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. Whether or not a Mafia conspiracy was behind the assassination of Kennedy is still up for debate. 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. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Santo Trafficante (53540265)? You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. We are one of them! 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. 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. [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? Nicknames: The Silent Don Santo Trafficante Senior died in 1954. Reputed 'boss of bosses' dies at 72 TAMPA, Fla, "' Trafficante dies at age 72 TAMPA. His uncle, the late Santo Trafficante Jr., was reputed to have been the boss of the local Mafia. Santo Jr.'s daughters still owns 3610, where Santo spent time when he wasn't in Tampa or Miami. Reclaiming History: The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy. He maintained all of the lucrative casinos in Cuba, further cemented, After Cuban revolution, the Mafia saw Castro as a threat to their business. Scott M. Deitche is the author of six books on organized crime, including a biography of Santo Trafficante Jr., and has written dozens of articles on organized crime for magazines and newspapers. In the 1960 presidential election, Kennedy family patriarch Joe Kennedy Sr. used his ties to organized crime to secure votes for his son, John F. Kennedy. The mobsters also attempted to get Castro into a poisoned wetsuit and even offered to blow him up with an exploding seashell. Please try again later. Santo Trafficante Jr. was a reserved, modest man married to the same woman for 49 years. "I think it's all bull----," says Trafficante's former horse trainer, Arthur Pedregal Jr. "It's only because his name is Trafficante. But those werent even their most ridiculous ideas. Their plans ranged from simply shooting him to having him smoke poisoned cigars or drinking a tainted milkshake. She was a native of Tampa, a second-generation Sicilian immigrant who grew up in Ybor city. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. Those were some of the greatest memories growing up. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. Santo, Jr. never spent a day in jail, and he died of natural causes in 1987. He drove standard cars, lived in regular houses in quiet places, was married to the same woman, and generally described as a quiet man. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Chris and I will never forget Santo's presence at Leia's welcome home party. However, by the late 1920s, facing little pressure, Sicilian gangsters began setting up lucrative gambling and narcotics rackets. love gloria "owens" hill. Thanks for your help! Like Trafficante Jr. before him, had many close calls with law enforcement, but always escaped serious charges. Weve updated the security on the site. "I'm in the I.O.U. Santo Trafficante Sr. was a Florida mobster who survived a series of vicious gang wars to become the leader of a powerful Mafia crime family based in Tampa. Your entry has exceeded the maximum character limit. We never paid cash. [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. While shouldering the legacy of his father and. 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 Senior died in 1954. [4] All were fined, up to $10,000 each, and given prison sentences ranging from three to five years. Scott M. Deitche, Mob Museum Advisory Council member and mob http://www.scottdeitche.com/books.htmlauthor of Tampa's favorite books, Cigar City Mafia: A Complete History of the Tampa Underworld & The Silent Don: The Criminal Underworld of Santo Trafficante Jror Manny Leto, previous Editor of Cigar City Magazine and Tampa historian, will guide you on a 1.5 -2 hour walking tour to old gambling palaces, street corners, and alleys where some mobsters met their demise, and restaurants where wise guys, like famed boss Santo Trafficante Jr, held court. He dropped out of high school and spent time in New York learning the trade from some of the countries toughest mobsters. 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. [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. 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.. A car registered to former state attorney and current state appellate judge E.J. He has played golf with former New York Yankees third baseman Graig Nettles and former New York Islanders hockey player Clark Gillies. Early in Trafficantes federal court case in 1986, the judge declared a mistrial. "When my uncle visited it was like a family reunion. 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. He maintained close working ties with the Lucchese crime family and the Bonanno crime family from New York City. From bolitaan illegal version of the now-legal Florida lotteryto narcotics, Tampas experience with organized crime is as notable as Chicagos or New Yorks. All the while, he lives in a palatial lakeside compound in rural northwest Hillsborough. Try again later. Santos Trafficante Jr. was the son of Santos Trafficante Sr., who owned several casinos in Havana. I have thought of you and Santo many times over the past 50 years. The glamorous casino in the Hotel Nacional De Cuba in Havana in 1958. In February 2016, many of Trafficante's personal belongings were sold at an auction in St. Petersburg, Florida. He is currently working on his seventh book, The Jersey Mob., Feedback or questions? Frank Ragano and Santo Trafficante Jr. (right). And purchase valuable sports memorabilia for himself. Our prayers are with you. 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. Reputedly the most powerful crime boss in Batista -era Cuba, he . wills o' nats last of the summer wine. Cuban leader Fulgencio Batista in Washington, D.C. in 1938. Late in life LoScalzo denied any connections to organized crime. Services will be followed by a graveside service at the Italian Club Cemetery and a reception at the family home. Santo Trafficante Jr. had long followed in his fathers footsteps, and proved to be an even more effective Mafia kingpin. The chairman cited a confession from Roselli that Trafficantes allies organized a sharpshooter, Lee Harvey Oswald, to take out the President. He was right, and when Castro took power in 1959, Trafficantes burgeoning gambling-and-drugs empire went under siege. You can always change this later in your Account settings. Daughters: Mary Josephine Sarah Ann Brothers: Frank, Salvatore (Sam), Epifanio and Enrico (Henry) Uncle: Joseph M. CACCIATORE (convicted narcotic trafficker) CRIMINAL HISTORY: Our deepest condolences to the Trafficante family. based on information from your browser. Santo Trafficante Jr. (November 15, 1914 - March 17, 1987) was among the most powerful Mafia bosses in the United States. And despite relatively small time beginnings, Trafficante proved to be a shrewd mobster. A year has passed. 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. Afterwards, the son he had groomed to take his place, Santo Trafficante Jr., took the reins of the Trafficante crime family. With over 1,900 locations, Dignity Memorial providers proudly serve over 375,000 families a year. He was the lynchpin in Tampa Charlie Wall The Kefauver hearings arrived in Tampa in December of 1950. 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. The choice was nothing more than honoring a tradition. Valenti hired his son-in-law at the produce company and allowed him to name his own salary. 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. [13] Trafficante said that he introduced the trio to Cuban exiles in Florida. There is a problem with your email/password. Santo Trafficante grew up in the Florida underworld, working his father's gambling rackets and getting experience in the business. 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. 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. 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. Trafficante had been operating in Cuba since the late 1940s under his father, Santo Trafficante Sr., a mobster in Tampa, Florida. The report was given to the District Attorney's office. There are few indicators that the family is still an active crime network. His business ventures have not always been successful. Santo Trafficante then categorically denied every allegation about stating he wanted RFK or JFK dead and got off scot-free. 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. Contribute to chinapedia/wikipedia.en development by creating an account on GitHub. [12] According to Aleman, when he told Trafficante that President John F. Kennedy would likely be re-elected, Trafficante replied, "No, Jose, he is going to be hit. The idea behind the assassination wasnt just to punish JFK but also to get his brother off the Mobs back. When his father died in 1954 he took control of these establishments. We send our most sincere sympathies to the Trafficante family. I laughed _ until I realized it was a total f------ disaster," Trafficante says. He wears tasselled leather loafers without socks. He maintained all of the lucrative casinos in Cuba, further cemented ties with powerful Mafia families he had established as a young man in New York, and ruthlessly put down any attempts to usurp his territory or power. This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. Oops, we were unable to send the email. The senior Trafficante's name has been linked to gambling, drug-dealing and even plots to kill Fidel Castro and John F. Kennedy. In 1975, the CIA declassified a report stating that Trafficante had been persuaded to poison Castro, an allegation he denied. He attended a notorious convention of Mafia bosses held in the upstate New York town of Apalachin on November 14, 1957. Send a note, share a story or upload a photo. With that act, Santo Trafficante now reigned supreme in Tampa. [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. [1] Trafficante maintained several residences in New York City and Florida. It wasn't somebody going into a back room to kiss somebody's ring. A native and lifelong resident of Tampa, Mr. Traffi-cante is survived by his loving family, wife, Geraldine "Gerry" L. Trafficante; sons, Dino Jose and Joseph Frank Trafficante; daughters,. 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 allegedly controlled organized crime operations in Florida and Cuba As Jimmy Hoffas former lawyer Frank Ragano would later recall, Jimmy told me to tell [New Orleans boss Carlos] Marcello and Trafficante they had to kill the president. 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. I think it was a case of mistaken identity.. THE HIT THAT EXPOSED SOME OF TAMPAS ELITE. The original Malio's Restaurant located on South Dale Mabry Highway in Tampa, Florida. Authorities said he leaked a list of suspects in the case and then lied about it. [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. His positioning in Florida was prime for drug shipping as the product often passed through these ports en route to elsewhere in America. 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. 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:. "Even my uncle (Santo Jr.) told me, "Santo, why don't you change your name?' His health had declined in his later years. Josephine Marchese Trafficante, 95, died peacefully in her sleep, Wednesday morning at her home. Oops, something didn't work. After a lifetime in organized crime, Trafficante Jr. died of national causes in 1987. In this episode, we will discuss the fascinating life of Tampa's most powerful mobster: Santo Trafficante Jr. You have been in pain too long. Meet Santo Trafficante: The Silent Don Who Tried To Kill Fidel Castro And May Have Ordered JFKs Assassination. By December 1953, one more rival was dead and another was too scared to even venture out of his home. [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. 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. Batista let Trafficante and other mobsters build as many casinos and hotels as they wanted in exchange for a cash kickback. An editor and public historian, Carly Silver has written for Smithsonian, Narratively, The Atlantic, Atlas Obscura, and Archaeology, among other publications. Visitation will take place on Saturday, May 16th, from 9:30 to 11:30 AM, with service to follow at Gonzalez Funeral Home, 7209 N. Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa, FL. It never did exist.". Despite his arrest, Trafficante managed to escape charges and continue to fly under the laws radar. Failed to report flower. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. THE CHARLIE WALL STORY Kingpin Charlie Wall (center holding bottle, right of child) and his notorious gang. 2023, Tampa Mafia. That was in part due to his lifestyle. "You hope things will just disappear two or three years from now.". Trafficante was a ruthless mob boss, and quickly consolidated control over the criminal networks in Tampa. It was clear that federal and local law enforcement had an acute interest in the Trafficante family. 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. 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. My ex-wife Erline Lazzara was a childhood friend you might remember. The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. The wiretap evidence has been thrown out of court. When you think of Florida and organized crime, it is difficult to avoid conjuring up images of Tony Montana in Scarface, or the heyday of Miami Vice. 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. Are you sure that you want to remove this flower? Don Santo Trafficante Jr was one of the last of the old-time American Mafia bosses in the United States. But once Kennedy actually entered the White House, he didnt live up to his end of the bargain. That arrest also led Cuban authorities to become warier of the mobster, especially as the political tides seemed to be turning there. "I was going to ask him to come over and try our beignets to see how they compare to the Cafe Du Monde in New Orleans," Alessi says. prosecution, fled temporarily to Cuba. He was a well-respected boss, even among the far larger New York crime families. Father of Private and Private He grimaces at the thought that the rumor has persisted so long. He owned a West Tampa restaurant called Cafe Sevilla. 0 cemeteries found in Ybor City, Hillsborough County, Florida, USA. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.. Share to let others add their own memories and condolences. He sought treatment for stomach cancer and was ready to hand power over to a trusted lieutenant. Who better than his son, Trafficante Jr., to inherit his throne? Dr. Dennis Pupello was looking for heart disease, brought on by his overweight and diabetic patient's "voracious eating.". "My kids suffered a lot by it," he says. 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 . Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. You've got to be a fool to marry wrong," he says. I can answer any questions you . Until last year, the younger Trafficante had never been accused of anything more dramatic than bookmaking, a charge that a judge dismissed. Leave a memory or share a photo or video below to show your support. Now he owns a 210-acre orange grove in southern Hillsborough. A Hillsborough judge threw out the wiretaps, the spine of the state's case. When you start talking about organized crime, things can get dicey. She misses him, but she's making do. 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. 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. Sign up for service and obituary updates. 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. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. Add to your scrapbook. Josephine Marchese Trafficante Trafficante was born in Tampa, Florida, to Sicilian parents Santo Trafficante Sr. and his wife Maria Giuseppa Cacciatore in 1914. 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 January 1963, he married Geraldine Valenti, the daughter. "He's very creative in terms of the combination of things he eats," Alessi says. And despite relatively small time beginnings, Trafficante proved to be a shrewd mobster. After months of wiretapped phone conversations, investigators seized boxloads of documents, some with Trafficante's name on them. Santo Trafficante Jr. (November 15, 1914 - March 17, 1987) was among the most powerful Mafia bosses in the United States. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. "I still don't think I did anything wrong," Trafficante says. In the mid-2000s, he would say he was a legitimate businessman, citing his ownership of a car dealership, and employment at various restaurants and night clubs over the years. 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. He owned and operated some of the most lavish casinos in pre-Castro Cuba. 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. Seven people were murdered. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. 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. When Fidel Castro began his ascent to power in the 1950s, Santo Trafficante feared the radical Marxist revolutionary wouldnt cooperate with him. Wife : Josephine MARCHESE (Santo TRAFFICANTE Jr. married Josephine in Tampa, Florida on April 17, 1938). Share this memorial using social media sites or email. For the last 20 years, everyone knew her as JuJu. It may take up to 1 hour for your comment to appear on the website. View Source Suggest Edits Memorial Photos Flowers Memorials Region North America USA Florida [13] Trafficante also stated that he had no recollection of meeting Oswald or Oswald's assassin, Jack Ruby. Our heartfelt condolences go out to your family. I hold such fond memories of Santo & Gerry when I was growing up. "[12] He said that Trafficante complained about the honesty of the Kennedys and their "attacks" on Jimmy Hoffa and other associates. 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. Santo Trafficante Jr. (November 15, 1914 March 17, 1987) was among the most powerful Mafia bosses in the United States. The charges of bank fraud against Trafficante and more than a dozen bank employees and customers may well be dismissed. She handled great adversity and difficult, troubling times with grace, dignity, and style; with respect and love for all around her. I will never forget him as a fellow stroke survivor. Please reset your password. "They'll sleep under trees on you.". 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. 2023 SCI SHARED RESOURCES, LLC. The Shore Acres home is 2,350-square-feet with 10 rooms that Capone reputedly built in 1925 for his mother. Family members linked to this person will appear here. Failed to delete memorial. More importantly, Castro imprisoned Trafficante and then had him exiled from Cuba. In the meantime, the allegation that he is a mobster has dogged him and his family. "Banks are my greatest enemy. After that, he ordered casino owners to cough up employee back pay, then shut them down again. But then came Key Bank, a massive drug-money-laundering investigation. [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. 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 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. Following his death, Mobster Vincent LoScalvo took over the Trafficante familys criminal network in Florida. At 7:25 p.m. on January 3, 1953, Florida Mafia boss Santo Trafficante Jr. had just finished dinner with his wife and children at his father-in-laws house in the Ybor City section of Tampa, Florida. Trafficante's appetite and his legal woes seem linked like the strands of a cruller. santo trafficante daughters This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. "My wife's got money. 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. Now in his late 70s or early 80s, LoScalzo is reported to be retired. Many of the familys gangsters were in prison, or too old to be effective.