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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. Santo Trafficante, Jr. was born in the United States on November 15, 1914, as one of five sons of Mafia boss Santo Trafficante. Trafficante Sr. hung back and developed relationships with politicians and his Mob colleagues in New York and Chicago. He was the lynchpin in Tampa Charlie Wall The Kefauver hearings arrived in Tampa in December of 1950. He dressed nicely but not ostentatiously, and his choice of cars was never flashy. 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. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. "I was going to ask him to come over and try our beignets to see how they compare to the Cafe Du Monde in New Orleans," Alessi says. A A. [5] Verify and try again. This is a carousel with slides. Please reset your password. In this episode, we will discuss the fascinating life of Tampa's most powerful mobster: Santo Trafficante Jr. The idea behind the assassination wasnt just to punish JFK but also to get his brother off the Mobs back. Shop eBooks and audiobooks at Rakuten Kobo. With over 1,900 locations, Dignity Memorial providers proudly serve over 375,000 families a year. Chris and I will never forget Santo's presence at Leia's welcome home party. 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. "[12] He said that Trafficante complained about the honesty of the Kennedys and their "attacks" on Jimmy Hoffa and other associates. He escaped conviction all but once, receiving a five-year sentence for bribery in 1954, but his conviction was overturned by the Florida Supreme Court before he entered prison. In January 1963, he married Geraldine Valenti, the daughter. So, as the popular theory goes, the mob bosses that lent a helping hand in getting Kennedy into office wanted revenge. 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. There was a problem getting your location. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). 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. Century, Tampa was a small but growing city, and the organized crime it faced was modest. Authorities said he leaked a list of suspects in the case and then lied about it. The mafiosos that made up the family are either retired, in prison, or have died due to old age. Santo Trafficante then categorically denied every allegation about stating he wanted RFK or JFK dead and got off scot-free. [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. Whether or not a Mafia conspiracy was behind the assassination of Kennedy is still up for debate. He was again called to testify in April 1976 on the alleged conspiracy to kill Kennedy, but Rosselli never made it: His body was found in a barrel floating in Biscayne Bay off the coast of Florida. He headed the . The senior Trafficante's name has been linked to gambling, drug-dealing and even plots to kill Fidel Castro and John F. Kennedy. Hoffa said to me, This has to be done.'. Our thoughts and prayers are with you Gerry and your family. Sign up for service and obituary updates. Resend Activation Email. Don Santo Trafficante Jr. the godfather from Tampa, Florida, USA. His wife also was named in the fraud charges. One bank filed suit in November against him and a business partner, alleging that they defaulted on an $85,000 loan for a piece of property. After the death of his wife, the Trafficante family sold their Tampa 1970-built home for $950,000. 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. That arrest also led Cuban authorities to become warier of the mobster, especially as the political tides seemed to be turning there. You have been in pain too long. After this look at Santo Trafficante Jr., read the gruesome story of the murderous American dentist, Benjamin Salomon, of World War II. [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. "There's no such thing as organized crime in Hillsborough County," Trafficante says, clapping his hands for emphasis. 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. 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. Most mornings Trafficante spends a few hours at his modest wholesale automobile lot at the intersection of Dale Mabry Highway and W Broad Street. 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. "If my uncle knew I was talking to the press, Christ, he'd shoot me," Trafficante says, half-laughing. Try again later. His health had declined in his later years. 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. In 1946, Santo Sr. sent his son, already a family underboss, to Cuba to invest in the growing number of nightclubs and casinos in the island nation. Born: November 15, 1914, Tampa, Florida Please enable JavaScript in your browser's settings to use this part of Geni. 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? When the CIA decided to recruit the Mob in their efforts to assassinate Fidel Castro, they went to see Trafficante. Our prayers are with you. Today, Santo Trafficantes criminal legacy lives on through his nephew and namesake, Santo Trafficante III, who was charged with organized fraud in 1992. A full report was made by the Cuban police, dated January 23, 1958, includes transcripts of long-distance telephone calls made from the Sans Souci during the period AugustDecember 1957. The seeds for Trafficantes most interesting historical chapter were planted, as the mobster would go on to have a well-established relationship with the CIA in an ongoing effort to assassinate Castro. After a lifetime in organized crime, Trafficante Jr. died of national causes in 1987. In 1959, the Cuban Revolution toppled the corrupt Batista government and the rebel leader, Fidel Castro, nationalized foreign-owned properties and shuttered the casinos, a huge financial blow to Trafficante, who was second only to Meyer Lansky in the depth of his investments in Havana. Love, Jimmy Schaffer. Don Santo Trafficante Jr was one of the last of the old-time American Mafia bosses in the United States. My thoughts and prayers are with you all! Organized Crime Figure. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. 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. Cuban leader Fulgencio Batista in Washington, D.C. in 1938. Trafficante was a ruthless mob boss, and quickly consolidated control over the criminal networks in Tampa. 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. 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. Meet Santo Trafficante: The Silent Don Who Tried To Kill Fidel Castro And May Have Ordered JFKs Assassination. 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. The investigators were looking for proof of drug-money laundering. Undercover detectives ran a gambling sting operation there, hoping to nab a circle of Tampa men they said were making illegal sports bets. So is Santo Jose Trafficante III a mobster? 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. We have set your language to 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. Reclaiming History: The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Trafficante was arrested again in 1957 for attending the famous Apalachin summit of Mob leaders in New York, but those charges were dropped. "My wife's got money. I hold such fond memories of Santo & Gerry when I was growing up. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow. After that, he ordered casino owners to cough up employee back pay, then shut them down again. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. Afterwards, the son he had groomed to take his place, Santo Trafficante Jr., took the reins of the Trafficante crime family. "Even my uncle (Santo Jr.) told me, "Santo, why don't you change your name?' Returning to Miami, he joined his father, managing some . 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. 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. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? Santo Trafficante Jr. (November 15, 1914 - March 17, 1987) was among the most powerful Mafia bosses in the United States. Let others know about your loved one's death. This was proven in 1953 when he eliminated the last contender to the Tampa mob throne: Joe Antinori, son of the late Ignacio. The beachfront properties were the site of many parties and barbecues. At Boxer Cycle Works. 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:. You can always change this later in your Account settings. Still, theres a fine line between exploring a topic and glorifying it. To use this feature, use a newer browser. But the mobster tag has outlasted the case itself. One of the last surviving mobsters from the Luciano era, he died of heart disease in a Houston, Texas, hospital in 1987. Trafficante Jr. was nonetheless a ruthless and old-school mob boss. In 1963, the Mob allegedly had enough of Kennedy. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. Santo met and married Maria Giuseppe Cacciatore on April 20, 1909. He will be sorely missed and his heart of gold will be remembered by all who new him. 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. Search above to list available cemeteries. He maintained all of the lucrative casinos in Cuba, further cemented, After Cuban revolution, the Mafia saw Castro as a threat to their business. He has been featured on the History Channel, A&E, Discovery Channel, AHC, Oxygen Network and many local and national news shows. 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. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.. Share to let others add their own memories and condolences. Santo Trafficante was wanted in 48 states by the time he was 43. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santo_Trafficante_Jr. "The Mob? Include gps location with grave photos where possible. 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. 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. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. And then there are the infinite conspiracy theories about the assassination of President Kennedy, many of them featuring Trafficante. I found on Findagrave.com. Send your deepest condolences with fresh flowers. He was rumored to be part of a Mafia syndicate which owned many Cuban hotels and casinos. Those were some of the greatest memories growing up. The authorities continued to charge him with participating in illegal activities, but the aging mob boss escaped conviction each time. So, who was this so-called Silent Don who wielded enough power to allegedly kill the President? Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. Now in his late 70s or early 80s, LoScalzo is reported to be retired. Harris & Ewing/Library of Commons/Wikimedia Commons. "Now when I walk in a bank," Trafficante says, "the president runs out the back door.". He drove a forklift for 20 years. It never did exist.". 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. TAMPA CRIME BOSS SANTO TRAFFICANTE JR PLAYS A CENTRAL ROLE IN THRILLER MAFIA SPIES. This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. An editor and public historian, Carly Silver has written for Smithsonian, Narratively, The Atlantic, Atlas Obscura, and Archaeology, among other publications. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. Valenti hired his son-in-law at the produce company and allowed him to name his own salary. 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. But Santo knew who was behind the killing a rival Mafia faction. [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. He maintained close working ties with the Lucchese crime family and the Bonanno crime family from New York City. The Trafficante Family Under Santo Junior. Try again. [13] Trafficante also stated that he had no recollection of meeting Oswald or Oswald's assassin, Jack Ruby. In 1965, Giancana was convicted of contempt of court, serving one year in prison. Harris & Ewing/Library of Commons/Wikimedia CommonsCuban leader Fulgencio Batista in Washington, D.C. in 1938. Email blog@themobmuseum.org. 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. Trafficante maintained links to the Bonanno crime family in New York City, but was more closely allied with Sam Giancana in Chicago. ). For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. He attended the University of Florida for a year, then transferred to the University of Tampa and left without completing his degree. 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. Then, check out these photos of the aftermath from some of the bloodiest mob hits. I am sorry I am unable to attend the services due to a illness. View Source Suggest Edits Memorial Photos Flowers Memorials Region North America USA Florida He was severed from that trial for medical reasons. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. "[1][13] He stated that he was positive that he did not say it because he always spoke to Aleman in Spanish, and said that there was no way to state the phrase in Spanish. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. 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. Please check your entries and try again. [2] Trafficante Jr. had known Lucchese since the 1940s, when his father and Lucchese had trained him in the mafia traditions. Maheu hid the fact that he was sent by the CIA, instead portraying himself an advocate for international corporations. [14] He stated that he was concerned for his safety and was not certain that he had ever correctly heard or understood Trafficante's comment. In fact, Florida had the dubious distinction of being home to a decades-old Mafia criminal network: the Trafficante Family. Learn more about merges. 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. Born in Tampa, Florida in 1914, Trafficante hailed from a family already deeply involved in organized crime. 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. Failed to delete memorial. Peter Moruzzi/Wikimedia Commons The glamorous casino in the Hotel Nacional De Cuba in Havana in 1958. 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. 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. In 1957 he was suspected of involvement in the barbershop slaying of Albert Anastasia, the . She lived an exciting life dividing her time between her multiple family members and friends in Tampa, Miami and Havana. But considering the fiercely anti-Soviet atmosphere of the Cold War, its not that hard to believe. CANDLE HAS BEEN LIT CANDLES HAVE BEEN LIT, We are reviewing your submission. A car registered to former state attorney and current state appellate judge E.J. The twister killed hls mother when lt touched down about 6, honored Wednesday us the nation's sute legislator. 2023 SCI SHARED RESOURCES, LLC. On Oct. 26, 1937, Frank Trafficante named his first son after his own father, Santo Trafficante Sr. When you start talking about organized crime, things can get dicey. By this point, Trafficante Jr. had fully taken over the oversight of drugs shipped between Florida, Cuba, and the rest of the States. On the day that investigators raided Key Bank, a cardiologist at St. Joseph's Hospital was inserting a catheter in Trafficante's groin. Indeed, a wiretapped conversation picked up a Key Bank official calling Trafficante a "sacred cow," with loans in excess of a million dollars. You and Santo will always have a special place in my heart. The other guys are two doctors, who say they'll testify if they're summoned to court. 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. My uncle, never wore a ring," Trafficante says. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. He was going to be hit.. [1] Trafficante maintained several residences in New York City and Florida. 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. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. Please enter your email and password to sign in. Claiming association with the CIA, Roselli knew of Trafficantes vendetta and told his new pal that the U.S. government also wanted to take down Castros Communist regime. But the news was not good on the Key Bank front. [13] He stated that he received no payment for his involvement and that he acted out of patriotism. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. department.". Santo Trafficante Jr. (November 15, 1914 March 17, 1987) was among the most powerful Mafia bosses in the United States. Over the next 30-plus years, Trafficante, Jr. rose to oversee Mafia operations across the state of Florida. I thought you might like to see a memorial for Santo Trafficante Jr. Santo Trafficante, Sr., the powerful Trafficante crime family's patriarch, was born on May 28, 1886, in Alexandria Della Rocca, Sicily. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. And purchase valuable sports memorabilia for himself. But once Kennedy actually entered the White House, he didnt live up to his end of the bargain. 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. Salcines was observed at the properties the weekend of June 9, 1967. Getty ImagesSanto Trafficante was wanted in 48 states by the time he was 43. 2023, Tampa Mafia. "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. [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. During a recent trip to Lake Tahoe he bought two basketballs autographed by Michael Jordan. Trafficante was a ruthless mob boss, and quickly consolidated control over the criminal networks in Tampa. Please allow 24 hours for your entry to be reviewed for appropriate content. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. Finally, in 1987, Trafficante died at the age of 72. Departed this Life May 13, 2015 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. They lived in modest, ranch-style houses in quiet neighborhoods in Tampa and Miami. He died of natural causes, at the age of 72, in Houston, Texas. The wiretap evidence has been thrown out of court. They used to be my greatest friend," Trafficante says. Search results for "Images of America" at Rakuten Kobo. 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. Failed to report flower. Our deepest condolences to the Trafficante family. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. 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. In a 1978 legal testimony, Trafficante discussed how quickly Castro shut it all down, then reopened the casinos on his own terms. He is hardly the "Dapper Don." 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. She was born on March 24, 1920. 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 was apprehended in November 1957, along with over 60 other mobsters, at the Apalachin meeting in Apalachin, New York. It may take up to 1 hour for your comment to appear on the website. Batista let Trafficante and other mobsters build as many casinos and hotels as they wanted in exchange for a cash kickback. 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. The report was given to the District Attorney's office. Santo Trafficante Jr, was born on November 15, 1914 in Tampa, Florida and followed in the footsteps of his father, Santo Trafficante Sr, into a life of organized crime. 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 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.". The first case stemmed from the FBIs well-known Donnie Brasco undercover sting operation. Trafficante again escaped conviction. 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. Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. After a violent mob war left several of Trafficantes rivals dead or weakened, his gang rapidly rose to prominence in Tampa. 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. prosecution, fled temporarily to Cuba. At age 16, he boarded the S.S. Lombardia and set sail for American in search of a better life. Over the next 30-plus years, Trafficante, Jr. rose to oversee Mafia operations across the state of Florida. By the time Prohibition and the Era of Blood ended, he was the top man in the Florida Mafia, operating with the blessing of exiled Mob boss Charlie Lucky Luciano, Frank Costello of the Five Families, and Meyer Lansky of the national Syndicate. His sons, Dino and Joseph, run it for him, though he worries that sometimes they don't work hard. 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 . She was predeceased in death, by other loving family members. No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments. Send a note, share a story or upload a photo. Love and peace to you all. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. rossignol snowboard catalog,