Late in life LoScalzo denied any connections to organized crime. Many fond memories of Santo will continue with me. "I'm in the I.O.U. By this point, Trafficante Jr. had fully taken over the oversight of drugs shipped between Florida, Cuba, and the rest of the States. Failed to report flower. Shop eBooks and audiobooks at Rakuten Kobo. Family members linked to this person will appear here. Following his death, Mobster Vincent LoScalvo took over the Trafficante familys criminal network in Florida. Pupello determined that his diabetic patient's arteries were healthy. In Trafficante's food chain, reporters rank only marginally higher than prosecutors and bank regulators, whom he likes to refer to as "rat bastards.". This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. 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. Santo met and married Maria Giuseppe Cacciatore on April 20, 1909. Please check your entries and try again. 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. Early in Trafficantes federal court case in 1986, the judge declared a mistrial. 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. tampa crime boss santo trafficante jr plays a central role in thriller 'mafia spies' Bolita , Mob Hits , Scott M. Deitche , Tampa Mafia SANTO TRAFFICANTE SR, A 'Sicilian of the Old School,' RULED TAMPA'S UNDERWORLD FOR MORE THAN A DECADE! "You hope things will just disappear two or three years from now.". 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. Santo Trafficante Jr. (November 15, 1914 - March 17, 1987) was among the most powerful Mafia bosses in the United States. 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. The guy really tried to do it right.". 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. Mobster Johnny Rosselli, who worked for both Trafficante and the Chicago Outfit, was another associate involved in the unsuccessful efforts to kill Castro and, according to some biographies, was the man who put Trafficante and Giancana together with Maheu. Father of Private and Private Trafficante was arrested again in 1957 for attending the famous Apalachin summit of Mob leaders in New York, but those charges were dropped. 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. 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. love gloria "owens" hill. After his father died in 1954, he became the head in Tampa and took over his fathers interests in Cuba. He is hardly the "Dapper Don." The first case stemmed from the FBIs well-known Donnie Brasco undercover sting operation. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. 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. Santo Trafficante Jr. (November 15, 1914 March 17, 1987) was among the most powerful Mafia bosses in the United States. GREAT NEWS! Trafficante would rather be force-fed raw carrot sticks for eternity than be seen talking to a reporter. He had a big heart and will be missed. The investigators were looking for proof of drug-money laundering. Drag images here or select from your computer for Santo Trafficante Jr. memorial. Fine food, and lots of it. He convicted infamous criminal labor union head, Jimmy Hoffa. [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. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. He allegedly controlled organized crime operations in Florida and Cuba In 1950, the aging Trafficante Sr. began to slow down. Year should not be greater than current year. Trafficante was arrested on a bookmaking conspiracy charge. "They wouldn't even let me go to the track. [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. Please try again later. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. Search above to list available cemeteries. Thanks for subscribing! "I don't go to the bank and make all these billion-dollar deposits," he says. But the news was not good on the Key Bank front. And despite relatively small time beginnings, Trafficante proved to be a shrewd mobster. During a recent trip to Lake Tahoe he bought two basketballs autographed by Michael Jordan. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. He has thought about it. 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. 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. 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. Authorities also said he urged former bank vice president Michael Pupello to impersonate him in calls to federal bank regulators. Whether or not a Mafia conspiracy was behind the assassination of Kennedy is still up for debate. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. please know that i am praying for you and your family. So, who was this so-called Silent Don who wielded enough power to allegedly kill the President? 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. I hold such fond memories of Santo & Gerry when I was growing up. Thanks for your help! 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. That horse won $161,080 for its new owners, according to the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders Association. All photos uploaded successfully, click on the Done button to see the photos in the gallery. Resend Activation Email. Wikimedia CommonsPresident John F. Kennedy, FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, and Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy. The Trafficante Family Under Santo Junior. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Santo Trafficante (53540265)? 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. [3] His wife, Josephine, died in 2015 at the age of 95; he is survived by two of his daughters. Trafficantes partnership with Batista was profitable for both parties and so the mobsters fate became inextricably tied to that of Cubas political climate. His wife also was named in the fraud charges. He drove a forklift for 20 years. His health had declined in his later years. "They'll sleep under trees on you.". However, there were events outside of the United States and even organized crime that inadvertently led Santo Trafficante Jr. to put his own peculiar stamp on American history. But then came Key Bank, a massive drug-money-laundering investigation. After a violent mob war left several of Trafficantes rivals dead or weakened, his gang rapidly rose to prominence in Tampa. In the 1950s, Tampas reputation for corruption and vice was so bad it prompted one national magazine to label the area the Hell Hole of the Gulf Coast. Given such negativity, who can blame people for just wanting to forget? Santos Trafficante Jr. was the son of Santos Trafficante Sr., who owned several casinos in Havana. He was severed from that trial for medical reasons. Santo Jr. was indicted several times through the 1950s but was convicted only once, on state charges in 1954 for bribery, and that conviction was overturned by the Florida Supreme Court. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. They lived in modest, ranch-style houses in quiet neighborhoods in Tampa and Miami. Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? TAMPA The daughter sits on the front porch of a little bungalow in Seminole Heights, her new home since her husband died a few months ago down south. Oops, something didn't work. He drove standard cars, lived in regular houses in quiet places, was married to the same woman, and generally described as a quiet man. But according to declassified documents released in 1992, Santo Trafficante Jr. made a deathbed confession of his involvement in the Presidents murder. Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. Santo Trafficante Sr. was a Florida mobster who survived a series of vicious gang wars to become the leader of a powerful Mafia crime family based in Tampa. As law enforcement pressure increased on the Mafia in the late 1940s, Santo, fearing. [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. [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? Josephine Marchese Trafficante 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 . Harris & Ewing/Library of Commons/Wikimedia CommonsCuban leader Fulgencio Batista in Washington, D.C. in 1938. Many of the familys gangsters were in prison, or too old to be effective. 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. Indeed, some people would rather not dwell on the less-than-noble aspects of our local history. Santo Jr.'s daughters still owns 3610, where Santo spent time when he wasn't in Tampa or Miami. Though his prison sentence wasnt long and he returned to a strong position in Florida, Trafficante never forgave Castro. Are you sure that you want to remove this flower? 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. I thought you might like to see a memorial for Santo Trafficante Jr. You've got to be a fool to marry wrong," he says. This account has been disabled. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. It was clear that federal and local law enforcement had an acute interest in the Trafficante family. Who better than his son, Trafficante Jr., to inherit his throne? Phil Alessi, a childhood friend, marvels at Trafficante's taste and capacity. 12 talking about this. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. 93461.". He went to Jesuit High School and played some football. He maintained all of the lucrative casinos in Cuba, further cemented, After Cuban revolution, the Mafia saw Castro as a threat to their business. Conspiracy theorists consider Giancana along with Mafia leaders Santo Trafficante Jr. and Carlos Marcello associated with the assassination of Kennedy. Santo was known to have been deeply involved in the CIA efforts to involve the underworld in assassination attempts on Fidel Castro. Still, he lives comfortably enough to give his sons Jaguar sports cars, red for Dino and white for Joseph. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. The Shore Acres home is 2,350-square-feet with 10 rooms that Capone reputedly built in 1925 for his mother. View Source Suggest Edits Memorial Photos Flowers Memorials Region North America USA Florida [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. This is a carousel with slides. For the last 20 years, everyone knew her as JuJu. Returning to Miami, he joined his father, managing some . He was a well-respected boss, even among the far larger New York crime families. [13] He stated that he received no payment for his involvement and that he acted out of patriotism. [5] THE CHARLIE WALL STORY Kingpin Charlie Wall (center holding bottle, right of child) and his notorious gang. Santo Trafficante, Jr. was born in the United States on November 15, 1914, as one of five sons of Mafia boss Santo Trafficante. According to some, he was even involved in the infamous assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Try again later. . In 1963, the Mob allegedly had enough of Kennedy. Trafficante again escaped conviction. [3] Trafficante moved to Cuba in 1955, where he came into contact with Batista and Meyer Lansky. 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. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. When Fidel Castro began his ascent to power in the 1950s, Santo Trafficante feared the radical Marxist revolutionary wouldnt cooperate with him. And despite relatively small time beginnings, Trafficante proved to be a shrewd mobster. [2] Trafficante Jr. had known Lucchese since the 1940s, when his father and Lucchese had trained him in the mafia traditions. 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. She touched all who knew her, and upon meeting her, she would embrace you, and you would instantly become part of the family. 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.
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