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. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. He grimaces at the thought that the rumor has persisted so long. 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. The Trafficante Family Under Santo Junior. After a lifetime in organized crime, Trafficante Jr. died of national causes in 1987. After Cuban revolution, the Mafia saw Castro as a threat to their business. Josephine Marchese Trafficante, 95, died peacefully in her sleep, Wednesday morning at her home. Conspiracy theorists consider Giancana along with Mafia leaders Santo Trafficante Jr. and Carlos Marcello associated with the assassination of Kennedy. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Italian Club of Tampa Cemetery Fund, 1731 East 7th Ave., Tampa, FL 33605. THE HIT THAT EXPOSED SOME OF TAMPAS ELITE. He was the lynchpin in Tampa Charlie Wall The Kefauver hearings arrived in Tampa in December of 1950. The idea behind the assassination wasnt just to punish JFK but also to get his brother off the Mobs back. Still, theres a fine line between exploring a topic and glorifying it. He is currently working on his seventh book, The Jersey Mob., Feedback or questions? SANTO TRAFFICANTE SR, A Sicilian of the Old School, RULED TAMPAS UNDERWORLD FOR MORE THAN A DECADE! But once Kennedy actually entered the White House, he didnt live up to his end of the bargain. Plant a tree to honor the memory of your loved one. Harris & Ewing/Library of Commons/Wikimedia Commons. Harris & Ewing/Library of Commons/Wikimedia CommonsCuban leader Fulgencio Batista in Washington, D.C. in 1938. department.". 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. santo trafficante daughters In February 2016, many of Trafficante's personal belongings were sold at an auction in St. Petersburg, Florida. GREAT NEWS! She was predeceased in death, by other loving family members. They used to be my greatest friend," Trafficante says. [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. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.. Share to let others add their own memories and condolences. based on information from your browser. 93461.". Trafficante had now not only lost an ally but a significant portion of his income as his casinos were closed by the Marxist revolutionary. 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. Pupello determined that his diabetic patient's arteries were healthy. Peter Moruzzi/Wikimedia Commons The glamorous casino in the Hotel Nacional De Cuba in Havana in 1958. Following his death, Mobster Vincent LoScalvo took over the Trafficante familys criminal network in Florida. Associates: Sam Giancana, Charlie Lucky Luciano, Meyer Lansky, Cuba, Fidel Castro, Johnny Rosselli, Robert Maheu. Santo Trafficante Jr. was a reserved, modest man married to the same woman for 49 years. Returning to Miami, he joined his father, managing some . Santo Trafficante then categorically denied every allegation about stating he wanted RFK or JFK dead and got off scot-free. Mobster dies, two nations. Trafficante was arrested again in 1957 for attending the famous Apalachin summit of Mob leaders in New York, but those charges were dropped. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. 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. Bankruptcy court documents show that Trafficante is owed $500,000 by a business partner. Ed Giorandino/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images. Weve updated the security on the site. F. Kennedy not only failed to deliver on his promise to the mob but also actually put the Mafia under increasing pressure. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santo_Trafficante_Jr. "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.". [5] According to Scott M. Deitche in The Silent Don, the family was profiting not only from its offshore casinos but from narcotics trafficking. 2023, Tampa Mafia. Frank Ragano and Santo Trafficante Jr. (right). Join us for this one-of-a-kind walking tour of Tampa's most storied neighborhood. With deepest sympathy and love. Passing before her were her parents Antonino and Sarafina Marchese; her beloved husband Santo Trafficante Jr.; her son-in-law's Augie Paniello and Richard Valdes; and her brothers, Bennie Marchese, Tommy Marchese, and Peter Marchese. However, while the Latin American drug trade has figured prominently in the sunshine states less savory history, so has the Mafia. For all the power he wielded, Trafficante was often described as quiet and reserved. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. "When I woke up, they told me they raided Key Bank. By this point, Trafficante Jr. had fully taken over the oversight of drugs shipped between Florida, Cuba, and the rest of the States. Chronicles of Events and Biographies Related to the American Mafia. All the convictions were overturned on appeal in 1960. At age 16, he boarded the S.S. Lombardia and set sail for American in search of a better life. 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. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. I thought you might like to see a memorial for Santo Trafficante Jr. He drove standard cars, lived in regular houses in quiet places, was married to the same woman, and generally described as a quiet man. Help tell the story of your loved ones unique life. He has played golf with former New York Yankees third baseman Graig Nettles and former New York Islanders hockey player Clark Gillies. 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. Upon his return to the United States, he became determined to bring down the man who ended his empire. "I think it's all bull----," says Trafficante's former horse trainer, Arthur Pedregal Jr. "It's only because his name is Trafficante. 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. There was a problem getting your location. 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. Santo Trafficante Jr. had long followed in his fathers footsteps, and proved to be an even more effective Mafia kingpin. 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. She was predeceased in death, by other loving family members. Fine food, and lots of it. Search results for "Images of America" at Rakuten Kobo. Welcome to Boxer Cycle Works. 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. Or does he just look like one? "Banks are my greatest enemy. [1] Trafficante maintained several residences in New York City and Florida. "When my uncle visited it was like a family reunion. The CIA came to Trafficante, and asked for his help in enlisting the Mafia to assassinate the Cuban leader. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). Contribute to chinapedia/wikipedia.en development by creating an account on GitHub. Learn more about managing a memorial . This browser does not support getting your location. 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. was a reserved, modest man married to the same woman for 49 years. [15], Ragano also claimed that Trafficante, four days prior to his death, delivered a deathbed confession which suggested that Marcello was meant to assassinate Robert F. Kennedy instead of his brother, the President. Alongside Chicago boss Sam Giancana, Roselli and Trafficante came up with some truly insane plots to kill Fidel Castro. 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. "Now when I walk in a bank," Trafficante says, "the president runs out the back door.". Santo Trafficante Jr Santo Trafficante Jr. (November 15, 1914 - March 17, 1987) was among the most powerful Mafia bosses in the United States. He wears tasselled leather loafers without socks. More importantly, Castro imprisoned Trafficante and then had him exiled from Cuba. [13] He testified that he was brought into the plot by Roselli and Giancana, who had been recruited by Maheu. President John F. Kennedy, FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, and Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, Dennis Caruso/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images. Robert Anderson aka The Killer Between 50 and 100 buildings were burned. 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. 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. The wiretap evidence has been thrown out of court. Santo Trafficante Jr., one of the last of the old-time reputed Mafia dons, who was reportedly enlisted in 1960 in a futile effort to kill Fidel Castro, has died at the age of 72. Don Santo Trafficante Jr. the godfather from Tampa, Florida, USA. My heart goes out to the family. A car registered to former state attorney and current state appellate judge E.J. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. Search above to list available cemeteries. Interestingly, Trafficante who was worth about $25 billion at his height in the 80s lived a fairly reserved, modest lifestyle. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. [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. [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? On Oct. 26, 1937, Frank Trafficante named his first son after his own father, Santo Trafficante Sr. He was going to be hit.. Getting in bed with Trafficante and other leading members of Americas organized crime seems like a strange thing to do for the CIA. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. He went to Jesuit High School and played some football. Oops, something didn't work. With that act, Santo Trafficante now reigned supreme in Tampa. 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. 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. 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. He walked outside and got into a 1951 Mercury sedan driven by one of his associates. [13], On January 14, 1992, Trafficante's former attorney, Frank Ragano, told Jack Newfield of the New York Post that he relayed a request from Hoffa to Trafficante and New Orleans boss Carlos Marcello to have Kennedy killed. "He's very creative in terms of the combination of things he eats," Alessi says. Trafficantes father was the lucky survivor of what was called the Era of Blood, when rival gangs based in Tampa fought for control of Prohibition-era nightclubs and, crucially, the local numbers rackets called bolitas. Battling Mob rivals in South Florida essentially weakened each other financially and, through murder, the number of available soldiers. I think it was a case of mistaken identity.. As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. He was right, and when Castro took power in 1959, Trafficantes burgeoning gambling-and-drugs empire went under siege. I will never forget him as a fellow stroke survivor. His luck has not improved recently. Don Santo Trafficante Jr was one of the last of the old-time American Mafia bosses in the United States. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. He attended the University of Florida for a year, then transferred to the University of Tampa and left without completing his degree. She misses him, but she's making do. "I'm a freak for that kind of stuff," he says. Wife : Josephine MARCHESE (Santo TRAFFICANTE Jr. married Josephine in Tampa, Florida on April 17, 1938). The elder Trafficante set up illegal casinos in Cuba in the 1940s, which were sanctioned by Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista. Are you sure that you want to remove this flower? The choice was nothing more than honoring a tradition. [20], In 2005, Lamar Waldron and Thom Hartmann's book Ultimate Sacrifice said that Trafficante was behind an aborted plot to kill Kennedy in Tampa on November 18, 1963. I can answer any questions you . Trafficante Sr. passed away four years later, leaving Jr. his Tampa and Cuba-based criminal empire. Santo Jr.'s daughters still owns 3610, where Santo spent time when he wasn't in Tampa or Miami. Donnie Brasco. But considering the fiercely anti-Soviet atmosphere of the Cold War, its not that hard to believe. He maintained close working ties with the Lucchese crime family and the Bonanno crime family from New York City. No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments. RIP Santo. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. His wife also was named in the fraud charges. He was a well-respected boss, even among the far larger New York crime families. In January 1963, he married Geraldine Valenti, the daughter of J.C. Valenti, who owned a thriving produce business. In 1963, the Mob allegedly had enough of Kennedy. The other case was a RICO indictment for insurance fraud. We never paid cash. Dr. Dennis Pupello was looking for heart disease, brought on by his overweight and diabetic patient's "voracious eating.". I hold such fond memories of Santo & Gerry when I was growing up. The Shore Acres home is 2,350-square-feet with 10 rooms that Capone reputedly built in 1925 for his mother. She was a native of Tampa, a second-generation Sicilian immigrant who grew up in Ybor city. He was known as an organized crimes figure. As we all know, he was right, and Kennedy was assassinated by a sniper in November 1963. Meet Santo Trafficante: The Silent Don Who Tried To Kill Fidel Castro And May Have Ordered JFKs Assassination. Afterwards, the son he had groomed to take his place, Santo Trafficante Jr., took the reins of the Trafficante crime family. Mrs. Gerry, Gina, Dino, Joe and Marisa - they broke the mold with Traff. Failed to delete memorial. Trafficantes chance came in the 1960s when he became acquainted with mobster John Handsome Johnny Roselli. 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. For the last 20 years, everyone knew her as JuJu. "Sam Gold" was Sam Giancana; "Joe" was Trafficante. 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. After this look at Santo Trafficante Jr., read the gruesome story of the murderous American dentist, Benjamin Salomon, of World War II. Thanks for subscribing! Father of Private and Private For the U.S. government, it was a classic case of the enemy of my enemy is my friend.. He returned to Tampa for the last time for internment in the LUnione Italiana Cemetery. There is a problem with your email/password. Meanwhile, he continued to make money from the drugs that came through Tampa. In a 1978 legal testimony, Trafficante discussed how quickly Castro shut it all down, then reopened the casinos on his own terms. Despite his arrest, Trafficante managed to escape charges and continue to fly under the laws radar. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. 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. Another bank sued Trafficante and his wife in October for repayment of a $100,000 promissory note. At Boxer Cycle Works. If the decision is upheld on appeal, charges against Trafficante may be dismissed. Please check your email for further instructions. We have set your language to 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. 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. When his father died in 1954 he took control of these establishments. ). So is Santo Jose Trafficante III a mobster? Authorities also said he urged former bank vice president Michael Pupello to impersonate him in calls to federal bank regulators. His abiding passion is food. [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. He will always be remembered with fondness. 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. Santo Trafficante arrives at Queens Supreme Court in Kew Gardens. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. You can always change this later in your Account settings. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. GitHub export from English Wikipedia. The investigators were looking for proof of drug-money laundering. The Unbelievable Story Of Richard Lee McNair The Man Who Mailed Himself Out Of Prison, What JFK's Mob-Affiliated Mistress May Have Known About His Assassination, What Stephen Hawking Thinks Threatens Humankind The Most, 27 Raw Images Of When Punk Ruled New York, Join The All That's Interesting Weekly Dispatch. 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. [2] Trafficante Jr. would frequently meet with Lucchese in New York City for dinner.[2]. That was in part due to his lifestyle. Trafficante was apprehended in November 1957, along with over 60 other mobsters, at the Apalachin meeting in Apalachin, New York. 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. By Santo III's own estimation, this was a wise move. According to the account of Judith Exner, however, one of JFKs many mistresses, it was she who introduced Kennedy to Chicago boss Giancana. With over 30 years experience in the field of Mechanics, I will work with you on a personal basis, I will discuss with you your specific needs pertaining to your motorcycle. Santo Trafficante Senior died in 1954. Trafficante would be charged with bank fraud, perjury and disclosure of criminal investigation. Family members linked to this person will appear here. Resend Activation Email, Please check the I'm not a robot checkbox, If you want to be a Photo Volunteer you must enter a ZIP Code or select your location on the map. Trafficante took control of the Tampa mob in 1954 after the death of his father, Santo Trafficante Sr. 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. Make sure that the file is a photo. 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. Daughters: Mary Josephine Sarah Ann Brothers: Frank, Salvatore (Sam), Epifanio and Enrico (Henry) Uncle: Joseph M. CACCIATORE (convicted narcotic trafficker) CRIMINAL HISTORY: 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. I found on Findagrave.com. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. They had three daughters, Antoinette born . Our deepest condolences to the Trafficante family. It was all on the up and up. Santo Trafficante, Sr., the powerful Trafficante crime family's patriarch, was born on May 28, 1886, in Alexandria Della Rocca, Sicily. The original Malio's Restaurant located on South Dale Mabry Highway in Tampa, Florida. Chris and I will never forget Santo's presence at Leia's welcome home party. 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. So, as the popular theory goes, the mob bosses that lent a helping hand in getting Kennedy into office wanted revenge. His new attorney general his beloved brother, Robert F. Kennedy went after organized crime with a vengeance. She touched all who knew her, and upon meeting her, she would embrace you, and you would instantly become part of the family. He convicted infamous criminal labor union head, Jimmy Hoffa. Reclaiming History: The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy. 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. The men started to drive away when another sedan drove past the Mercury, the occupants unloading a blast of buckshot as they passed. Thanks for your help! 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.

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