob Bosses to Have President Kennedy Killed", "Frank Ragano, 75, Lawyer for Mob and Hoffa", "The Sins of the Godfather? . 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. 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. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. Santo Trafficante Jr. (November 15, 1914 - March 17, 1987) was among the most powerful Mafia bosses in the United States. He owned and operated some of the most lavish casinos in pre-Castro Cuba. When the CIA decided to recruit the Mob in their efforts to assassinate Fidel Castro, they went to see Trafficante. In January 1963, he married Geraldine Valenti, the daughter of J.C. Valenti, who owned a thriving produce business. In 1965, Giancana was convicted of contempt of court, serving one year in prison. Trafficante took control of the Tampa mob in 1954 after the death of his father, Santo Trafficante Sr. He grimaces at the thought that the rumor has persisted so long. He headed the . His luck has not improved recently. My aim is to provide you with the best Service experience for you and your motorcycle. Frank Ragano and Santo Trafficante Jr. (right). No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments. 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. Trafficante tried to win Castro over to his side, but that didnt work. After a violent mob war left several of Trafficantes rivals dead or weakened, his gang rapidly rose to prominence in Tampa. 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. 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. In 1963, the Mob allegedly had enough of Kennedy. Instead of Italian suits, he wears horizontally striped golf shirts. There was an error deleting this problem. Died: March 17, 1987, Houston, Texas Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. On Oct. 26, 1937, Frank Trafficante named his first son after his own father, Santo Trafficante Sr. Many fond memories of Santo will continue with me. While he had several close calls with law enforcement including the famed FBI Donnie Brasco investigation he never spent a single day of his life in jail. There are few indicators that the family is still an active crime network. He dropped out of high school and spent time in New York learning the trade from some of the countries toughest mobsters. 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. Failed to report flower. "If my uncle knew I was talking to the press, Christ, he'd shoot me," Trafficante says, half-laughing. 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. Welcome to Boxer Cycle Works. In 1975, the CIA declassified a report stating that Trafficante had been persuaded to poison Castro, an allegation he denied. When you start talking about organized crime, things can get dicey. After the death of his wife, the Trafficante family sold their Tampa 1970-built home for $950,000. [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. Son of Santo Trafficante and Maria Giuseppa Trafficante Our deepest condolences to the Trafficante family. After that, he ordered casino owners to cough up employee back pay, then shut them down again. Many of the familys gangsters were in prison, or too old to be effective. All the convictions were overturned on appeal in 1960. After Cuban revolution, the Mafia saw Castro as a threat to their business. [15][16] He stated he was chosen by Hoffa because, as both Hoffa and Trafficante's lawyer, he could be assured of attorneyclient privilege. While the senior Trafficante had been a major mobster in his own right, nobody could have expected the heights that were going to be reached by his son. Associates: Sam Giancana, Charlie Lucky Luciano, Meyer Lansky, Cuba, Fidel Castro, Johnny Rosselli, Robert Maheu. Verify and try again. Send a note, share a story or upload a photo. He maintained all of the lucrative casinos in Cuba, further cemented, After Cuban revolution, the Mafia saw Castro as a threat to their business. She was a wonderful cook, and she loved to crochet and travel with her husband, but she lived her life for her family. They lived in modest, ranch-style houses in quiet neighborhoods in Tampa and Miami. RIP Santo. Peter Moruzzi/Wikimedia Commons The glamorous casino in the Hotel Nacional De Cuba in Havana in 1958. [13] He testified that he was brought into the plot by Roselli and Giancana, who had been recruited by Maheu. Santo was one of the FBIs targets in that case. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. Wikimedia CommonsPresident John F. Kennedy, FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, and Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy. He will always be remembered with fondness. THE HIT THAT EXPOSED SOME OF TAMPAS ELITE. Make sure that the file is a photo. Federal investigators brought racketeering and conspiracy charges against him in the summer of 1986. But considering the fiercely anti-Soviet atmosphere of the Cold War, its not that hard to believe. Trafficante Jr. controlled his Tampa-based crime network for over three decades. The mobster would later testify: I got news that Cuban officials were looking for to put me in jail because one of the things was that I was a Batista collaborator. Passing before her were her parents Antonino and Sarafina Marchese; her beloved husband Santo Trafficante Jr.; her son-in-laws Augie Paniello and Richard Valdes; and her brothers, Bennie Marchese, Tommy Marchese, and Peter Marchese. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. While he had several close calls with law enforcement including the famed FBI, Late in life LoScalzo denied any connections to organized crime. 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. Year should not be greater than current year. Perched on the edge of a leather chair in his attorney's office, Santo J. Trafficante III wears a pained expression on his jowly face. Santo Trafficante arrives at Queens Supreme Court in Kew Gardens. Your Scrapbook is currently empty. One bank filed suit in November against him and a business partner, alleging that they defaulted on an $85,000 loan for a piece of property. He wants Trafficante, whom he considers to have an authoritative palate, to sample a new pastry that Alessi plans to sell at his bakery. SANTO TRAFFICANTE SR, A Sicilian of the Old School, RULED TAMPAS UNDERWORLD FOR MORE THAN A DECADE! "I still don't think I did anything wrong," Trafficante says. The first case stemmed from the FBIs well-known Donnie Brasco undercover sting operation. However, LoScalzo was nonetheless able to expand the families criminal reach into new locations across Florida, and took advantage of alliances with other Mafia families to ensure the mob maintained its hold on criminal activities. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. Trafficante would be charged with bank fraud, perjury and disclosure of criminal investigation. Plant a tree to honor the memory of your loved one. 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. Trafficante maintained links to the Bonanno crime family in New York City, but was more closely allied with Sam Giancana in Chicago. [2] Trafficante Jr. had known Lucchese since the 1940s, when his father and Lucchese had trained him in the mafia traditions. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. It never did exist.". He offered to pay $150,000 to have Castro killed, but Roselli declined any pay and introduced Maheu to two men he referred to as "Sam Gold" and "Joe." He died of natural causes, at the age of 72, in Houston, Texas. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. I think it was a case of mistaken identity.. My ex-wife Erline Lazzara was a childhood friend you might remember. [13] Trafficante also stated that he had no recollection of meeting Oswald or Oswald's assassin, Jack Ruby. You've got to be a fool to marry wrong," he says. 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. Under pressure of a court order granting him immunity from prosecution, but threatening him with contempt if he refused to talk, Santos admitted to a Congressional committee in 1975 that he had in the early 1960s recruited other mobsters to assassinate Castro. He is currently working on his seventh book, The Jersey Mob., Feedback or questions? That was in part due to his lifestyle. "There's no such thing as organized crime in Hillsborough County," Trafficante says, clapping his hands for emphasis. Their plans ranged from simply shooting him to having him smoke poisoned cigars or drinking a tainted milkshake. He is hardly the "Dapper Don." Batista let Trafficante and other mobsters build as many casinos and hotels as they wanted in exchange for a cash kickback. But according to declassified documents released in 1992, Santo Trafficante Jr. made a deathbed confession of his involvement in the Presidents murder. Or does he just look like one? She was the Matriarch of the Trafficante Family; and we will all miss her presence, guidance, love and affection. "I was the most expensive forklift driver in the world," he says with a smile. Zeng8r/Wikimedia Common A set of bolita balls. 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. The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. When you think of Florida and organized crime, it is difficult to avoid conjuring up images of Tony Montana in. "Banks are my greatest enemy. "I think it's all bull----," says Trafficante's former horse trainer, Arthur Pedregal Jr. "It's only because his name is Trafficante. There is a problem with your email/password. We guarantee you'll never look at Ybor City the same way again. A A. I have thought of you and Santo many times over the past 50 years. prosecution, fled temporarily to Cuba. When Fidel Castro began his ascent to power in the 1950s, Santo Trafficante feared the radical Marxist revolutionary wouldnt cooperate with him. "When my uncle visited it was like a family reunion. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. In fact, Florida had the dubious distinction of being home to a decades-old Mafia criminal network: the Trafficante Family. Santo Trafficante Senior died in 1954. At Boxer Cycle Works. You and Santo will always have a special place in my heart. Join us for this one-of-a-kind walking tour of Tampa's most storied neighborhood. 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. 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. Santo Trafficante grew up in the Florida underworld, working his father's gambling rackets and getting experience in the business. Santo Trafficante Jr. (November 15, 1914 March 17, 1987) was among the most powerful Mafia bosses in the United States. TAMPA CRIME BOSS SANTO TRAFFICANTE JR PLAYS A CENTRAL ROLE IN THRILLER MAFIA SPIES. 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. Don Santo Trafficante Jr was one of the last of the old-time American Mafia bosses in the United States. Finally, after the infamous failed Bay of Pigs Invasion, the CIA gave up on their attempts to kill the Cuban dictator and thus Trafficantes attempts at revenge never materialized. He was rumored to be part of a Mafia syndicate which owned many Cuban hotels and casinos. Santo was known to have been deeply involved in the CIA efforts to involve the underworld in assassination attempts on Fidel Castro. Thanks for your help! Santo Trafficante, Sr., the powerful Trafficante crime family's patriarch, was born on May 28, 1886, in Alexandria Della Rocca, Sicily. Organized Crime Figure. In the meantime, the allegation that he is a mobster has dogged him and his family. Trafficante was born in Tampa, Florida, to Sicilian parents Santo Trafficante Sr. and his wife Maria Giuseppa Cacciatore in 1914. [14], The HSCA had previously quoted Aleman as stating that he thought Trafficante's use of the phrase "he is going to be hit" meant that the mob boss knew Kennedy was going to be killed. But Santo knew who was behind the killing a rival Mafia faction. 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. Santo Trafficante Jr. was a reserved, modest man married to the same woman for 49 years. During a recent trip to Lake Tahoe he bought two basketballs autographed by Michael Jordan. 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. "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.". 93461.". And purchase valuable sports memorabilia for himself. He was right, and when Castro took power in 1959, Trafficantes burgeoning gambling-and-drugs empire went under siege. 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. And as for the rest of the Trafficante Crime family? After the Kennedy hubbub, Trafficante kept a low profile or, lower that is. The CIA came to Trafficante, and asked for his help in enlisting the Mafia to assassinate the Cuban leader. 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. My heart goes out to the family. 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. Santo Trafficante, Jr. was born in the United States on November 15, 1914, as one of five sons of Mafia boss Santo Trafficante. Daughters: Mary Josephine Sarah Ann Brothers: Frank, Salvatore (Sam), Epifanio and Enrico (Henry) Uncle: Joseph M. CACCIATORE (convicted narcotic trafficker) CRIMINAL HISTORY: 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. 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. He attended a notorious convention of Mafia bosses held in the upstate New York town of Apalachin on November 14, 1957. Maheu hid the fact that he was sent by the CIA, instead portraying himself an advocate for international corporations. She misses him, but she's making do. Sorry! Hey, they have more convicts at the track than straight people," Trafficante says. "They wouldn't even let me go to the track. According to some, he was even involved in the infamous assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. 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. President John F. Kennedy, FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, and Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, Dennis Caruso/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images. 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. Josephine Marchese Trafficante But those werent even their most ridiculous ideas. After his father died in 1954, he became the head in Tampa and took over his fathers interests in Cuba. Undercover detectives ran a gambling sting operation there, hoping to nab a circle of Tampa men they said were making illegal sports bets. Fifteen years following the assassination, Trafficante testified in front of the United States House Select Committee on the murder of JFK in exchange for immunity. 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. Reputed 'boss of bosses' dies at 72 TAMPA, Fla, "' Trafficante dies at age 72 TAMPA. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santo_Trafficante_Jr. Trafficante was arrested on a bookmaking conspiracy charge. Your entry has exceeded the maximum character limit. Cuban leader Fulgencio Batista in Washington, D.C. in 1938. [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. This was proven in 1953 when he eliminated the last contender to the Tampa mob throne: Joe Antinori, son of the late Ignacio. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. More troubling for Trafficante was a court document that listed him for the first time as "a member of the Trafficante crime family.". The senior Trafficante's name has been linked to gambling, drug-dealing and even plots to kill Fidel Castro and John F. Kennedy. This site is provided as a service of SCI Shared Resources, LLC. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. In 1957 he was suspected of involvement in the barbershop slaying of Albert Anastasia, the . Rosselli later claimed to be involved with or to actually be a shooter in a Mob conspiracy to kill President John F. Kennedy, and some accounts have Trafficante involved in the alleged, and unproven, conspiracy. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. So, at his attorney Ralph Fernandez's urging, he has agreed to talk publicly, hoping to shore up his damaged reputation. And all this occurred throughout seven Sylvia at age 12 and her father Jimmy Velasco in California, June 1948 Jimmy Velasco was a political fixer. Bankruptcy court documents show that Trafficante is owed $500,000 by a business partner. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. Don Santo Trafficante Jr. the godfather from Tampa, Florida, USA. He was severed from that trial for medical reasons. There was a problem getting your location. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. 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. love gloria "owens" hill. My prayers are with all of you. 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. Please reset your password. Thanks for subscribing! [4] All were fined, up to $10,000 each, and given prison sentences ranging from three to five years. So, as the popular theory goes, the mob bosses that lent a helping hand in getting Kennedy into office wanted revenge. "I don't go to the bank and make all these billion-dollar deposits," he says. Finally, in 1987, Trafficante died at the age of 72. I will always remember your perseverance, happiness and smiles at Marisa's wedding. However, by the late 1920s, facing little pressure, Sicilian gangsters began setting up lucrative gambling and narcotics rackets. One small gang, led by Italian immigrant Santo Trafficante Senior, profited from the illegal lottery-style games they ran across Tampa. Seven people were murdered. Mob Lawyer Frank Ragano Says He Knows Who Killed JFK", "Book alleges plot to kill JFK in Tampa, cover-up", "At Santo Trafficante auction, a chance to buy a piece of Tampa's mob history", Donnie Brasco: My Undercover Life in the Mafia, Associated Press report on Trafficante's death, "Little Man: Meyer Lansky and the Gangster Life" By Robert Lacy, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Santo_Trafficante_Jr.&oldid=1140940042, This page was last edited on 22 February 2023, at 15:02. 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. According to the account of Judith Exner, however, one of JFKs many mistresses, it was she who introduced Kennedy to Chicago boss Giancana. He wears tasselled leather loafers without socks. "[12] He said that Trafficante complained about the honesty of the Kennedys and their "attacks" on Jimmy Hoffa and other associates. Trafficante was arrested frequently throughout the 1950s on various charges of bribery and of running illegal bolita lotteries in Tampa's Ybor City district. He was known as an organized crimes figure. 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. She is now living in Virginia. Add to your scrapbook. Please enter your email and password to sign in. [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. Following his death, Mobster Vincent LoScalvo took over the Trafficante familys criminal network in Florida. CANDLE HAS BEEN LIT CANDLES HAVE BEEN LIT, We are reviewing your submission. [1] Trafficante maintained several residences in New York City and Florida. The twister killed hls mother when lt touched down about 6, honored Wednesday us the nation's sute legislator. 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.