Departed this Life May 13, 2015 "There's no such thing as organized crime in Hillsborough County," Trafficante says, clapping his hands for emphasis. All the while, he lives in a palatial lakeside compound in rural northwest Hillsborough. please know that i am praying for you and your family. He sought treatment for stomach cancer and was ready to hand power over to a trusted lieutenant. This was proven in 1953 when he eliminated the last contender to the Tampa mob throne: Joe Antinori, son of the late Ignacio. Wife : Josephine MARCHESE (Santo TRAFFICANTE Jr. married Josephine in Tampa, Florida on April 17, 1938). Email blog@themobmuseum.org. Santo Trafficante Jr. (November 15, 1914 - March 17, 1987) was among the most powerful Mafia bosses in the United States. 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. 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. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. The other guys are two doctors, who say they'll testify if they're summoned to court. She was a native of Tampa, a second-generation Sicilian immigrant who grew up in Ybor city. My heart goes out to the family. Getting in bed with Trafficante and other leading members of Americas organized crime seems like a strange thing to do for the CIA. We are one of them! Learn more about managing a memorial . "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.". Salcines was observed at the properties the weekend of June 9, 1967. You need a Find a Grave account to continue. The choice was nothing more than honoring a tradition. The glamorous casino in the Hotel Nacional De Cuba in Havana in 1958. The Internal Revenue Service tried to collect $400,000 in back taxes owed on the business, saying it had not been run as business eligible for tax write-offs, but a hobby. Passing before her were her parents Antonino and Sarafina Marchese; her beloved husband Santo Trafficante Jr.; her son-in-laws Augie Paniello and Richard Valdes; and her brothers, Bennie Marchese, Tommy Marchese, and Peter Marchese. I thought you might like to see a memorial for Santo Trafficante Jr. Daughters: Mary Josephine Sarah Ann Brothers: Frank, Salvatore (Sam), Epifanio and Enrico (Henry) Uncle: Joseph M. CACCIATORE (convicted narcotic trafficker) CRIMINAL HISTORY: 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. Santo Trafficante Jr. was a reserved, modest man married to the same woman for 49 years. 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 . 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. The investigators were looking for proof of drug-money laundering. Love and peace to you all. She handled great adversity and difficult, troubling times with grace, dignity, and style; with respect and love for all around her. Read free previews and reviews from booklovers. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/53540265/santo-trafficante. [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. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. Trafficantes partnership with Batista was profitable for both parties and so the mobsters fate became inextricably tied to that of Cubas political climate. In this episode, we will discuss the fascinating life of Tampa's most powerful mobster: Santo Trafficante Jr. 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. She was predeceased in death, by other loving family members. Most mornings Trafficante spends a few hours at his modest wholesale automobile lot at the intersection of Dale Mabry Highway and W Broad Street. The Trafficante Family Under Santo Junior . [15], Ragano also claimed that Trafficante, four days prior to his death, delivered a deathbed confession which suggested that Marcello was meant to assassinate Robert F. Kennedy instead of his brother, the President. 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. He grimaces at the thought that the rumor has persisted so long. Husband of Private Finally, in 1987, Trafficante died at the age of 72. He drove standard cars, lived in regular houses in quiet places, was married to the same woman, and generally described as a quiet man. She was the Matriarch of the Trafficante Family; and we will all miss her presence, guidance, love and affection. 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. Those were some of the greatest memories growing up. More importantly, Castro imprisoned Trafficante and then had him exiled from Cuba. 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 New York City. 0 cemeteries found in Ybor City, Hillsborough County, Florida, USA. Trafficante Jr. controlled his Tampa-based crime network for over three decades. Add to your scrapbook. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. 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. [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. Try again later. All Rights Reserved. The wiretap evidence has been thrown out of court. Trafficante would be charged with bank fraud, perjury and disclosure of criminal investigation. Mobster dies, two nations. He was severed from that trial for medical reasons. With over 1,900 locations, Dignity Memorial providers proudly serve over 375,000 families a year. 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. The Shore Acres home is 2,350-square-feet with 10 rooms that Capone reputedly built in 1925 for his mother. There was an error deleting this problem. Born in Tampa, Florida in 1914, Trafficante hailed from a family already deeply involved in organized crime. 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. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. She was predeceased in death, by other loving family members. When you think of Florida and organized crime, it is difficult to avoid conjuring up images of Tony Montana in. 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. gerry,i am so sorry to hear about santo. "[12] Aleman claimed to have reported Trafficante's comments to his FBI contacts, who "dismissed the Kennedy warnings as gangland braggadocio. [4] All were fined, up to $10,000 each, and given prison sentences ranging from three to five years. "[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. Federal investigators brought racketeering and conspiracy charges against him in the summer of 1986. Trafficante was arrested on a bookmaking conspiracy charge. You'll learn about bolita, the rumored tunnels of Ybor, and the Era of Blood. [13] He testified that he was brought into the plot by Roselli and Giancana, who had been recruited by Maheu. Josephine Marchese Trafficante, 95, died peacefully in her sleep, Wednesday morning at her home. Santo Trafficante, Sr., the powerful Trafficante crime family's patriarch, was born on May 28, 1886, in Alexandria Della Rocca, Sicily. [13] Trafficante also stated that he had no recollection of meeting Oswald or Oswald's assassin, Jack Ruby. 12 talking about this. Search above to list available cemeteries. "I thought all this would end when my uncle died. In Trafficante's food chain, reporters rank only marginally higher than prosecutors and bank regulators, whom he likes to refer to as "rat bastards.". Maheu hid the fact that he was sent by the CIA, instead portraying himself an advocate for international corporations. He has played golf with former New York Yankees third baseman Graig Nettles and former New York Islanders hockey player Clark Gillies. "[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. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. However, by the late 1920s, facing little pressure, Sicilian gangsters began setting up lucrative gambling and narcotics rackets. GitHub export from English Wikipedia. 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. Following his death, Mobster Vincent LoScalvo took over the Trafficante familys criminal network in Florida. After Cuban revolution, the Mafia saw Castro as a threat to their business. Santo Trafficante Jr. had long followed in his fathers footsteps, and proved to be an even more effective Mafia kingpin. Your entry has exceeded the maximum character limit. Santo met and married Maria Giuseppe Cacciatore on April 20, 1909. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Reclaiming History: The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy. 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. Santo Trafficante Jr. had long followed in his fathers footsteps, and proved to be an even more effective Mafia kingpin. based on information from your browser. Died: March 17, 1987, Houston, Texas 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. 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. 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. CANDLE HAS BEEN LIT CANDLES HAVE BEEN LIT, We are reviewing your submission. 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. prosecution, fled temporarily to Cuba. Other Mafia leaders, as well as newer organized crime networks, took over many of the rackets the family ran throughout the 20th Century. In the meantime, the allegation that he is a mobster has dogged him and his family. [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. But those werent even their most ridiculous ideas. My uncle, never wore a ring," Trafficante says. 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. 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. The guy really tried to do it right.". 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. In 1950, the aging Trafficante Sr. began to slow down. Published: March 15th, 2017 - By Scott M. Deitche, Contributing Writer, Florida Mafia boss Santo Trafficante Jr. died 30 years ago March 17, El Chapos lawyers complain about strict rules at New York prison. On the day that investigators raided Key Bank, a cardiologist at St. Joseph's Hospital was inserting a catheter in Trafficante's groin. Meet Santo Trafficante: The Silent Don Who Tried To Kill Fidel Castro And May Have Ordered JFKs Assassination. There are few indicators that the family is still an active crime network. He drove a forklift for 20 years. [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. 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. Our heartfelt condolences go out to your family. 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. She was a wonderful cook, and she loved to crochet and travel with her husband, but she lived her life for her family. Comfort the family with flowers or a sympathy gift. "When I woke up, they told me they raided Key Bank. His uncle, the late Santo Trafficante Jr., was reputed to have been the boss of the local Mafia. His health had declined in his later years. "When my uncle visited it was like a family reunion. 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. Ed Giorandino/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images. 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. After this look at Santo Trafficante Jr., read the gruesome story of the murderous American dentist, Benjamin Salomon, of World War II. THE HIT THAT EXPOSED SOME OF TAMPAS ELITE. My ex-wife Erline Lazzara was a childhood friend you might remember. 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. "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. However, by the late 1920s, facing little pressure, Sicilian gangsters began setting up lucrative gambling and narcotics rackets. [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. There was a problem getting your location. 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. 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. 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. All photos uploaded successfully, click on the Done button to see the photos in the gallery. 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. 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. 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. In January 1963, he married Geraldine Valenti, the daughter of J.C. Valenti, who owned a thriving produce business. 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. If the decision is upheld on appeal, charges against Trafficante may be dismissed. After the Kennedy hubbub, Trafficante kept a low profile or, lower that is. Trafficante was apprehended in November 1957, along with over 60 other mobsters, at the Apalachin meeting in Apalachin, New York. A Hillsborough judge threw out the wiretaps, the spine of the state's case. [3] Trafficante moved to Cuba in 1955, where he came into contact with Batista and Meyer Lansky. Daughters: Mary Josephine Sarah Ann Brothers: Frank, Salvatore (Sam), Epifanio and Enrico (Henry) Uncle: Joseph M. CACCIATORE (convicted narcotic trafficker) CRIMINAL HISTORY: [7], In January 1958, Trafficante was questioned by the Cuban police regarding the Apalachin meeting. Born: November 15, 1914, Tampa, Florida Santo Trafficante Jr. (November 15, 1914 March 17, 1987) was among the most powerful Mafia bosses in the United States. 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. [5] We found ourselves in a love affair with Tony Soprano and we could not stop watching. For the U.S. government, it was a classic case of the enemy of my enemy is my friend.. 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. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. 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. Please enable JavaScript in your browser's settings to use this part of Geni. Year should not be greater than current year. 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. I can answer any questions you . "[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. Santos Trafficante Jr. was the son of Santos Trafficante Sr., who owned several casinos in Havana. He walked outside and got into a 1951 Mercury sedan driven by one of his associates. 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 died of natural causes, at the age of 72, in Houston, Texas. Santo Jr.'s daughters still owns 3610, where Santo spent time when he wasn't in Tampa or Miami. He wears tasselled leather loafers without socks. Share Santo's life story with friends and family. You and Santo will always have a special place in my heart. [21], Trafficante was summoned to court in 1986 and questioned about his involvement with the King's Court Bottle Club operated by members of the Bonanno crime family, including undercover FBI agent Joseph D. "Joe" Pistone, a.k.a. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. [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? Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. 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. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. The senior Trafficante's name has been linked to gambling, drug-dealing and even plots to kill Fidel Castro and John F. Kennedy. But according to declassified documents released in 1992, Santo Trafficante Jr. made a deathbed confession of his involvement in the Presidents murder. And the Trafficante Crime family found out that it had an unusual ally in their concerns about Castro: the Central Intelligence Agency. 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 . Trafficante was arrested again in 1957 for attending the famous Apalachin summit of Mob leaders in New York, but those charges were dropped. A few months later, two members of that group took the train to New York City to drum up support for a move against Santo. At Boxer Cycle Works. [15][16] He stated he was chosen by Hoffa because, as both Hoffa and Trafficante's lawyer, he could be assured of attorneyclient privilege. Century, Tampa was a small but growing city, and the organized crime it faced was modest. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. the daughter of immigrants from the Italian region of Basilicata. While shouldering the legacy of his father and. It never did exist.". He was, in many ways, the archetypical old-school Mob boss. He dropped out of high school and spent time in New York learning the trade from some of the countries toughest mobsters.
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