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. That arrest also led Cuban authorities to become warier of the mobster, especially as the political tides seemed to be turning there. The next son was Luigi Santo Trafficante Jr. (his namesake and future Mafia boss), born on November 15, 1914. In 1950, the aging Trafficante Sr. began to slow down. The choice was nothing more than honoring a tradition. This is a carousel with slides. love gloria "owens" hill. His business ventures have not always been successful. Please check your entries and try again. 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. Other Mafia leaders, as well as newer organized crime networks, took over many of the rackets the family ran throughout the 20th Century. [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. But considering the fiercely anti-Soviet atmosphere of the Cold War, its not that hard to believe. Thanks for subscribing! Your Scrapbook is currently empty. Our deepest condolences to the Trafficante family. One small gang, led by Italian immigrant Santo Trafficante Senior, profited from the illegal lottery-style games they ran across Tampa. There is a problem with your email/password. Santo Trafficante Jr. (November 15, 1914 March 17, 1987) was among the most powerful Mafia bosses in the United States. 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. For the last 20 years, everyone knew her as JuJu. Dennis Caruso/NY Daily News Archive via Getty ImagesFrank Ragano and Santo Trafficante Jr. (right). After the death of his wife, the Trafficante family sold their Tampa 1970-built home for $950,000. 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. Santo Trafficante Jr. was a reserved, modest man married to the same woman for 49 years. Getty ImagesSanto Trafficante was wanted in 48 states by the time he was 43. THE HIT THAT EXPOSED SOME OF TAMPAS ELITE. prosecution, fled temporarily to Cuba. One small gang, led by Italian immigrant Santo Trafficante Senior, profited from the illegal lottery-style games they ran across Tampa. Maheu hid the fact that he was sent by the CIA, instead portraying himself an advocate for international corporations. Year should not be greater than current year. A year has passed. Please enter your email and password to sign in. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. "When I woke up, they told me they raided Key Bank. The elder Trafficante set up illegal casinos in Cuba in the 1940s, which were sanctioned by Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista. 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. He was severed from that trial for medical reasons. A system error has occurred. Salcines was observed at the properties the weekend of June 9, 1967. He was known as an organized crimes figure. 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. When you start talking about organized crime, things can get dicey. 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. Santo Trafficante Jr. (November 15, 1914 - March 17, 1987) was among the most powerful Mafia bosses in the United States. 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. But Santo knew who was behind the killing a rival Mafia faction. By 1987, the Mafia boss, who had walked the casino floors of the Sans Souci in Cuba, dined and hobnobbed with Frank Sinatra in the nightclubs and hotels of South Beach, and who commanded a presence in Tampa that is still felt today, was suffering from a diseased kidney and bad heart. 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. Most mornings Trafficante spends a few hours at his modest wholesale automobile lot at the intersection of Dale Mabry Highway and W Broad Street. "They wouldn't even let me go to the track. 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. He maintained all of the lucrative casinos in Cuba, further cemented, After Cuban revolution, the Mafia saw Castro as a threat to their business. His luck has not improved recently. Don Santo Trafficante Jr. the godfather from Tampa, Florida, USA. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. He is hardly the "Dapper Don." Join us for this one-of-a-kind walking tour of Tampa's most storied neighborhood. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. On Oct. 26, 1937, Frank Trafficante named his first son after his own father, Santo Trafficante Sr. 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 . He is currently working on his seventh book, The Jersey Mob., Feedback or questions? 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. The glamorous casino in the Hotel Nacional De Cuba in Havana in 1958. Trafficante had been operating in Cuba since the late 1940s under his father, Santo Trafficante Sr., a mobster in Tampa, Florida. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. Weve updated the security on the site. Returning to Miami, he joined his father, managing some . Verify and try again. Died: March 17, 1987, Houston, Texas He attended the University of Florida for a year, then transferred to the University of Tampa and left without completing his degree. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. For all the power he wielded, Trafficante was often described as quiet and reserved. Try again later. 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. Our prayers are with you. Shop eBooks and audiobooks at Rakuten Kobo. In February 2016, many of Trafficante's personal belongings were sold at an auction in St. Petersburg, Florida. [7], In January 1958, Trafficante was questioned by the Cuban police regarding the Apalachin meeting. Mobster dies, two nations. Their plans ranged from simply shooting him to having him smoke poisoned cigars or drinking a tainted milkshake. "You hope things will just disappear two or three years from now.". That was in part due to his lifestyle. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. 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. In 1957 he was suspected of involvement in the barbershop slaying of Albert Anastasia, the . The original Malio's Restaurant located on South Dale Mabry Highway in Tampa, Florida. Though his prison sentence wasnt long and he returned to a strong position in Florida, Trafficante never forgave Castro. "Banks are my greatest enemy. 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. 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:. "[12], In 1978, both Trafficante and Aleman were called to testify before members of the United States House Select Committee on Assassinations investigating possible links between Kennedy assassin Lee Harvey Oswald and anti-Castro Cubans, including the theory that Castro had Kennedy killed in retaliation for the CIA's attempts on his own life. The guy really tried to do it right.". 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. After a violent mob war left several of Trafficantes rivals dead or weakened, his gang rapidly rose to prominence in Tampa. The idea behind the assassination wasnt just to punish JFK but also to get his brother off the Mobs back. Bankruptcy court documents show that Trafficante is owed $500,000 by a business partner. "When my uncle visited it was like a family reunion. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. The Shore Acres home is 2,350-square-feet with 10 rooms that Capone reputedly built in 1925 for his mother. Trafficante was born in Tampa, Florida, to Sicilian parents Santo Trafficante Sr. and his wife Maria Giuseppa Cacciatore in 1914. "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.". It was all on the up and up. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. The CIA came to Trafficante, and asked for his help in enlisting the Mafia to assassinate the Cuban leader. "[19] In his book Reclaiming History: The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy, Vincent Bugliosi has claimed there to be many flaws in Ragano's claims, including his own claim that Trafficante was most likely not in Tampa on the day in question, but was rather in North Miami Beach, Florida, receiving dialysis treatments. He was rumored to be part of a Mafia syndicate which owned many Cuban hotels and casinos. 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. Many fond memories of Santo will continue with me. 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. Conspiracy theorists consider Giancana along with Mafia leaders Santo Trafficante Jr. and Carlos Marcello associated with the assassination of Kennedy. He owned and operated some of the most lavish casinos in pre-Castro Cuba. 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. Our thoughts and prayers with you. Valenti hired his son-in-law at the produce company and allowed him to name his own salary. 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. Ed Giorandino/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images. After months of wiretapped phone conversations, investigators seized boxloads of documents, some with Trafficante's name on them. All Rights Reserved. Batista let Trafficante and other mobsters build as many casinos and hotels as they wanted in exchange for a cash kickback. Interestingly, Trafficante who was worth about $25 billion at his height in the 80s lived a fairly reserved, modest lifestyle. ", Christopher Sabella elected as Hillsborough Countys next chief judge, Tampa man arrested in death of person found in apartment with unharmed infant, deputies say, Suspect in Hillsborough slaying of woman IDd, man known as Ya Dig, deputies say, After nearly a century of fixing Tampas flat tires, downtown Firestone closes, Under investigation, HART CEO proposes settlement, payout and exit, Dead body found in Hillsborough apartment with unharmed infant, deputies say, NAACP wants reparations for Tampas Black cemeteries that governments stole, Latin Kings gang leaders among 21 arrested in Hillsborough drug operation, sheriff says, Estimated 630,000 gallons of raw sewage spilled into the Hillsborough River, records show, Tampa man who was first to face trial for Florida voter fraud in 2020 election gets probation. 0 cemeteries found in Ybor City, Hillsborough County, Florida, USA. She was a wonderful cook, and she loved to crochet and travel with her husband, but she lived her life for her family. She was predeceased in death, by other loving family members. Donnie Brasco. 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. He dropped out of high school before the 10th grade. As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. He will always be remembered with fondness. Chronicles of Events and Biographies Related to the American Mafia. They used to be my greatest friend," Trafficante says. "I'm in the I.O.U. But once Kennedy actually entered the White House, he didnt live up to his end of the bargain. Nicknames: The Silent Don We are one of them! When Fidel Castro began his ascent to power in the 1950s, Santo Trafficante feared the radical Marxist revolutionary wouldnt cooperate with him. Harris & Ewing/Library of Commons/Wikimedia Commons. But the news was not good on the Key Bank front. [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. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. His abiding passion is food. the daughter of immigrants from the Italian region of Basilicata. This account has been disabled. Our thoughts and prayers are with you Gerry and your family. wills o' nats last of the summer wine. department.". please know that i am praying for you and your family. [4] All were fined, up to $10,000 each, and given prison sentences ranging from three to five years. He allegedly controlled organized crime operations in Florida and Cuba Santo told the state attorney, I dont have an enemy in the world. He went to Jesuit High School and played some football. No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments. Associates: Sam Giancana, Charlie Lucky Luciano, Meyer Lansky, Cuba, Fidel Castro, Johnny Rosselli, Robert Maheu. If the decision is upheld on appeal, charges against Trafficante may be dismissed. The authorities continued to charge him with participating in illegal activities, but the aging mob boss escaped conviction each time. We send our most sincere sympathies to the Trafficante family. Trafficante proceeded to open casinos in Cuba at his fathers behest and facilitated heroin smuggling by working together with famous mobsters Charles Lucky Luciano and Meyer Lansky. At Boxer Cycle Works. [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. 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. The twister killed hls mother when lt touched down about 6, honored Wednesday us the nation's sute legislator. His positioning in Florida was prime for drug shipping as the product often passed through these ports en route to elsewhere in America. The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. Comfort the family with flowers or a sympathy gift. Ex-FBI agent and later Howard Hughes aide Robert Maheu of Las Vegas was one of the primary go-betweens for Trafficante. He was the lynchpin in Tampa Charlie Wall The Kefauver hearings arrived in Tampa in December of 1950. Wife : Josephine MARCHESE (Santo TRAFFICANTE Jr. married Josephine in Tampa, Florida on April 17, 1938). GREAT NEWS! Daughters: Mary Josephine Sarah Ann Brothers: Frank, Salvatore (Sam), Epifanio and Enrico (Henry) Uncle: Joseph M. CACCIATORE (convicted narcotic trafficker) CRIMINAL HISTORY: He was married to his wife for 49 years. The international narcotics trade was also an important topic on the Apalachin agenda. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. Trafficantes chance came in the 1960s when he became acquainted with mobster John Handsome Johnny Roselli. Like Trafficante Jr. before him, had many close calls with law enforcement, but always escaped serious charges. THE CHARLIE WALL STORY Kingpin Charlie Wall (center holding bottle, right of child) and his notorious gang. 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. Try again later. He drove a forklift for 20 years. I have thought of you and Santo many times over the past 50 years. Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. We guarantee you'll never look at Ybor City the same way again. Undercover detectives ran a gambling sting operation there, hoping to nab a circle of Tampa men they said were making illegal sports bets. The first case stemmed from the FBIs well-known Donnie Brasco undercover sting operation. [3] Trafficante moved to Cuba in 1955, where he came into contact with Batista and Meyer Lansky. And the Trafficante Crime family found out that it had an unusual ally in their concerns about Castro: the Central Intelligence Agency. An editor and public historian, Carly Silver has written for Smithsonian, Narratively, The Atlantic, Atlas Obscura, and Archaeology, among other publications. View Source Suggest Edits Memorial Photos Flowers Memorials Region North America USA Florida Leave a memory or share a photo or video below to show your support. A Hillsborough judge threw out the wiretaps, the spine of the state's case. In a 1978 legal testimony, Trafficante discussed how quickly Castro shut it all down, then reopened the casinos on his own terms. With deepest sympathy and love. Drag images here or select from your computer for Santo Trafficante Jr. memorial. In January 1963, he married Geraldine Valenti, the daughter. More troubling for Trafficante was a court document that listed him for the first time as "a member of the Trafficante crime family.". Now he owns a 210-acre orange grove in southern Hillsborough. 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. "I was the most expensive forklift driver in the world," he says with a smile. Search above to list available cemeteries. He drove standard cars, lived in regular houses in quiet places, was married to the same woman, and generally described as a quiet man. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. Organized Crime Figure. [11], In 1976, Cuban exile and FBI informant Jose Aleman told The Washington Post that in September 1962, Trafficante had offered him a loan of $1.5million to replace Aleman's three-story "ramshackle motel with a 12-story glass wonder. gerry,i am so sorry to hear about santo. Despite his arrest, Trafficante managed to escape charges and continue to fly under the laws radar. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. Wife : Josephine MARCHESE (Santo TRAFFICANTE Jr. married Josephine in Tampa, Florida on April 17, 1938).