We guarantee you'll never look at Ybor City the same way again. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. According to the account of Judith Exner, however, one of JFKs many mistresses, it was she who introduced Kennedy to Chicago boss Giancana. He wants Trafficante, whom he considers to have an authoritative palate, to sample a new pastry that Alessi plans to sell at his bakery. Every so often I think of the Jekyll Island and White Lake, NC trip and laugh. Send a note, share a story or upload a photo. 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. Trafficante took control of the Tampa mob in 1954 after the death of his father, Santo Trafficante Sr. The Internal Revenue Service tried to collect $400,000 in back taxes owed on the business, saying it had not been run as business eligible for tax write-offs, but a hobby. Mobster dies, two nations. Seven people were murdered. [7], In January 1958, Trafficante was questioned by the Cuban police regarding the Apalachin meeting. And purchase valuable sports memorabilia for himself. A year later they had their first son, Frank, born on April 16, 1910. Whether or not a Mafia conspiracy was behind the assassination of Kennedy is still up for debate. It was all on the up and up. He has been featured on the History Channel, A&E, Discovery Channel, AHC, Oxygen Network and many local and national news shows. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. Try again later. Frank Ragano and Santo Trafficante Jr. (right). He has thought about it. Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? Ex-FBI agent and later Howard Hughes aide Robert Maheu of Las Vegas was one of the primary go-betweens for Trafficante. But once Kennedy actually entered the White House, he didnt live up to his end of the bargain. 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. 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. Undercover detectives ran a gambling sting operation there, hoping to nab a circle of Tampa men they said were making illegal sports bets. Please reset your password. 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. Despite all of this or, perhaps, because of it, a few writers and filmmakers have chosen to focus on organized crime, determined to give Tampa its due. 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. He dropped out of high school and spent time in New York learning the trade from some of the countries toughest mobsters. Santo Trafficante Jr. Learns About Sonny Franzese Afterwards, the son he had groomed to take his place, Santo Trafficante Jr., took the reins of the Trafficante crime family. 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. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. He had a big heart and will be missed. 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. Harris & Ewing/Library of Commons/Wikimedia CommonsCuban leader Fulgencio Batista in Washington, D.C. in 1938. Trafficante was arrested frequently throughout the 1950s on various charges of bribery and of running illegal bolita lotteries in Tampa's Ybor City district. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. [13] Trafficante also stated that he had no recollection of meeting Oswald or Oswald's assassin, Jack Ruby. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. In February 2016, many of Trafficante's personal belongings were sold at an auction in St. Petersburg, Florida. 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. We cant help ourselves when it comes to watching mob films like The Godfather, Goodfellas, Casino and HBOs Boardwalk Empire and the iconic cable TV show, The Sopranos. His health had declined in his later years. Santo Trafficante: Building the Family Business - Gangsters Inc 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. [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. The original Malio's Restaurant located on South Dale Mabry Highway in Tampa, Florida. [13] He testified that he was brought into the plot by Roselli and Giancana, who had been recruited by Maheu. [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. Contribute to chinapedia/wikipedia.en development by creating an account on GitHub. However, by the late 1920s, facing little pressure, Sicilian gangsters began setting up lucrative gambling and narcotics rackets. Late in life LoScalzo denied any connections to organized crime. 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. Santo Trafficante Jr. had long followed in his father's footsteps, and proved to be an even more effective Mafia kingpin. President John F. Kennedy, FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, and Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, Dennis Caruso/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. Santos married Josephine Marchese in 1938, they would have two daughters. Learn more about merges. View Source Suggest Edits Memorial Photos Flowers Memorials Region North America USA Florida During the 1950s, Trafficante Jr. maintained a narcotic trafficking network with Tommy Lucchese, the boss of the Lucchese crime family in New York City. F. Kennedy not only failed to deliver on his promise to the mob but also actually put the Mafia under increasing pressure. Santo Trafficante Jr. - IMDb He was married to his wife for 49 years. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? View Source Suggest Edits Memorial Photos Flowers Memorials Region North America USA Florida Plant a tree to honor the memory of your loved one. "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.". You have been in pain too long. You've got to be a fool to marry wrong," he says. Search above to list available cemeteries. Learn more about managing a memorial . On the day that investigators raided Key Bank, a cardiologist at St. Joseph's Hospital was inserting a catheter in Trafficante's groin. [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. 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. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. She was an amazing daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt and friend. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. 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. 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. In Trafficante's food chain, reporters rank only marginally higher than prosecutors and bank regulators, whom he likes to refer to as "rat bastards.". based on information from your browser. When you start talking about organized crime, things can get dicey. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. Santo Jr.'s daughters still owns 3610, where Santo spent time when he wasn't in Tampa or Miami. [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. Pupello determined that his diabetic patient's arteries were healthy. THE CHARLIE WALL STORY Kingpin Charlie Wall (center holding bottle, right of child) and his notorious gang. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. But then came Key Bank, a massive drug-money-laundering investigation. With over 1,900 locations, Dignity Memorial providers proudly serve over 375,000 families a year. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. Treasury Department History of Santo Trafficante Jr 1961 This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. Over the next 30-plus years, Trafficante, Jr. rose to oversee Mafia operations across the state of Florida. Century, Tampa was a small but growing city, and the organized crime it faced was modest. Son of Santo Trafficante and Maria Giuseppa Trafficante He was, in many ways, the archetypical old-school Mob boss. The choice was nothing more than honoring a tradition. Trafficante scrambled out the passenger-side door. "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. My uncle, never wore a ring," Trafficante says. 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. 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. It wasn't somebody going into a back room to kiss somebody's ring. love gloria "owens" hill. Thanks for your help! At 76,. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. 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. In the early 20th Century, Tampa was a small but growing city, and the organized crime it faced was modest. Read free previews and reviews from booklovers. If the decision is upheld on appeal, charges against Trafficante may be dismissed. 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. Santo Trafficante Jr. (November 15, 1914 March 17, 1987) was among the most powerful Mafia bosses in the United States. English Please try again later. Then, check out these photos of the aftermath from some of the bloodiest mob hits. She was a wonderful cook, and she loved to crochet and travel with her husband, but she lived her life for her family. He is hardly the "Dapper Don." 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. 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,. [3] His wife, Josephine, died in 2015 at the age of 95; he is survived by two of his daughters. In this episode, we will discuss the fascinating life of Tampa's most powerful mobster: Santo Trafficante Jr. You and Santo will always have a special place in my heart. Don Santo Trafficante Jr. the godfather from Tampa, Florida, USA. He died on March 17, 1987. "Even my uncle (Santo Jr.) told me, "Santo, why don't you change your name?' Rosselli testified in 1975 to the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence on the efforts to kill Castro. 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. [4] All were fined, up to $10,000 each, and given prison sentences ranging from three to five years. Trafficante would be charged with bank fraud, perjury and disclosure of criminal investigation. My heart goes out to the family. 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.. There was an error deleting this problem. 0 cemeteries found in Ybor City, Hillsborough County, Florida, USA. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Santo Trafficante Jr - Mafia Facts Like many of the most prominent mobsters of the 20th century, his father, Santo Trafficante Sr., grew up in Sicily, Italy but became a major player in the criminal world after migrating to America. However, while the Latin American drug trade has figured prominently in the sunshine states less savory history, so has the Mafia. 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. Our thoughts and prayers are with you Gerry and your family. He headed the . Share Santo's life story with friends and family. [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. He maintained all of the lucrative casinos in Cuba, further cemented, After Cuban revolution, the Mafia saw Castro as a threat to their business. Other Mafia leaders, as well as newer organized crime networks, took over many of the rackets the family ran throughout the 20th Century. Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. Wife : Josephine MARCHESE (Santo TRAFFICANTE Jr. married Josephine in Tampa, Florida on April 17, 1938). gerry,i am so sorry to hear about santo. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. Departed this Life May 13, 2015 She was born on March 24, 1920. Santos Trafficante Jr. was the son of Santos Trafficante Sr., who owned several casinos in Havana. An editor and public historian, Carly Silver has written for Smithsonian, Narratively, The Atlantic, Atlas Obscura, and Archaeology, among other publications. I hold such fond memories of Santo & Gerry when I was growing up. 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. Santo was known to have been deeply involved in the CIA efforts to involve the underworld in assassination attempts on Fidel Castro. So, at his attorney Ralph Fernandez's urging, he has agreed to talk publicly, hoping to shore up his damaged reputation. When the CIA decided to recruit the Mob in their efforts to assassinate Fidel Castro, they went to see Trafficante. Donnie Brasco. Still, theres a fine line between exploring a topic and glorifying it. We send our most sincere sympathies to the Trafficante family. TAMPA CRIME BOSS SANTO TRAFFICANTE JR PLAYS A CENTRAL ROLE IN THRILLER MAFIA SPIES. Santo Trafficante Jr. - Wikipedia One small gang, led by Italian immigrant Santo Trafficante Senior, profited from the illegal lottery-style games they ran across Tampa. He maintained close working ties with the Lucchese crime family and the Bonanno crime family from New York City. [13] He stated that he received no payment for his involvement and that he acted out of patriotism. Treasury Department History of Santo Trafficante Jr 1961 There are no volunteers for this cemetery. After that, he ordered casino owners to cough up employee back pay, then shut them down again. The Trafficante Family - American Mafia History Authorities said he leaked a list of suspects in the case and then lied about it. Santo Trafficante Senior died in 1954. 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. Santo Trafficante Sr., a 'Sicilian of the old school,' ruled Tampa's His positioning in Florida was prime for drug shipping as the product often passed through these ports en route to elsewhere in America. [1] Trafficante maintained several residences in New York City and Florida. You need a Find a Grave account to continue. Help tell the story of your loved ones unique life. In 1975, the CIA declassified a report stating that Trafficante had been persuaded to poison Castro, an allegation he denied. One small gang, led by Italian immigrant Santo Trafficante Senior, profited from the illegal lottery-style games they ran across Tampa. She misses him, but she's making do. Bankruptcy court documents show that Trafficante is owed $500,000 by a business partner. Trafficante weathered the violence of Floridas Mob wars and the various conspiracy theories, the Cuban Revolution and the loss of his offshore casinos, as well as intense law enforcement scrutiny, without ever spending time in prison. Trafficante crime family - Wikipedia Santo Trafficante Jr. (November 15, 1914 - March 17, 1987) was among the most powerful Mafia bosses in the United States. Federal investigators brought racketeering and conspiracy charges against him in the summer of 1986. Trafficante had been operating in Cuba since the late 1940s under his father, Santo Trafficante Sr., a mobster in Tampa, Florida. 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.