Trafficante would be charged with bank fraud, perjury and disclosure of criminal investigation. After a violent mob war left several of Trafficantes rivals dead or weakened, his gang rapidly rose to prominence in Tampa. At 76,. President John F. Kennedy, FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, and Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, Dennis Caruso/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images. Their plans ranged from simply shooting him to having him smoke poisoned cigars or drinking a tainted milkshake. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. 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. She lived an exciting life dividing her time between her multiple family members and friends in Tampa, Miami and Havana. [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. Batista let Trafficante and other mobsters build as many casinos and hotels as they wanted in exchange for a cash kickback. You've got to be a fool to marry wrong," he says. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. Harris & Ewing/Library of Commons/Wikimedia CommonsCuban leader Fulgencio Batista in Washington, D.C. in 1938. All Rights Reserved. [22], sfn error: no target: CITEREFDouglass2010 (, Last edited on 22 February 2023, at 15:02, United States House Select Committee on Assassinations, Reclaiming History: The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy, "With Santo Trafficante, an era is ending", "SANTO TRAFFICANTE, REPUTED MAFIA CHIEF, DIES AT 72", "Why mob bigs who met to crown a king had to run like roaches", "For Sale, a House WithAcreage.Connections Extra;Site of 1957 Gangland Raid Is Part of Auction on Saturday", "20 Apalachin Convictions Ruled Invalid On Appeal", "Narcotic Traffic Called Topic In Apalachin Talks", Memorandum for the Director of Central Intelligence, Subject: Roselli, Johnny, "Witness denies assassination, Cuba tied", "Mafia Linked In JFK Probe; By Cuban Exile", "Hoffa Lawyer: Jimmy Recruited Mob for JFK Hit", "Lawyer Says Hoffa Told 2 Mob Bosses to Have President Kennedy Killed", "Frank Ragano, 75, Lawyer for Mob and Hoffa", "The Sins of the Godfather? After the Kennedy hubbub, Trafficante kept a low profile or, lower that is. 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. I will always remember your perseverance, happiness and smiles at Marisa's wedding. Salcines was observed at the properties the weekend of June 9, 1967. He maintained all of the lucrative casinos in Cuba, further cemented ties with powerful Mafia families he had established as a young man in New York, and ruthlessly put down any attempts to usurp his territory or power. A Hillsborough judge threw out the wiretaps, the spine of the state's case. He drove a forklift for 20 years. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. 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. The mafiosos that made up the family are either retired, in prison, or have died due to old age. gerry,i am so sorry to hear about santo. Like Trafficante Jr. before him, had many close calls with law enforcement, but always escaped serious charges. 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. Trafficante maintained links to the Bonanno crime family in New York City, but was more closely allied with Sam Giancana in Chicago. A year has passed. 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. Try again later. Phil Alessi, a childhood friend, marvels at Trafficante's taste and capacity. Thanks for subscribing! In January 1963, he married Geraldine Valenti, the daughter of J.C. Valenti, who owned a thriving produce business. But once Kennedy actually entered the White House, he didnt live up to his end of the bargain. [4] All were fined, up to $10,000 each, and given prison sentences ranging from three to five years. Over the next 30-plus years, Trafficante, Jr. rose to oversee Mafia operations across the state of Florida. He was right, and when Castro took power in 1959, Trafficantes burgeoning gambling-and-drugs empire went under siege. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. 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. He attended a notorious convention of Mafia bosses held in the upstate New York town of Apalachin on November 14, 1957. RIP Santo. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. Santo Jr. succeeded his father as the boss of Tampa upon his death. Santo, Jr. never spent a day in jail, and he died of natural causes in 1987. the daughter of immigrants from the Italian region of Basilicata. He returned to Tampa for the last time for internment in the LUnione Italiana Cemetery. According to some, he was even involved in the infamous assassination of President John F. Kennedy. [2] Trafficante Jr. would frequently meet with Lucchese in New York City for dinner.[2]. Email
[email protected]. The next son was Luigi Santo Trafficante Jr. (his namesake and future Mafia boss), born on November 15, 1914. Finally, after the infamous failed Bay of Pigs Invasion, the CIA gave up on their attempts to kill the Cuban dictator and thus Trafficantes attempts at revenge never materialized. 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. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. Santo worked closely with Lucchese family boss Tommy Lucchese, who was a friend of his father, and a man who helped train him in the 1940s. Upon his return to the United States, he became determined to bring down the man who ended his empire. One of the last surviving mobsters from the Luciano era, he died of heart disease in a Houston, Texas, hospital in 1987. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. Seven people were murdered. [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. [13] Trafficante said that he introduced the trio to Cuban exiles in Florida. Whether or not a Mafia conspiracy was behind the assassination of Kennedy is still up for debate. His abiding passion is food. So is Santo Jose Trafficante III a mobster? Husband of Private THE CHARLIE WALL STORY Kingpin Charlie Wall (center holding bottle, right of child) and his notorious gang. The choice was nothing more than honoring a tradition. department.". He will be sorely missed and his heart of gold will be remembered by all who new him. Learn more about managing a memorial . 93461.". 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. 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. Your Scrapbook is currently empty. Thanks for your help! He has played golf with former New York Yankees third baseman Graig Nettles and former New York Islanders hockey player Clark Gillies. Santo Trafficante Senior died in 1954. This browser does not support getting your location. Our deepest condolences to the Trafficante family. He convicted infamous criminal labor union head, Jimmy Hoffa. You can always change this later in your Account settings. You have been in pain too long. After that, he ordered casino owners to cough up employee back pay, then shut them down again. He wants Trafficante, whom he considers to have an authoritative palate, to sample a new pastry that Alessi plans to sell at his bakery. He maintained close working ties with the Lucchese crime family and the Bonanno crime family from New York City. "They'll sleep under trees on you.". Santo Jr.'s daughters still owns 3610, where Santo spent time when he wasn't in Tampa or Miami. 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. In 1965, Giancana was convicted of contempt of court, serving one year in prison. TAMPA CRIME BOSS SANTO TRAFFICANTE JR PLAYS A CENTRAL ROLE IN THRILLER MAFIA SPIES. 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. You need a Find a Grave account to continue. On the day that investigators raided Key Bank, a cardiologist at St. Joseph's Hospital was inserting a catheter in Trafficante's groin. The Trafficante Family Under Santo Junior . She was predeceased in death, by other loving family members. Fine food, and lots of it. Chris and I will never forget Santo's presence at Leia's welcome home party. Frank Ragano and Santo Trafficante Jr. (right). Share Santo's life story with friends and family. As law enforcement pressure increased on the Mafia in the late 1940s, Santo, fearing. 0 cemeteries found in Ybor City, Hillsborough County, Florida, USA. 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. [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. 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. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. He headed the . He grimaces at the thought that the rumor has persisted so long. Father of Private and Private Peter Moruzzi/Wikimedia Commons The glamorous casino in the Hotel Nacional De Cuba in Havana in 1958. She was a wonderful cook, and she loved to crochet and travel with her husband, but she lived her life for her family. He was severed from that trial for medical reasons. 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. Dr. Dennis Pupello was looking for heart disease, brought on by his overweight and diabetic patient's "voracious eating.". cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. The investigators were looking for proof of drug-money laundering. So, as the popular theory goes, the mob bosses that lent a helping hand in getting Kennedy into office wanted revenge. That horse won $161,080 for its new owners, according to the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders Association. All photos uploaded successfully, click on the
Done button to see the photos in the gallery. The report was given to the District Attorney's office. cemeteries found in Ybor City, Hillsborough County, Florida, USA will be saved to your photo volunteer list. This account has been disabled. Drag images here or select from your computer for Santo Trafficante Jr. memorial. Send a note, share a story or upload a photo. Robert Anderson aka The Killer Between 50 and 100 buildings were burned. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. While shouldering the legacy of his father and. Santo Trafficante Jr. was a reserved, modest man married to the same woman for 49 years. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. You and Santo will always have a special place in my heart. Year should not be greater than current year. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. Search above to list available cemeteries. Are you sure that you want to remove this flower? 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. We have set your language to "I was the most expensive forklift driver in the world," he says with a smile. "I thought all this would end when my uncle died. In fact, Florida had the dubious distinction of being home to a decades-old Mafia criminal network: the Trafficante Family. In 1957 he was suspected of involvement in the barbershop slaying of Albert Anastasia, the . 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. Trafficante was arrested again in 1957 for attending the famous Apalachin summit of Mob leaders in New York, but those charges were dropped. Still, he lives comfortably enough to give his sons Jaguar sports cars, red for Dino and white for Joseph. One small gang, led by Italian immigrant Santo Trafficante Senior, profited from the illegal lottery-style games they ran across Tampa. 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. 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. I have thought of you and Santo many times over the past 50 years. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? 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.. His son, Santo Trafficante Jr., took over the crime family and became tangled in a web of conspiracies to kill the leader of revolutionary Cuba and, it is rumored, President John F. Kennedy. Weve updated the security on the site. 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. I am sorry I am unable to attend the services due to a illness. 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. 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. Failed to report flower. He was married to his wife for 49 years. In this episode, we will discuss the fascinating life of Tampa's most powerful mobster: Santo Trafficante Jr. Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. After the death of his wife, the Trafficante family sold their Tampa 1970-built home for $950,000. He owned a West Tampa restaurant called Cafe Sevilla. Santos Trafficante Jr. was the son of Santos Trafficante Sr., who owned several casinos in Havana. Trafficante again escaped conviction. More troubling for Trafficante was a court document that listed him for the first time as "a member of the Trafficante crime family.". Or does he just look like one? 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.. Organized Crime Figure. He dropped out of high school and spent time in New York learning the trade from some of the countries toughest mobsters. 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. Ed Giorandino/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images. [1] Trafficante maintained several residences in New York City and Florida. There is a problem with your email/password. "You hope things will just disappear two or three years from now.". When his father died in 1954 he took control of these establishments. The original Malio's Restaurant located on South Dale Mabry Highway in Tampa, Florida. Brother of Frank Cacciatore Trafficante; Private and Private. One small gang, led by Italian immigrant Santo Trafficante Senior, profited from the illegal lottery-style games they ran across Tampa. 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. 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Maheu hid the fact that he was sent by the CIA, instead portraying himself an advocate for international corporations. By December 1953, one more rival was dead and another was too scared to even venture out of his home. "[12], In 1978, both Trafficante and Aleman were called to testify before members of the United States House Select Committee on Assassinations investigating possible links between Kennedy assassin Lee Harvey Oswald and anti-Castro Cubans, including the theory that Castro had Kennedy killed in retaliation for the CIA's attempts on his own life. The other guys are two doctors, who say they'll testify if they're summoned to court. ". Instead of Italian suits, he wears horizontally striped golf shirts. (November 15, 1914 - March 17, 1987 ). However, while the Latin American drug trade has figured prominently in the sunshine states less savory history, so has the Mafia. By this point, Trafficante Jr. had fully taken over the oversight of drugs shipped between Florida, Cuba, and the rest of the States. My ex-wife Erline Lazzara was a childhood friend you might remember. THE HIDDEN HISTORY OF TAMPA'S UNDERWORLD IS OFTEN INTERTWINED WITH SOME OF Something went wrong. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. Santo Trafficante arrives at Queens Supreme Court in Kew Gardens. 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. Forget everything you think you know about Tampa mafia wives and girlfriends in the 1950s. Santo Trafficante then categorically denied every allegation about stating he wanted RFK or JFK dead and got off scot-free. Please try again later. They had three daughters, Antoinette born . He was rumored to be part of a Mafia syndicate which owned many Cuban hotels and casinos. The Shore Acres home is 2,350-square-feet with 10 rooms that Capone reputedly built in 1925 for his mother. That was in part due to his lifestyle. 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. He is just a businessman, he says, his money tied up in wholesale automobiles, an orange grove and real estate. Santo was one of the FBIs targets in that case. His wife also was named in the fraud charges. Trafficante Jr. was nonetheless a ruthless and old-school mob boss. Those were some of the greatest memories growing up. [3] His wife, Josephine, died in 2015 at the age of 95; he is survived by two of his daughters. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. The mobsters also attempted to get Castro into a poisoned wetsuit and even offered to blow him up with an exploding seashell. Santo Traficante Jr fue uno de los ltimos y mas poderosos capos de la mafia en Florida y Cuba. The chairman cited a confession from Roselli that Trafficantes allies organized a sharpshooter, Lee Harvey Oswald, to take out the President. She is now living in Virginia. At age 16, he boarded the S.S. Lombardia and set sail for American in search of a better life. Read free previews and reviews from booklovers. In a final disappointment, he sold a filly named "Run Marisa Run" (after his daughter) for $7,500. As one of the most powerful mobsters in the US, Trafficante was invited to the Havana Conference in December 1946. You'll learn about bolita, the rumored tunnels of Ybor, and the Era of Blood. He went to Jesuit High School and played some football. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. 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. Josephine Marchese Trafficante Santo Trafficante Jr. (November 15, 1914 March 17, 1987) was among the most powerful Mafia bosses in the United States. My prayers are with all of you. 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. Failed to delete memorial. [13] Trafficante also stated that he had no recollection of meeting Oswald or Oswald's assassin, Jack Ruby. Trafficante had now not only lost an ally but a significant portion of his income as his casinos were closed by the Marxist revolutionary. She handled great adversity and difficult, troubling times with grace, dignity, and style; with respect and love for all around her. "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. He offered to pay $150,000 to have Castro killed, but Roselli declined any pay and introduced Maheu to two men he referred to as "Sam Gold" and "Joe." "Sam Gold" was Sam Giancana; "Joe" was Trafficante. Verify and try again. He has thought about it. He even sent his son, Santo Trafficante Junior, to New York, to gain a better understanding of how the mafia operated there. In Trafficante's food chain, reporters rank only marginally higher than prosecutors and bank regulators, whom he likes to refer to as "rat bastards.". The international narcotics trade was also an important topic on the Apalachin agenda. There was an error deleting this problem. 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. tampa crime boss santo trafficante jr plays a central role in thriller 'mafia spies' Bolita , Mob Hits , Scott M. Deitche , Tampa Mafia SANTO TRAFFICANTE SR, A 'Sicilian of the Old School,' RULED TAMPA'S UNDERWORLD FOR MORE THAN A DECADE! You 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. Ed Giorandino/NY Daily News Archive via Getty ImagesSanto Trafficante arrives at Queens Supreme Court in Kew Gardens. Santo Trafficante Jr. (November 15, 1914 - March 17, 1987) was among the most powerful Mafia bosses in the United States. However the meeting came to be, the mob nonetheless brought influential states like Illinois into the Kennedy fold in exchange for the White House going easy on organized crime. He walked outside and got into a 1951 Mercury sedan driven by one of his associates. "I'm a freak for that kind of stuff," he says. With deepest sympathy and love. [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.