Early in Trafficantes federal court case in 1986, the judge declared a mistrial. THE CHARLIE WALL STORY Kingpin Charlie Wall (center holding bottle, right of child) and his notorious gang. One small gang, led by Italian immigrant Santo Trafficante Senior, profited from the illegal lottery-style games they ran across Tampa. 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. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. Try again later. In February 2016, many of Trafficante's personal belongings were sold at an auction in St. Petersburg, Florida. Many fond memories of Santo will continue with me. 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. 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. Trafficante was jailed and deported when Fidel Castro rose to power, leading him to spend a good portion of his adult life hatching a plan of revenge. A system error has occurred. Learn more about merges. Santo Trafficante grew up in the Florida underworld, working his father's gambling rackets and getting experience in the business. In the 1960 presidential election, Kennedy family patriarch Joe Kennedy Sr. used his ties to organized crime to secure votes for his son, John F. Kennedy. 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. [13] He stated that he received no payment for his involvement and that he acted out of patriotism. We have to admit we are fascinated by the whole idea of the mafia and the people we knew and the whispers we grew up hearing. Harris & Ewing/Library of Commons/Wikimedia Commons. Our thoughts and prayers with you. "[19] In his book Reclaiming History: The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy, Vincent Bugliosi has claimed there to be many flaws in Ragano's claims, including his own claim that Trafficante was most likely not in Tampa on the day in question, but was rather in North Miami Beach, Florida, receiving dialysis treatments. Santo Jr. succeeded his father as the boss of Tampa upon his death. 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. He is currently working on his seventh book, The Jersey Mob., Feedback or questions? At age 16, he boarded the S.S. Lombardia and set sail for American in search of a better life. 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. 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. There was an error deleting this problem. Until last year, the younger Trafficante had never been accused of anything more dramatic than bookmaking, a charge that a judge dismissed. Over the next 30-plus years, Trafficante, Jr. rose to oversee Mafia operations across the state of Florida. 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. "Banks are my greatest enemy. Please allow 24 hours for your entry to be reviewed for appropriate content. View Source Suggest Edits Memorial Photos Flowers Memorials Region North America USA Florida Then, check out these photos of the aftermath from some of the bloodiest mob hits. Buy the time LoScalzo took over in 1987, the Trafficante Crime Family was far past its heyday. Comfort the family with flowers or a sympathy gift. Santo, Jr. never spent a day in jail, and he died of natural causes in 1987. Ed Giorandino/NY Daily News Archive via Getty ImagesSanto Trafficante arrives at Queens Supreme Court in Kew Gardens. In the early 1980s Trafficante was ensnared in two major cases that could have sent the aging don to prison for the first time in his life, apart from his time in the Triscornia detention camp in Cuba following Castros takeover in 1959. Santo was known to have been deeply involved in the CIA efforts to involve the underworld in assassination attempts on Fidel Castro. While shouldering the legacy of his father and. [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. During a recent trip to Lake Tahoe he bought two basketballs autographed by Michael Jordan. Trafficante was arrested on a bookmaking conspiracy charge. Family members linked to this person will appear here. "If my uncle knew I was talking to the press, Christ, he'd shoot me," Trafficante says, half-laughing. You can always change this later in your Account settings. No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments. Who better than his son, Trafficante Jr., to inherit his throne? Peter Moruzzi/Wikimedia Commons The glamorous casino in the Hotel Nacional De Cuba in Havana in 1958. I hold such fond memories of Santo & Gerry when I was growing up. 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. Trafficantes partnership with Batista was profitable for both parties and so the mobsters fate became inextricably tied to that of Cubas political climate. In his previous statements, Roselli also tied Lee Harvey Oswalds killer, Jack Ruby, to Santo Trafficante. However, by the late 1920s, facing little pressure, Sicilian gangsters began setting up lucrative gambling and narcotics rackets. I will always remember your perseverance, happiness and smiles at Marisa's wedding. Sorry! 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. 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. 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. Died: March 17, 1987, Houston, Texas Sign up for service and obituary updates. My thoughts and prayers are with you all! 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 1965, Giancana was convicted of contempt of court, serving one year in prison. 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. My uncle, never wore a ring," Trafficante says. He dropped out of high school before the 10th grade. 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 . He was married to his wife for 49 years. [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. After the death of his wife, the Trafficante family sold their Tampa 1970-built home for $950,000. 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. [7], In January 1958, Trafficante was questioned by the Cuban police regarding the Apalachin meeting. One of the last surviving mobsters from the Luciano era, he died of heart disease in a Houston, Texas, hospital in 1987. By Santo III's own estimation, this was a wise move. 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. The Trafficante Family Under Santo Junior . It may take up to 1 hour for your comment to appear on the website. The next son was Luigi Santo Trafficante Jr. (his namesake and future Mafia boss), born on November 15, 1914. Thanks for your help! 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. Indeed, he owes hundreds of thousands of dollars in foreclosures to local banks, which he says treat him "like I had leprosy" because of Key Bank. 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. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. "My wife's got money. In 1957 he was suspected of involvement in the barbershop slaying of Albert Anastasia, the . The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. Born in Tampa, Florida in 1914, Trafficante hailed from a family already deeply involved in organized crime. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. The authorities continued to charge him with participating in illegal activities, but the aging mob boss escaped conviction each time. They lived in modest, ranch-style houses in quiet neighborhoods in Tampa and Miami. Their plans ranged from simply shooting him to having him smoke poisoned cigars or drinking a tainted milkshake. 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. Santo Trafficante Jr. (November 15, 1914 - March 17, 1987) was among the most powerful Mafia bosses in the United States. Husband of Private 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. Wife : Josephine MARCHESE (Santo TRAFFICANTE Jr. married Josephine in Tampa, Florida on April 17, 1938). He died on March 17, 1987. He was going to be hit.. With deepest sympathy and love. 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. [20], In 2005, Lamar Waldron and Thom Hartmann's book Ultimate Sacrifice said that Trafficante was behind an aborted plot to kill Kennedy in Tampa on November 18, 1963. So, at his attorney Ralph Fernandez's urging, he has agreed to talk publicly, hoping to shore up his damaged reputation. [3] His wife, Josephine, died in 2015 at the age of 95; he is survived by two of his daughters. Afterwards, the son he had groomed to take his place, Santo Trafficante Jr., took the reins of the Trafficante crime family. 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. She lived an exciting life dividing her time between her multiple family members and friends in Tampa, Miami and Havana. Though his prison sentence wasnt long and he returned to a strong position in Florida, Trafficante never forgave Castro. Search results for "Images of America" at Rakuten Kobo. 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. We guarantee you'll never look at Ybor City the same way again. Hey, they have more convicts at the track than straight people," Trafficante says. One small gang, led by Italian immigrant Santo Trafficante Senior, profited from the illegal lottery-style games they ran across Tampa. Trafficante was a ruthless mob boss, and quickly consolidated control over the criminal networks in Tampa. He owned and operated some of the most lavish casinos in pre-Castro Cuba. Forget everything you think you know about Tampa mafia wives and girlfriends in the 1950s. At 7:25 p.m. on January 3, 1953, Florida Mafia boss Santo Trafficante Jr. had just finished dinner with his wife and children at his father-in-laws house in the Ybor City section of Tampa, Florida. Interestingly, Trafficante who was worth about $25 billion at his height in the 80s lived a fairly reserved, modest lifestyle. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. The other guys are two doctors, who say they'll testify if they're summoned to court. He was, in many ways, the archetypical old-school Mob boss. They raided my apartment, they were looking for money, they tore up all the furniture, they used to come and get me at nighttime, take me out in the woods, trying to tell where I had my money, this and that, until I finally went into hiding.. Please try again later. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santo_Trafficante_Jr. His luck has not improved recently. This site is provided as a service of SCI Shared Resources, LLC. Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? 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. Thanks for subscribing! She is survived by her daughters, Mary Jo Paniello and Sarah Ann Valdes; her grandchildren, Dr. Santo Paniello and wife Susan; Dina Smith and husband Don; Melissa Castellana and husband John; and Valerie Cordell and husband Ian; her great-grandchildren, Michael Sierra, Elizabeth Paniello, Sam Paniello, Christopher Paniello, Christina Castellana, Augie Castellana, Alexa Cordell, Anna Cordell Drew Smith, Allison Hunt and husband Joey; as well as endless extended family. Drag images here or select from your computer for Santo Trafficante Jr. memorial. The guy really tried to do it right.". [14], The HSCA had previously quoted Aleman as stating that he thought Trafficante's use of the phrase "he is going to be hit" meant that the mob boss knew Kennedy was going to be killed. prosecution, fled temporarily to Cuba. The report was given to the District Attorney's office. "You hope things will just disappear two or three years from now.". Trafficante's appetite and his legal woes seem linked like the strands of a cruller. [15][16] He stated he was chosen by Hoffa because, as both Hoffa and Trafficante's lawyer, he could be assured of attorneyclient privilege. He has played golf with former New York Yankees third baseman Graig Nettles and former New York Islanders hockey player Clark Gillies. 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. ". After this look at Santo Trafficante Jr., read the gruesome story of the murderous American dentist, Benjamin Salomon, of World War II. Authorities also said he urged former bank vice president Michael Pupello to impersonate him in calls to federal bank regulators. In 1975, the CIA declassified a report stating that Trafficante had been persuaded to poison Castro, an allegation he denied. By December 1953, one more rival was dead and another was too scared to even venture out of his home. In the early 20th Century, Tampa was a small but growing city, and the organized crime it faced was modest. He convicted infamous criminal labor union head, Jimmy Hoffa. With that act, Santo Trafficante now reigned supreme in Tampa. Those were some of the greatest memories growing up. According to some, he was even involved in the infamous assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Santo Trafficante arrives at Queens Supreme Court in Kew Gardens. My prayers are with all of you. [13] During his testimony, Trafficante also admitted for the first time that he had worked with the CIA from 1960 to 1961 for an attempt to poison Castro but stated that his role was only as an interpreter between CIA officials and Cuban exiles. He sought treatment for stomach cancer and was ready to hand power over to a trusted lieutenant.
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