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.
Treasury Department History of Santo Trafficante Jr 1961 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. The twister killed hls mother when lt touched down about 6, honored Wednesday us the nation's sute legislator. Thanks for subscribing! Send your deepest condolences with fresh flowers. [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. Hey, they have more convicts at the track than straight people," Trafficante says. I am sorry I am unable to attend the services due to a illness.
Indeed, a wiretapped conversation picked up a Key Bank official calling Trafficante a "sacred cow," with loans in excess of a million dollars. 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 CIA came to Trafficante, and asked for his help in enlisting the Mafia to assassinate the Cuban leader. "I was going to ask him to come over and try our beignets to see how they compare to the Cafe Du Monde in New Orleans," Alessi says.
Santo Trafficante Jr.: The Florida Godfather Who Tried To Kill Castro By Santo III's own estimation, this was a wise move. We are one of them!
I have thought of you and Santo many times over the past 50 years. 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. And then there are the infinite conspiracy theories about the assassination of President Kennedy, many of them featuring Trafficante. At 76,. 2023, Tampa Mafia. After months of wiretapped phone conversations, investigators seized boxloads of documents, some with Trafficante's name on them. In January 1963, he married Geraldine Valenti, the daughter of J.C. Valenti, who owned a thriving produce business. [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. Please enable JavaScript in your browser's settings to use this part of Geni. "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. Undercover detectives ran a gambling sting operation there, hoping to nab a circle of Tampa men they said were making illegal sports bets. 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. 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. The report was given to the District Attorney's office. 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. Alongside Chicago boss Sam Giancana, Roselli and Trafficante came up with some truly insane plots to kill Fidel Castro. Still, he lives comfortably enough to give his sons Jaguar sports cars, red for Dino and white for Joseph. Santo Trafficante Jr. continued to develop his interests in Cuba serving as Luciano and Lanskys local liaison. 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. Santo Trafficante Jr., one of the last of the old-time reputed Mafia dons, who was reportedly enlisted in 1960 in a futile effort to kill Fidel Castro, has died at the age of 72. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. [2] Trafficante Jr. would frequently meet with Lucchese in New York City for dinner.[2]. Wife : Josephine MARCHESE (Santo TRAFFICANTE Jr. married Josephine in Tampa, Florida on April 17, 1938). Help tell the story of your loved ones unique life. Santo Trafficante Jr. was a reserved, modest man married to the same woman for 49 years. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. In 1975, the CIA declassified a report stating that Trafficante had been persuaded to poison Castro, an allegation he denied. His luck has not improved recently. Santo was known to have been deeply involved in the CIA efforts to involve the underworld in assassination attempts on Fidel Castro. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? Failed to report flower.
Santo Trafficante, Jr. - facebook.com That horse won $161,080 for its new owners, according to the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders Association. My prayers are with all of you. In a final disappointment, he sold a filly named "Run Marisa Run" (after his daughter) for $7,500. But the news was not good on the Key Bank front. The first case stemmed from the FBIs well-known Donnie Brasco undercover sting operation. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. Sorry! "If my uncle knew I was talking to the press, Christ, he'd shoot me," Trafficante says, half-laughing. [5] department.". 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. Thanks for your help! View Source Suggest Edits Memorial Photos Flowers Memorials Region North America USA Florida the daughter of immigrants from the Italian region of Basilicata. Passing before her were her parents Antonino and Sarafina Marchese; her beloved husband Santo Trafficante Jr.; her son-in-law's Augie Paniello and Richard Valdes; and her brothers, Bennie Marchese, Tommy Marchese, and Peter Marchese. President John F. Kennedy, FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, and Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, Dennis Caruso/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images. Santo Trafficante grew up in the Florida underworld, working his father's gambling rackets and getting experience in the business. 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. 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. The American governments close ties to Santo Trafficante Jr. and the rest of the Mafia didnt end with their attempts to kill Castro.
Santo Trafficante Sr., a 'Sicilian of the old school,' ruled Tampa's During a recent trip to Lake Tahoe he bought two basketballs autographed by Michael Jordan. In fact, Florida had the dubious distinction of being home to a decades-old Mafia criminal network: the Trafficante Family. wills o' nats last of the summer wine. 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! All photos uploaded successfully, click on the
Done button to see the photos in the gallery. [3] His wife, Josephine, died in 2015 at the age of 95; he is survived by two of his daughters. 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. 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. 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. The Trafficante Family Under Santo Junior. 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. The Unbelievable Story Of Richard Lee McNair The Man Who Mailed Himself Out Of Prison, What JFK's Mob-Affiliated Mistress May Have Known About His Assassination, What Stephen Hawking Thinks Threatens Humankind The Most, 27 Raw Images Of When Punk Ruled New York, Join The All That's Interesting Weekly Dispatch. 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. Brother of Frank Cacciatore Trafficante; Private and Private. 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. 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.
Trafficante was arrested frequently throughout the 1950s on various charges of bribery and of running illegal bolita lotteries in Tampa's Ybor City district. His new attorney general his beloved brother, Robert F. Kennedy went after organized crime with a vengeance. His wife also was named in the fraud charges.
Santo Trafficante Jr Santo Trafficante Jr. (November 15, 1914 - March 17, 1987) was among the most powerful Mafia bosses in the United States. Trafficante weathered the violence of Floridas Mob wars and the various conspiracy theories, the Cuban Revolution and the loss of his offshore casinos, as well as intense law enforcement scrutiny, without ever spending time in prison. prosecution, fled temporarily to Cuba. Love and peace to you all.
Sam Giancana - Wikipedia He wears tasselled leather loafers without socks. The chairman cited a confession from Roselli that Trafficantes allies organized a sharpshooter, Lee Harvey Oswald, to take out the President.
Santo Trafficante Jr. - IMDb SANTO TRAFFICANTE SR, A Sicilian of the Old School, RULED TAMPAS UNDERWORLD FOR MORE THAN A DECADE! Ed Giorandino/NY Daily News Archive via Getty ImagesSanto Trafficante arrives at Queens Supreme Court in Kew Gardens.
Drag images here or select from your computer for Santo Trafficante Jr. memorial. Verify and try again. Trafficante again escaped conviction. 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. In the meantime, the allegation that he is a mobster has dogged him and his family. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. They had three daughters, Antoinette born . More importantly, Castro imprisoned Trafficante and then had him exiled from Cuba. The Shore Acres home is 2,350-square-feet with 10 rooms that Capone reputedly built in 1925 for his mother. [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 guarantee you'll never look at Ybor City the same way again. They used to be my greatest friend," Trafficante says. By December 1953, one more rival was dead and another was too scared to even venture out of his home. Read free previews and reviews from booklovers. A year later they had their first son, Frank, born on April 16, 1910. [14], After a grant of immunity from prosecution, Trafficante testified before the HSCA the following day, September 28, and denied the allegation that he told Aleman that "Kennedy was going to be hit. "I still don't think I did anything wrong," Trafficante says. "The Mob? Wikimedia CommonsPresident John F. Kennedy, FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, and Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy. [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. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. 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. There are few indicators that the family is still an active crime network. Santo Trafficante was wanted in 48 states by the time he was 43. 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. Federal investigators brought racketeering and conspiracy charges against him in the summer of 1986. santo trafficante daughters Phil Alessi, a childhood friend, marvels at Trafficante's taste and capacity.
Santo Trafficante Jr. - Wikipedia For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. After the death of his wife, the Trafficante family sold their Tampa 1970-built home for $950,000. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. "Now when I walk in a bank," Trafficante says, "the president runs out the back door.". 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. She misses him, but she's making do. Trafficante was born in Tampa, Florida, to Sicilian parents Santo Trafficante Sr. and his wife Maria Giuseppa Cacciatore in 1914. Zeng8r/Wikimedia Common A set of bolita balls. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/53540265/santo-trafficante. Getting in bed with Trafficante and other leading members of Americas organized crime seems like a strange thing to do for the CIA. 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. All the convictions were overturned on appeal in 1960. Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. The IRS was unsuccessful, according to Fernandez, Trafficante's attorney. Trafficante took control of the Tampa mob in 1954 after the death of his father, Santo Trafficante Sr. He returned to Tampa for the last time for internment in the LUnione Italiana Cemetery. 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. Try again. Our heartfelt condolences go out to your family. I will never forget him as a fellow stroke survivor. 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. A car registered to former state attorney and current state appellate judge E.J. After his father died in 1954, he became the head in Tampa and took over his fathers interests in Cuba. His son was turned away from a date's house and his daughter has been refused jobs. But before Trafficante testified, someone conveniently killed Roselli. "Banks are my greatest enemy. Over the next 30-plus years, Trafficante, Jr. rose to oversee Mafia operations across the state of Florida. Share this memorial using social media sites or email.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santo_Trafficante_Jr. 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 think it's all bull----," says Trafficante's former horse trainer, Arthur Pedregal Jr. "It's only because his name is Trafficante. After Cuban revolution, the Mafia saw Castro as a threat to their business. My thoughts and prayers are with you all! Santo, Jr. never spent a day in jail, and he died of natural causes in 1987. He maintained close working ties with the Lucchese crime family and the Bonanno crime family from New York City. His health had declined in his later years. But considering the fiercely anti-Soviet atmosphere of the Cold War, its not that hard to believe. The original Malio's Restaurant located on South Dale Mabry Highway in Tampa, Florida. However, by the late 1920s, facing little pressure, Sicilian gangsters began setting up lucrative gambling and narcotics rackets. 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. You'll learn about bolita, the rumored tunnels of Ybor, and the Era of Blood. By this point, Trafficante Jr. had fully taken over the oversight of drugs shipped between Florida, Cuba, and the rest of the States. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. Send a note, share a story or upload a photo. 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. As we all know, he was right, and Kennedy was assassinated by a sniper in November 1963. And as for the rest of the Trafficante Crime family? Comfort the family with flowers or a sympathy gift. 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. Please check your entries and try again. "I was the most expensive forklift driver in the world," he says with a smile. Chris and I will never forget Santo's presence at Leia's welcome home party.
Trafficante crime family - Wikipedia Authorities said he leaked a list of suspects in the case and then lied about it. After a violent mob war left several of Trafficantes rivals dead or weakened, his gang rapidly rose to prominence in Tampa. From bolitaan illegal version of the now-legal Florida lotteryto narcotics, Tampas experience with organized crime is as notable as Chicagos or New Yorks. He was married to his wife for 49 years. Trafficantes chance came in the 1960s when he became acquainted with mobster John Handsome Johnny Roselli.
Florida Mafia boss Santo Trafficante Jr. died 30 years ago March 17 Then, check out these photos of the aftermath from some of the bloodiest mob hits. This browser does not support getting your location. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. 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. Ex-FBI agent and later Howard Hughes aide Robert Maheu of Las Vegas was one of the primary go-betweens for Trafficante. He allegedly controlled organized crime operations in Florida and Cuba prosecution, fled temporarily to Cuba. The gunmen drove off, unaware they had failed to kill Trafficante, merely grazing his arm. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. Our thoughts and prayers are with you Gerry and your family. He wants Trafficante, whom he considers to have an authoritative palate, to sample a new pastry that Alessi plans to sell at his bakery. They never returned. 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. Search above to list available cemeteries. Born Tampa, Florida March 24, 1920 Ed Giorandino/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images. 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. "Even my uncle (Santo Jr.) told me, "Santo, why don't you change your name?' [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 then came Key Bank, a massive drug-money-laundering investigation. [1] In 1997, further declassified documents indicated that some mafiosi worked with the agency on assassination attempts against Castro. He was severed from that trial for medical reasons. Trafficante Sr. hung back and developed relationships with politicians and his Mob colleagues in New York and Chicago. View Source Suggest Edits Memorial Photos Flowers Memorials Region North America USA Florida Failed to remove flower. She was a native of Tampa, a second-generation Sicilian immigrant who grew up in Ybor city. Son of Santo Trafficante and Maria Giuseppa Trafficante Please reset your password. Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. He walked outside and got into a 1951 Mercury sedan driven by one of his associates. For the U.S. government, it was a classic case of the enemy of my enemy is my friend.. Resend Activation Email. All the while, he lives in a palatial lakeside compound in rural northwest Hillsborough. THE CHARLIE WALL STORY Kingpin Charlie Wall (center holding bottle, right of child) and his notorious gang. based on information from your browser. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. And despite relatively small time beginnings, Trafficante proved to be a shrewd mobster. Make sure that the file is a photo. Santo Trafficante Jr. had long followed in his father's footsteps, and proved to be an even more effective Mafia kingpin. The charges of bank fraud against Trafficante and more than a dozen bank employees and customers may well be dismissed. Share Santo's life story with friends and family. He has been featured on the History Channel, A&E, Discovery Channel, AHC, Oxygen Network and many local and national news shows. Now in his late 70s or early 80s, LoScalzo is reported to be retired. Under pressure of a court order granting him immunity from prosecution, but threatening him with contempt if he refused to talk, Santos admitted to a Congressional committee in 1975 that he had in the early 1960s recruited other mobsters to assassinate Castro. 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. Trafficante had now not only lost an ally but a significant portion of his income as his casinos were closed by the Marxist revolutionary. 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. 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. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. Salcines was observed at the properties the weekend of June 9, 1967. Learn more about managing a memorial . And purchase valuable sports memorabilia for himself. Santo Trafficante Jr. (November 15, 1914 - March 17, 1987) was among the most powerful Mafia bosses in the United States. Another bank sued Trafficante and his wife in October for repayment of a $100,000 promissory note. They lived in modest, ranch-style houses in quiet neighborhoods in Tampa and Miami. Failed to delete memorial. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. Search results for "Images of America" at Rakuten Kobo. Today, Santo Trafficantes criminal legacy lives on through his nephew and namesake, Santo Trafficante III, who was charged with organized fraud in 1992. But Santo knew who was behind the killing a rival Mafia faction. The elder Trafficante set up illegal casinos in Cuba in the 1940s, which were sanctioned by Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista. The guy really tried to do it right.". Most mornings Trafficante spends a few hours at his modest wholesale automobile lot at the intersection of Dale Mabry Highway and W Broad Street. According to Scott M. Deitche in The Silent Don, the family was profiting not only from its offshore casinos but from narcotics trafficking. 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. GREAT NEWS! THE HIT THAT EXPOSED SOME OF TAMPAS ELITE. [1] Trafficante maintained several residences in New York City and Florida. The other case was a RICO indictment for insurance fraud. In Trafficante's food chain, reporters rank only marginally higher than prosecutors and bank regulators, whom he likes to refer to as "rat bastards.". Now he owns a 210-acre orange grove in southern Hillsborough. When you think of Florida and organized crime, it is difficult to avoid conjuring up images of Tony Montana in. The investigators were looking for proof of drug-money laundering. 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. Love, Jimmy Schaffer. Santo Trafficante Jr. had long followed in his fathers footsteps, and proved to be an even more effective Mafia kingpin. Associates: Sam Giancana, Charlie Lucky Luciano, Meyer Lansky, Cuba, Fidel Castro, Johnny Rosselli, Robert Maheu. 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. [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. In his previous statements, Roselli also tied Lee Harvey Oswalds killer, Jack Ruby, to Santo Trafficante.
Santo Trafficante Jr. (1914-1987) - Find a Grave Memorial President John. 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."
santo trafficante daughters - shantisrl.com She was predeceased in death, by other loving family members. A Hillsborough judge threw out the wiretaps, the spine of the state's case. Year should not be greater than current year. Though his prison sentence wasnt long and he returned to a strong position in Florida, Trafficante never forgave Castro.
Tampa Mafia Tour - Tampa Mafia THE HIDDEN HISTORY OF TAMPA'S UNDERWORLD IS OFTEN INTERTWINED WITH SOME OF Something went wrong.