SANTO TRAFFICANTE SR, A Sicilian of the Old School, RULED TAMPAS UNDERWORLD FOR MORE THAN A DECADE! "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.". There was a problem getting your location. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. Family members linked to this person will appear here. Santo Trafficante Jr. (November 15, 1914 March 17, 1987) was among the most powerful Mafia bosses in the United States. After a violent mob war left several of Trafficantes rivals dead or weakened, his gang rapidly rose to prominence in Tampa. [4] All were fined, up to $10,000 each, and given prison sentences ranging from three to five years. Santo Trafficante was wanted in 48 states by the time he was 43. Still, he lives comfortably enough to give his sons Jaguar sports cars, red for Dino and white for Joseph. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. 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 1946, Santo Sr. sent his son, already a family underboss, to Cuba to invest in the growing number of nightclubs and casinos in the island nation. An editor and public historian, Carly Silver has written for Smithsonian, Narratively, The Atlantic, Atlas Obscura, and Archaeology, among other publications. Weve updated the security on the site. [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. [18] According to Ragano, he met Hoffa at the Teamsters' headquarters in Washington, DC, then delivered the message to Trafficante and Marcello in a meeting at the Royal Orleans Hotel in New Orleans. please know that i am praying for you and your family. For the U.S. government, it was a classic case of the enemy of my enemy is my friend.. 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. REPUTED FLORIDA GODFATHER TRAFFICANTE, 72, DIES - Sun Sentinel More importantly, Castro imprisoned Trafficante and then had him exiled from Cuba. "I was the most expensive forklift driver in the world," he says with a smile. gerry,i am so sorry to hear about santo. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. His luck has not improved recently. Please reset your password. Comfort the family with flowers or a sympathy gift. santo trafficante daughters 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. [13] He stated that he received no payment for his involvement and that he acted out of patriotism. "They'll sleep under trees on you.". Daughters: Mary Josephine Sarah Ann Brothers: Frank, Salvatore (Sam), Epifanio and Enrico (Henry) Uncle: Joseph M. CACCIATORE (convicted narcotic trafficker) CRIMINAL HISTORY: Help tell the story of your loved ones unique life. Trafficante was a ruthless mob boss, and quickly consolidated control over the criminal networks in Tampa. 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. THE HIDDEN HISTORY OF TAMPA'S UNDERWORLD IS OFTEN INTERTWINED WITH SOME OF Something went wrong. Authorities said he leaked a list of suspects in the case and then lied about it. The men started to drive away when another sedan drove past the Mercury, the occupants unloading a blast of buckshot as they passed. 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. While shouldering the legacy of his father and. Hoffa said to me, This has to be done.'. She lived an exciting life dividing her time between her multiple family members and friends in Tampa, Miami and Havana. Upon his return to the United States, he became determined to bring down the man who ended his empire. 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. ". 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. You need a Find a Grave account to continue. Drag images here or select from your computer for Santo Trafficante Jr. memorial. By this point, Trafficante Jr. had fully taken over the oversight of drugs shipped between Florida, Cuba, and the rest of the States. And purchase valuable sports memorabilia for himself. 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. This account has been disabled. While he had several close calls with law enforcement including the famed FBI, Late in life LoScalzo denied any connections to organized crime. (November 15, 1914 - March 17, 1987 ). But before Trafficante testified, someone conveniently killed Roselli. Search results for "Images of America" at Rakuten Kobo. Sorry! [15][16] He stated he was chosen by Hoffa because, as both Hoffa and Trafficante's lawyer, he could be assured of attorneyclient privilege. "[12] He said that Trafficante complained about the honesty of the Kennedys and their "attacks" on Jimmy Hoffa and other associates. So, as the popular theory goes, the mob bosses that lent a helping hand in getting Kennedy into office wanted revenge. [1] In 1997, further declassified documents indicated that some mafiosi worked with the agency on assassination attempts against Castro. Organized Crime Figure. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. Our thoughts and prayers are with you Gerry and your family. Trafficante was arrested on a bookmaking conspiracy charge. Anthony Accardo & Santo Trafficante Jr - Labor Union Kickbacks Failed to delete memorial. 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. That horse won $161,080 for its new owners, according to the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders Association. In 1950, the aging Trafficante Sr. began to slow down. A A. 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. 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. He was severed from that trial for medical reasons. 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. His health had declined in his later years. He maintained close working ties with the Lucchese crime family and the Bonanno crime family from New York City. The Trafficante Family Under Santo Junior . His son, Santo Trafficante Jr., took over the crime family and became tangled in a web of conspiracies to kill the leader of revolutionary Cuba and, it is rumored, President John F. Kennedy. 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. 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. 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. 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. He is currently working on his seventh book, The Jersey Mob., Feedback or questions? Century, Tampa was a small but growing city, and the organized crime it faced was modest. Mrs. Gerry, Gina, Dino, Joe and Marisa - they broke the mold with Traff. Finally, in 1987, Trafficante died at the age of 72. Who better than his son, Trafficante Jr., to inherit his throne? Try again later. Santo Trafficante Jr. had long followed in his father's footsteps, and proved to be an even more effective Mafia kingpin. It may take up to 1 hour for your comment to appear on the website. GitHub export from English Wikipedia. With that act, Santo Trafficante now reigned supreme in Tampa. I found on Findagrave.com. "I don't go to the bank and make all these billion-dollar deposits," he says. I can answer any questions you . 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:. 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. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. Join us for this one-of-a-kind walking tour of Tampa's most storied neighborhood. Please check your entries and try again. He was rumored to be part of a Mafia syndicate which owned many Cuban hotels and casinos. Santos Trafficante Jr. was the son of Santos Trafficante Sr., who owned several casinos in Havana. Santo Trafficante, Jr. - facebook.com With over 1,900 locations, Dignity Memorial providers proudly serve over 375,000 families a year. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. Trafficante was born in Tampa, Florida, to Sicilian parents Santo Trafficante Sr. and his wife Maria Giuseppa Cacciatore in 1914. Try again later. The idea behind the assassination wasnt just to punish JFK but also to get his brother off the Mobs back. They never returned. Santo Trafficante Jr. (November 15, 1914 - March 17, 1987) was among the most powerful Mafia bosses in the United States. Our prayers are with you. He owned and operated some of the most lavish casinos in pre-Castro Cuba. He was the lynchpin in Tampa Charlie Wall The Kefauver hearings arrived in Tampa in December of 1950. Trafficante had been operating in Cuba since the late 1940s under his father, Santo Trafficante Sr., a mobster in Tampa, Florida. There is a problem with your email/password. I thought you might like to see a memorial for Santo Trafficante Jr. Now in his late 70s or early 80s, LoScalzo is reported to be retired. In January 1963, he married Geraldine Valenti, the daughter of J.C. Valenti, who owned a thriving produce business. 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. Read free previews and reviews from booklovers. Dennis Caruso/NY Daily News Archive via Getty ImagesFrank Ragano and Santo Trafficante Jr. (right). 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. 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. Daughters: Mary Josephine Sarah Ann Brothers: Frank, Salvatore (Sam), Epifanio and Enrico (Henry) Uncle: Joseph M. CACCIATORE (convicted narcotic trafficker) CRIMINAL HISTORY: Husband of Private Learn more about merges. Your entry has exceeded the maximum character limit. The gunmen drove off, unaware they had failed to kill Trafficante, merely grazing his arm. The guy really tried to do it right.". Add to your scrapbook. One small gang, led by Italian immigrant Santo Trafficante Senior, profited from the illegal lottery-style games they ran across Tampa. Robert F. Kennedy even taunted those mobsters he brought into court, telling Chicago mob boss Sam Giancana that I thought only little girls giggled, Mr. Giancana.. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. 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. "When my uncle visited it was like a family reunion. 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. Getting in bed with Trafficante and other leading members of Americas organized crime seems like a strange thing to do for the CIA.
