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. Josephine Marchese Trafficante Finally, in 1987, Trafficante died at the age of 72. He walked outside and got into a 1951 Mercury sedan driven by one of his associates. 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. Meet Santo Trafficante: The Silent Don Who Tried To Kill Fidel Castro And May Have Ordered JFKs Assassination. please know that i am praying for you and your family. [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. 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. Daughters: Mary Josephine Sarah Ann Brothers: Frank, Salvatore (Sam), Epifanio and Enrico (Henry) Uncle: Joseph M. CACCIATORE (convicted narcotic trafficker) CRIMINAL HISTORY: 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. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. A Drive-By Historical Tour of Tampa's Notorious Wise Guys After his father died in 1954, he became the head in Tampa and took over his fathers interests in Cuba. cemeteries found in Ybor City, Hillsborough County, Florida, USA will be saved to your photo volunteer list. He dressed nicely but not ostentatiously, and his choice of cars was never flashy. You may not upload any more photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 20 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 5 photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 30 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 15 photos to this memorial. He dropped out of high school before the 10th grade. 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. "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. F. Kennedy not only failed to deliver on his promise to the mob but also actually put the Mafia under increasing pressure. 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 Shore Acres home is 2,350-square-feet with 10 rooms that Capone reputedly built in 1925 for his mother. Harris & Ewing/Library of Commons/Wikimedia Commons. Santo Trafficante Jr.: The Florida Godfather Who Tried To Kill Castro Like Trafficante Jr. before him, had many close calls with law enforcement, but always escaped serious charges. He attended the University of Florida for a year, then transferred to the University of Tampa and left without completing his degree. 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. He buys Jaguars for his two sons, hobnobs with sports stars on resort golf courses and occasionally flies to Miami for lunch at a favorite restaurant, the Rascal House. According to Scott M. Deitche in The Silent Don, the family was profiting not only from its offshore casinos but from narcotics trafficking. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. 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. Treasury Department History of Santo Trafficante Jr 1961 You have chosen this person to be their own family member. Santo Trafficante Senior died in 1954. When you think of Florida and organized crime, it is difficult to avoid conjuring up images of Tony Montana in. Santo Trafficante 5 10 (1.78 m) Born November 15, 1914 Tampa, Florida, USA Died March 17, 1987 Spouse Josephine Marchese April 17, 1938 - March 17, 1987 (his death, 2 children) Publicity listings 2 Portrayals Did you know Edit Trivia Represented by Frank Ragano. It never did exist.". "I'm in the I.O.U. Dennis Caruso/NY Daily News Archive via Getty ImagesFrank Ragano and Santo Trafficante Jr. (right). [1] In 1997, further declassified documents indicated that some mafiosi worked with the agency on assassination attempts against Castro. 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. Departed this Life May 13, 2015 Anthony Accardo & Santo Trafficante Jr - Labor Union Kickbacks 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. They lived in modest, ranch-style houses in quiet neighborhoods in Tampa and Miami. Santo Trafficante Jr. - Wikipedia based on information from your browser. Those were some of the greatest memories growing up. His new attorney general his beloved brother, Robert F. Kennedy went after organized crime with a vengeance. Wikimedia CommonsPresident John F. Kennedy, FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, and Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy. He moved to Cuba in 1955 where he met the countrys authoritarian ruler Fulgencio Batista. Try again later. As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. Forget everything you think you know about Tampa mafia wives and girlfriends in the 1950s. It may take up to 1 hour for your comment to appear on the website. He headed the . Hey, they have more convicts at the track than straight people," Trafficante says. No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments. 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. Add to your scrapbook. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. 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. One small gang, led by Italian immigrant Santo Trafficante Senior, profited from the illegal lottery-style games they ran across Tampa. She touched all who knew her, and upon meeting her, she would embrace you, and you would instantly become part of the family. 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. Santo Trafficante, Sr., the powerful Trafficante crime family's patriarch, was born on May 28, 1886, in Alexandria Della Rocca, Sicily. While shouldering the legacy of his father and. In 1957 he was suspected of involvement in the barbershop slaying of Albert Anastasia, the . His business ventures have not always been successful. Brother of Frank Cacciatore Trafficante; Private and Private. 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. At age 16, he boarded the S.S. Lombardia and set sail for American in search of a better life. He drove standard cars, lived in regular houses in quiet places, was married to the same woman, and generally described as a quiet man. Trafficante Sr. passed away four years later, leaving Jr. his Tampa and Cuba-based criminal empire. Santos married Josephine Marchese in 1938, they would have two daughters. 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. 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. He was going to be hit.. While the plot never came to fruition, Trafficante later testified that he did help the CIA recruit other mobsters for the surreal plot. 2023 SCI SHARED RESOURCES, LLC. You'll learn about bolita, the rumored tunnels of Ybor, and the Era of Blood.Join us for this one-of-a-kind walking tour of Tampa's most storied neighborhood. [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. Trafficante had been operating in Cuba since the late 1940s under his father, Santo Trafficante Sr., a mobster in Tampa, Florida. Santo Trafficante then categorically denied every allegation about stating he wanted RFK or JFK dead and got off scot-free. So is Santo Jose Trafficante III a mobster? His sons, Dino and Joseph, run it for him, though he worries that sometimes they don't work hard. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. He was married to his wife for 49 years. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. Died: March 17, 1987, Houston, Texas Santo told the state attorney, I dont have an enemy in the world. His positioning in Florida was prime for drug shipping as the product often passed through these ports en route to elsewhere in America. In his previous statements, Roselli also tied Lee Harvey Oswalds killer, Jack Ruby, to Santo Trafficante. Every so often I think of the Jekyll Island and White Lake, NC trip and laugh. I laughed _ until I realized it was a total f------ disaster," Trafficante says. Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. Please enable JavaScript in your browser's settings to use this part of Geni. Frank Ragano and Santo Trafficante Jr. (right). Santo Traficante Jr fue uno de los ltimos y mas poderosos capos de la mafia en Florida y Cuba. His health had declined in his later years. The CIA came to Trafficante, and asked for his help in enlisting the Mafia to assassinate the Cuban leader. Now he owns a 210-acre orange grove in southern Hillsborough. Search above to list available cemeteries. [13] He stated that he received no payment for his involvement and that he acted out of patriotism. Sign up for service and obituary updates. One small gang, led by Italian immigrant Santo Trafficante Senior, profited from the illegal lottery-style games they ran across Tampa. Failed to delete memorial. This site is provided as a service of SCI Shared Resources, LLC. 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. RIP Santo. Year should not be greater than current year. Trafficante Jr. controlled his Tampa-based crime network for over three decades. Santo Trafficante Jr. Wiki & Bio - everipedia.org She was a wonderful cook, and she loved to crochet and travel with her husband, but she lived her life for her family. Are you sure that you want to remove this flower? Santo Trafficante Jr. had long followed in his fathers footsteps, and proved to be an even more effective Mafia kingpin. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. I found on Findagrave.com. In the mid-2000s, he would say he was a legitimate businessman, citing, Tony "Joe Batters" Accardo - De Facto Boss of the Chicago Outfit, Giacomo Black Jack Tocco - Last of the Old School Detroit Partnership, Joseph Iacobacci - "Joe Loose" of the Cleveland Mob, John "Sonny" Franzese - A Colombo Family Legend. [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. 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. While he had several close calls with law enforcement including the famed FBI, Late in life LoScalzo denied any connections to organized crime. More importantly, Castro imprisoned Trafficante and then had him exiled from Cuba. View Source Suggest Edits Memorial Photos Flowers Memorials Region North America USA Florida Husband of Private When Fidel Castro began his ascent to power in the 1950s, Santo Trafficante feared the radical Marxist revolutionary wouldnt cooperate with him. Santo Trafficante was wanted in 48 states by the time he was 43. 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. To use this feature, use a newer browser. 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. 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. As law enforcement pressure increased on the Mafia in the late 1940s, Santo, fearing. I will never forget him as a fellow stroke survivor. So, at his attorney Ralph Fernandez's urging, he has agreed to talk publicly, hoping to shore up his damaged reputation. 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. Honorary Pallbearers are Joe Castellana, Malio Iavarone, FrankCookie Fava, Antonino Marchese, Derek Iavarone, Frank Albano, Drew Smith, Joey Hunt, Michael Sierra, Tony Marchese, Peter Albano, Mario Pullara, Frank Miranda, Dino Trafficante, and Joseph Trafficante. Indeed, some people would rather not dwell on the less-than-noble aspects of our local history. Reclaiming History: The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy. "My wife's got money. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. There is a problem with your email/password. In Trafficante's food chain, reporters rank only marginally higher than prosecutors and bank regulators, whom he likes to refer to as "rat bastards.". From bolitaan illegal version of the now-legal Florida lotteryto narcotics, Tampas experience with organized crime is as notable as Chicagos or New Yorks. Santo Trafficante Jr. had long followed in his fathers footsteps, and proved to be an even more effective Mafia kingpin. Spoiled by mobsters, Meyer Lansky's daughter recalls family men, not Resend Activation Email. 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. 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. ", 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. [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. 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. "They wouldn't even let me go to the track. One of the last surviving mobsters from the Luciano era, he died of heart disease in a Houston, Texas, hospital in 1987. Santo Trafficante Jr. (November 15, 1914 March 17, 1987) was among the most powerful Mafia bosses in the United States. Love, Jimmy Schaffer. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. 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. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. All Rights Reserved. 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. Your Scrapbook is currently empty. That horse won $161,080 for its new owners, according to the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders Association. Robert F. Kennedy even taunted those mobsters he brought into court, telling Chicago mob boss Sam Giancana that I thought only little girls giggled, Mr. Giancana.. [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. President John. CANDLE HAS BEEN LIT CANDLES HAVE BEEN LIT, We are reviewing your submission. 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. 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. Learn more about merges. His uncle, the late Santo Trafficante Jr., was reputed to have been the boss of the local Mafia. On the day that investigators raided Key Bank, a cardiologist at St. Joseph's Hospital was inserting a catheter in Trafficante's groin. It was all on the up and up. 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. His wife also was named in the fraud charges. [13] On September 27, 1978, Aleman reiterated to HSCA investigators that Trafficante had complained to him for hours in June or July 1963 about Kennedy's crackdown on organized crime at a meeting to discuss a business loan. He drove a forklift for 20 years. In a 1978 legal testimony, Trafficante discussed how quickly Castro shut it all down, then reopened the casinos on his own terms. 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. Robert Anderson aka The Killer Between 50 and 100 buildings were burned. prosecution, fled temporarily to Cuba. That was in part due to his lifestyle. [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. But the mobster tag has outlasted the case itself. Love and peace to you all. Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? Thanks for subscribing! After the death of his wife, the Trafficante family sold their Tampa 1970-built home for $950,000. He flew to Houston on March 15 for heart bypass surgery. An editor and public historian, Carly Silver has written for Smithsonian, Narratively, The Atlantic, Atlas Obscura, and Archaeology, among other publications. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. He was rumored to be part of a Mafia syndicate which owned many Cuban hotels and casinos. Chris and I will never forget Santo's presence at Leia's welcome home party. So, as the popular theory goes, the mob bosses that lent a helping hand in getting Kennedy into office wanted revenge. Failed to report flower. "Even my uncle (Santo Jr.) told me, "Santo, why don't you change your name?' Send a note, share a story or upload a photo. 0 cemeteries found in Ybor City, Hillsborough County, Florida, USA. As such, Trafficante Sr. controlled gambling rackets for bolita, a lottery game popular in Florida and Cuba, until 1940 when the murder of Tampa boss Ignacio Antinori pushed the Trafficantes to assume ultimate power in the Florida underworld. She was predeceased in death, by other loving family members. Services will be followed by a graveside service at the Italian Club Cemetery and a reception at the family home. But then came Key Bank, a massive drug-money-laundering investigation. Trafficante would be charged with bank fraud, perjury and disclosure of criminal investigation. And then there are the infinite conspiracy theories about the assassination of President Kennedy, many of them featuring Trafficante. Trafficante Jr. was nonetheless a ruthless and old-school mob boss. 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. When you start talking about organized crime, things can get dicey. Weve updated the security on the site. 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. But Santo knew who was behind the killing a rival Mafia faction. After a lifetime in organized crime, Trafficante Jr. died of national causes in 1987. He dropped out of high school and spent time in New York learning the trade from some of the countries toughest mobsters. 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. 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 attended the University of Florida for a year, then transferred to the University of Tampa and left without completing his degree. This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage.
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