Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. She was a native of Tampa, a second-generation Sicilian immigrant who grew up in Ybor city. 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. [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. When you think of Florida and organized crime, it is difficult to avoid conjuring up images of Tony Montana in. This account has been disabled. 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. 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. Learn more about merges. Though his prison sentence wasnt long and he returned to a strong position in Florida, Trafficante never forgave Castro. Let others know about your loved one's death. 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. His positioning in Florida was prime for drug shipping as the product often passed through these ports en route to elsewhere in America. "If my uncle knew I was talking to the press, Christ, he'd shoot me," Trafficante says, half-laughing. Century, Tampa was a small but growing city, and the organized crime it faced was modest. Plant a tree to honor the memory of your loved one. All the convictions were overturned on appeal in 1960. 12 talking about this. A year has passed. 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. Services will be followed by a graveside service at the Italian Club Cemetery and a reception at the family home. Meet Santo Trafficante: The Silent Don Who Tried To Kill Fidel Castro And May Have Ordered JFKs Assassination. Instead of Italian suits, he wears horizontally striped golf shirts. Fine food, and lots of it. He dressed nicely but not ostentatiously, and his choice of cars was never flashy. Still, he lives comfortably enough to give his sons Jaguar sports cars, red for Dino and white for Joseph. Or does he just look like one? The men started to drive away when another sedan drove past the Mercury, the occupants unloading a blast of buckshot as they passed. The choice was nothing more than honoring a tradition. 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. 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. Santos married Josephine Marchese in 1938, they would have two daughters. 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. Whether or not a Mafia conspiracy was behind the assassination of Kennedy is still up for debate. Returning to Miami, he joined his father, managing some . Trafficante would be charged with bank fraud, perjury and disclosure of criminal investigation. He walked outside and got into a 1951 Mercury sedan driven by one of his associates. In 1957 he was suspected of involvement in the barbershop slaying of Albert Anastasia, the . He has played golf with former New York Yankees third baseman Graig Nettles and former New York Islanders hockey player Clark Gillies. based on information from your browser. Hoffa said to me, This has to be done.'. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. With over 1,900 locations, Dignity Memorial providers proudly serve over 375,000 families a year. 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 . On the day that investigators raided Key Bank, a cardiologist at St. Joseph's Hospital was inserting a catheter in Trafficante's groin. I thought you might like to see a memorial for Santo Trafficante Jr. [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. Getty ImagesSanto Trafficante was wanted in 48 states by the time he was 43. Donnie Brasco. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. Santo Trafficante then categorically denied every allegation about stating he wanted RFK or JFK dead and got off scot-free. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. Late in life LoScalzo denied any connections to organized crime. [2] Trafficante Jr. would frequently meet with Lucchese in New York City for dinner.[2]. [1] Trafficante maintained several residences in New York City and Florida. He maintained close working ties with the Lucchese crime family and the Bonanno crime family from New York City. In 1975, the CIA declassified a report stating that Trafficante had been persuaded to poison Castro, an allegation he denied. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. When Fidel Castro began his ascent to power in the 1950s, Santo Trafficante feared the radical Marxist revolutionary wouldnt cooperate with him. While the plot never came to fruition, Trafficante later testified that he did help the CIA recruit other mobsters for the surreal plot. F. Kennedy not only failed to deliver on his promise to the mob but also actually put the Mafia under increasing pressure. I will always remember your perseverance, happiness and smiles at Marisa's wedding. Peter Moruzzi/Wikimedia Commons The glamorous casino in the Hotel Nacional De Cuba in Havana in 1958. We found ourselves in a love affair with Tony Soprano and we could not stop watching. 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. Shop eBooks and audiobooks at Rakuten Kobo. During a recent trip to Lake Tahoe he bought two basketballs autographed by Michael Jordan. Family members linked to this person will appear here. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. Leave a memory or share a photo or video below to show your support. When the CIA decided to recruit the Mob in their efforts to assassinate Fidel Castro, they went to see Trafficante. THE HIDDEN HISTORY OF TAMPA'S UNDERWORLD IS OFTEN INTERTWINED WITH SOME OF Something went wrong. 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. A Hillsborough judge threw out the wiretaps, the spine of the state's case. 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. And as for the rest of the Trafficante Crime family? Santo Trafficante grew up in the Florida underworld, working his father's gambling rackets and getting experience in the business. Trafficante would rather be force-fed raw carrot sticks for eternity than be seen talking to a reporter. 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. She was a wonderful cook, and she loved to crochet and travel with her husband, but she lived her life for her family. He dropped out of high school and spent time in New York learning the trade from some of the countries toughest mobsters. 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. Seven people were murdered. [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. We send our most sincere sympathies to the Trafficante family. I have thought of you and Santo many times over the past 50 years. SANTO TRAFFICANTE SR, A Sicilian of the Old School, RULED TAMPAS UNDERWORLD FOR MORE THAN A DECADE! Share this memorial using social media sites or email. 0 cemeteries found in Ybor City, Hillsborough County, Florida, USA. My aim is to provide you with the best Service experience for you and your motorcycle. 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. 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. 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. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. Verify and try again. Organized Crime Figure. prosecution, fled temporarily to Cuba. Failed to report flower. Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? From bolitaan illegal version of the now-legal Florida lotteryto narcotics, Tampas experience with organized crime is as notable as Chicagos or New Yorks. Our prayers are with you. 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. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. 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. TAMPA CRIME BOSS SANTO TRAFFICANTE JR PLAYS A CENTRAL ROLE IN THRILLER MAFIA SPIES. Other Mafia leaders, as well as newer organized crime networks, took over many of the rackets the family ran throughout the 20th Century. cemeteries found in Ybor City, Hillsborough County, Florida, USA will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Don Santo Trafficante Jr was one of the last of the old-time American Mafia bosses in the United States. 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. 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. In a 1978 legal testimony, Trafficante discussed how quickly Castro shut it all down, then reopened the casinos on his own terms. I can answer any questions you . 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. The other guys are two doctors, who say they'll testify if they're summoned to court. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. I will never forget him as a fellow stroke survivor. This site is provided as a service of SCI Shared Resources, LLC. [15][16] He stated he was chosen by Hoffa because, as both Hoffa and Trafficante's lawyer, he could be assured of attorneyclient privilege. If the decision is upheld on appeal, charges against Trafficante may be dismissed. You have been in pain too long. Husband of Private In 1965, Giancana was convicted of contempt of court, serving one year in prison. At age 16, he boarded the S.S. Lombardia and set sail for American in search of a better life. Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? When you start talking about organized crime, things can get dicey. Santo Trafficante Jr. (November 15, 1914 - March 17, 1987) was among the most powerful Mafia bosses in the United States. You can always change this later in your Account settings. A native and lifelong resident of Tampa, Mr. Traffi-cante is survived by his loving family, wife, Geraldine "Gerry" L. Trafficante; sons, Dino Jose and Joseph Frank Trafficante; daughters,. Trafficante Sr. passed away four years later, leaving Jr. his Tampa and Cuba-based criminal empire. We never paid cash. I am sorry I am unable to attend the services due to a illness. Many fond memories of Santo will continue with me. "My kids suffered a lot by it," he says. After this look at Santo Trafficante Jr., read the gruesome story of the murderous American dentist, Benjamin Salomon, of World War II. 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. I hold such fond memories of Santo & Gerry when I was growing up. The Trafficante Family Under Santo Junior. More troubling for Trafficante was a court document that listed him for the first time as "a member of the Trafficante crime family.". Nicknames: The Silent Don He was, in many ways, the archetypical old-school Mob boss. ", 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. Rosselli testified in 1975 to the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence on the efforts to kill Castro. We guarantee you'll never look at Ybor City the same way again. So, as the popular theory goes, the mob bosses that lent a helping hand in getting Kennedy into office wanted revenge. 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. 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. Born in Tampa, Florida to Sicilian parents Mafia don Santo Trafficante, Sr. and his wife Maria Giuseppa Cacciatore. After a violent mob war left several of Trafficantes rivals dead or weakened, his gang rapidly rose to prominence in Tampa. 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. The first case stemmed from the FBIs well-known Donnie Brasco undercover sting operation. Comfort the family with flowers or a sympathy gift. 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. While he had several close calls with law enforcement including the famed FBI, Late in life LoScalzo denied any connections to organized crime. He drove standard cars, lived in regular houses in quiet places, was married to the same woman, and generally described as a quiet man. 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. According to the account of Judith Exner, however, one of JFKs many mistresses, it was she who introduced Kennedy to Chicago boss Giancana. Interestingly, Trafficante who was worth about $25 billion at his height in the 80s lived a fairly reserved, modest lifestyle. But then came Key Bank, a massive drug-money-laundering investigation. Wikimedia CommonsPresident John F. Kennedy, FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, and Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy. So, who was this so-called Silent Don who wielded enough power to allegedly kill the President? 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. 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. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. Upon his return to the United States, he became determined to bring down the man who ended his empire. The CIA came to Trafficante, and asked for his help in enlisting the Mafia to assassinate the Cuban leader. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. ". Born in Tampa, Florida in 1914, Trafficante hailed from a family already deeply involved in organized crime. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. In Trafficante's food chain, reporters rank only marginally higher than prosecutors and bank regulators, whom he likes to refer to as "rat bastards.". There are no volunteers for this cemetery. In this episode, we will discuss the fascinating life of Tampa's most powerful mobster: Santo Trafficante Jr. 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. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. Alongside Chicago boss Sam Giancana, Roselli and Trafficante came up with some truly insane plots to kill Fidel Castro. Harris & Ewing/Library of Commons/Wikimedia Commons. It never did exist.". He attended a notorious convention of Mafia bosses held in the upstate New York town of Apalachin on November 14, 1957. Failed to remove flower. 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. "Banks are my greatest enemy. But once Kennedy actually entered the White House, he didnt live up to his end of the bargain. She was predeceased in death, by other loving family members. 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 went to Jesuit High School and played some football. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. [8] Allusions to these historic connections were confirmed by the CIA's 2007 declassification of the "Family Jewels" documents. You need a Find a Grave account to continue. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. He wants Trafficante, whom he considers to have an authoritative palate, to sample a new pastry that Alessi plans to sell at his bakery. This was proven in 1953 when he eliminated the last contender to the Tampa mob throne: Joe Antinori, son of the late Ignacio. 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 has been featured on the History Channel, A&E, Discovery Channel, AHC, Oxygen Network and many local and national news shows. Year should not be greater than current year. 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. Like Trafficante Jr. before him, had many close calls with law enforcement, but always escaped serious charges. Trafficante was arrested again in 1957 for attending the famous Apalachin summit of Mob leaders in New York, but those charges were dropped. (November 15, 1914 - March 17, 1987 ). He is just a businessman, he says, his money tied up in wholesale automobiles, an orange grove and real estate. He convicted infamous criminal labor union head, Jimmy Hoffa. Oops, we were unable to send the email. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Santo Trafficante (53540265)? Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? By Santo III's own estimation, this was a wise move. He died on March 17, 1987. [9][10] The CIA and the Mafia had a common enemy in Castro, a communist revolutionary who had shut down Cuba's lucrative casino businesses. [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. He is hardly the "Dapper Don." He headed the . Ed Giorandino/NY Daily News Archive via Getty ImagesSanto Trafficante arrives at Queens Supreme Court in Kew Gardens. She is now living in Virginia. For the U.S. government, it was a classic case of the enemy of my enemy is my friend.. And despite relatively small time beginnings, Trafficante proved to be a shrewd mobster.
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