My thoughts and prayers are with you all! Afterwards, the son he had groomed to take his place, Santo Trafficante Jr., took the reins of the Trafficante crime family. 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. President John. They used to be my greatest friend," Trafficante says. 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. The investigators were looking for proof of drug-money laundering. Share Santo's life story with friends and family. Son of Santo Trafficante and Maria Giuseppa Trafficante His positioning in Florida was prime for drug shipping as the product often passed through these ports en route to elsewhere in America. Don Santo Trafficante Jr. the godfather from Tampa, Florida, USA. Trafficante was jailed and deported when Fidel Castro rose to power, leading him to spend a good portion of his adult life hatching a plan of revenge. Verify and try again. He walked outside and got into a 1951 Mercury sedan driven by one of his associates. 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. "I think it's all bull----," says Trafficante's former horse trainer, Arthur Pedregal Jr. "It's only because his name is Trafficante. Santo, Jr. never spent a day in jail, and he died of natural causes in 1987. The IRS was unsuccessful, according to Fernandez, Trafficante's attorney. [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. We are one of them! Under pressure of a court order granting him immunity from prosecution, but threatening him with contempt if he refused to talk, Santos admitted to a Congressional committee in 1975 that he had in the early 1960s recruited other mobsters to assassinate Castro. She handled great adversity and difficult, troubling times with grace, dignity, and style; with respect and love for all around her. Returning to Miami, he joined his father, managing some . Ed Giorandino/NY Daily News Archive via Getty ImagesSanto Trafficante arrives at Queens Supreme Court in Kew Gardens. In the early 1980s Trafficante was ensnared in two major cases that could have sent the aging don to prison for the first time in his life, apart from his time in the Triscornia detention camp in Cuba following Castros takeover in 1959. 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. 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. Send a note, share a story or upload a photo. THE HIT THAT EXPOSED SOME OF TAMPAS ELITE. 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. 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. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. The first case stemmed from the FBIs well-known Donnie Brasco undercover sting operation. "I don't go to the bank and make all these billion-dollar deposits," he says. In fact, Florida had the dubious distinction of being home to a decades-old Mafia criminal network: the Trafficante Family. 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. 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. Reputed 'boss of bosses' dies at 72 TAMPA, Fla, "' Trafficante dies at age 72 TAMPA. Husband of Private At Boxer Cycle Works. So, who was this so-called Silent Don who wielded enough power to allegedly kill the President? On March 17, 1987, Trafficante died at the age of 72 at the Texas Heart Institute in Houston where he had gone for heart surgery. "The Mob? 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. In a 1978 legal testimony, Trafficante discussed how quickly Castro shut it all down, then reopened the casinos on his own terms. 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. Died: March 17, 1987, Houston, Texas However, while the Latin American drug trade has figured prominently in the sunshine states less savory history, so has the Mafia. After months of wiretapped phone conversations, investigators seized boxloads of documents, some with Trafficante's name on them. He has been featured on the History Channel, A&E, Discovery Channel, AHC, Oxygen Network and many local and national news shows. Drag images here or select from your computer for Santo Trafficante Jr. memorial. The other case was a RICO indictment for insurance fraud. It never did exist.". [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. Meanwhile, he continued to make money from the drugs that came through Tampa. Trafficante was a ruthless mob boss, and quickly consolidated control over the criminal networks in Tampa. He grimaces at the thought that the rumor has persisted so long. Those were some of the greatest memories growing up. Cuban leader Fulgencio Batista in Washington, D.C. in 1938. Santo met and married Maria Giuseppe Cacciatore on April 20, 1909. Trafficante had now not only lost an ally but a significant portion of his income as his casinos were closed by the Marxist revolutionary. Please check your entries and try again. Nicknames: The Silent Don With that act, Santo Trafficante now reigned supreme in Tampa. He was severed from that trial for medical reasons. Harris & Ewing/Library of Commons/Wikimedia CommonsCuban leader Fulgencio Batista in Washington, D.C. in 1938. The beachfront properties were the site of many parties and barbecues. She misses him, but she's making do. Some people also alleged that Trafficante Jr played a role in the assassination of President John F. Kennedy due to his anti-organized crime efforts, but Trafficante Jr. always denied it. cemeteries found in Ybor City, Hillsborough County, Florida, USA will be saved to your photo volunteer list. His business ventures have not always been successful. This account has been disabled. Our thoughts and prayers with you. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. "When I woke up, they told me they raided Key Bank. 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. This site is provided as a service of SCI Shared Resources, LLC. He owned and operated some of the most lavish casinos in pre-Castro Cuba. 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. He flew to Houston on March 15 for heart bypass surgery. Trafficante admitted his anti-Castro activities to the United States House Select Committee on Assassinations in 1978, and vehemently denied allegations that he had knowledge of a plot to assassinate President John F. Kennedy. He will always be remembered with fondness. His health had declined in his later years. prosecution, fled temporarily to Cuba. In 1965, Giancana was convicted of contempt of court, serving one year in prison. 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. RIP Santo. We guarantee you'll never look at Ybor City the same way again. 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. Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? A car registered to former state attorney and current state appellate judge E.J. Wife : Josephine MARCHESE (Santo TRAFFICANTE Jr. married Josephine in Tampa, Florida on April 17, 1938). The Trafficante Family Under Santo Junior . 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. Your Scrapbook is currently empty. 93461.". 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. 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. Sorry! Trafficante was arrested on a bookmaking conspiracy charge. Santo Trafficante Jr. was a reserved, modest man married to the same woman for 49 years. There was an error deleting this problem. Santo Jr.'s daughters still owns 3610, where Santo spent time when he wasn't in Tampa or Miami. The guy really tried to do it right.". An editor and public historian, Carly Silver has written for Smithsonian, Narratively, The Atlantic, Atlas Obscura, and Archaeology, among other publications. The idea behind the assassination wasnt just to punish JFK but also to get his brother off the Mobs back. He was going to be hit.. Like Trafficante Jr. before him, had many close calls with law enforcement, but always escaped serious charges. Following his death, Mobster Vincent LoScalvo took over the Trafficante familys criminal network in Florida. 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. However, by the late 1920s, facing little pressure, Sicilian gangsters began setting up lucrative gambling and narcotics rackets. Organized Crime Figure. He offered to pay $150,000 to have Castro killed, but Roselli declined any pay and introduced Maheu to two men he referred to as "Sam Gold" and "Joe." 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. 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. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. 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. "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. Upon his return to the United States, he became determined to bring down the man who ended his empire. His abiding passion is food. CANDLE HAS BEEN LIT CANDLES HAVE BEEN LIT, We are reviewing your submission. Resend Activation Email. I found on Findagrave.com. She lived an exciting life dividing her time between her multiple family members and friends in Tampa, Miami and Havana. And then there are the infinite conspiracy theories about the assassination of President Kennedy, many of them featuring Trafficante. Santo Trafficante Jr. had long followed in his father's footsteps, and proved to be an even more effective Mafia kingpin. A year later they had their first son, Frank, born on April 16, 1910. 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. 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. Trafficante was apprehended in November 1957, along with over 60 other mobsters, at the Apalachin meeting in Apalachin, New York. 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 . She was predeceased in death, by other loving family members. "I'm a freak for that kind of stuff," he says. An email has been sent to the person who requested the photo informing them that you have fulfilled their request, There is an open photo request for this memorial. 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. He convicted infamous criminal labor union head, Jimmy Hoffa. English He was married to his wife for 49 years. 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. 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. According to the account of Judith Exner, however, one of JFKs many mistresses, it was she who introduced Kennedy to Chicago boss Giancana. SANTO TRAFFICANTE SR, A Sicilian of the Old School, RULED TAMPAS UNDERWORLD FOR MORE THAN A DECADE! Father of Private and Private Let others know about your loved one's death. Wikimedia CommonsPresident John F. Kennedy, FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, and Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy. Salcines was observed at the properties the weekend of June 9, 1967. 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. He died on March 17, 1987. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Reclaiming History: The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Santo Trafficante Jr. (November 15, 1914 March 17, 1987) was among the most powerful Mafia bosses in the United States. Santo Trafficante grew up in the Florida underworld, working his father's gambling rackets and getting experience in the business. For the last 20 years, everyone knew her as JuJu. 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. I will always remember your perseverance, happiness and smiles at Marisa's wedding. His luck has not improved recently. Trafficante scrambled out the passenger-side door. In 1950, the aging Trafficante Sr. began to slow down. Santo Trafficante Jr. was a reserved, modest man married to the same woman for 49 years. U.S., Newspapers.com Obituary Index, 1800s-current, U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947, Florida, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1823-1982, Thank you for fulfilling this photo request. The original Malio's Restaurant located on South Dale Mabry Highway in Tampa, Florida. The charges of bank fraud against Trafficante and more than a dozen bank employees and customers may well be dismissed. 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. You need a Find a Grave account to continue. After Cuban revolution, the Mafia saw Castro as a threat to their business. According to Scott M. Deitche in The Silent Don, the family was profiting not only from its offshore casinos but from narcotics trafficking. He went to Jesuit High School and played some football. 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. 2023, Tampa Mafia. And despite relatively small time beginnings, Trafficante proved to be a shrewd mobster. 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.. Dr. Dennis Pupello was looking for heart disease, brought on by his overweight and diabetic patient's "voracious eating.". The next son was Luigi Santo Trafficante Jr. (his namesake and future Mafia boss), born on November 15, 1914. In his previous statements, Roselli also tied Lee Harvey Oswalds killer, Jack Ruby, to Santo Trafficante. Trafficante Sr. hung back and developed relationships with politicians and his Mob colleagues in New York and Chicago. Failed to remove flower. 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. Trafficante maintained links to the Bonanno crime family in New York City, but was more closely allied with Sam Giancana in Chicago. They had three daughters, Antoinette born . "My wife's got money. All the convictions were overturned on appeal in 1960. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. Despite his arrest, Trafficante managed to escape charges and continue to fly under the laws radar. Ex-FBI agent and later Howard Hughes aide Robert Maheu of Las Vegas was one of the primary go-betweens for Trafficante. Failed to delete memorial. After a violent mob war left several of Trafficantes rivals dead or weakened, his gang rapidly rose to prominence in Tampa. Search above to list available cemeteries. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. Another bank sued Trafficante and his wife in October for repayment of a $100,000 promissory note. love gloria "owens" hill. Mrs. Gerry, Gina, Dino, Joe and Marisa - they broke the mold with Traff. Try again later. I think it was a case of mistaken identity.. ). 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. Comfort the family with flowers or a sympathy gift. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. But Santo knew who was behind the killing a rival Mafia faction. [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. Year should not be greater than current year. He dressed nicely but not ostentatiously, and his choice of cars was never flashy. Shop eBooks and audiobooks at Rakuten Kobo. The Shore Acres home is 2,350-square-feet with 10 rooms that Capone reputedly built in 1925 for his mother. I am sorry I am unable to attend the services due to a illness. Our prayers are with you. Then, check out these photos of the aftermath from some of the bloodiest mob hits. Authorities also said he urged former bank vice president Michael Pupello to impersonate him in calls to federal bank regulators. [13] Trafficante also stated that he had no recollection of meeting Oswald or Oswald's assassin, Jack Ruby.
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