[2] Trafficante Jr. had known Lucchese since the 1940s, when his father and Lucchese had trained him in the mafia traditions. The Trafficante Family Under Santo Junior . My aim is to provide you with the best Service experience for you and your motorcycle. I found on Findagrave.com. Thanks for subscribing! 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 . Santo Trafficante: Building the Family Business - Gangsters Inc The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. [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. [13] Trafficante also stated that he had no recollection of meeting Oswald or Oswald's assassin, Jack Ruby. All the while, he lives in a palatial lakeside compound in rural northwest Hillsborough. [3] Trafficante moved to Cuba in 1955, where he came into contact with Batista and Meyer Lansky. "I was the most expensive forklift driver in the world," he says with a smile. 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. Trafficante Sr. passed away four years later, leaving Jr. his Tampa and Cuba-based criminal empire. Help tell the story of your loved ones unique life. Seven people were murdered. View Source Suggest Edits Memorial Photos Flowers Memorials Region North America USA Florida There are few indicators that the family is still an active crime network. He flew to Houston on March 15 for heart bypass surgery. He convicted infamous criminal labor union head, Jimmy Hoffa. Trafficante Jr. controlled his Tampa-based crime network for over three decades. While he had several close calls with law enforcement including the famed FBI Donnie Brasco investigation he never spent a single day of his life in jail. Hoffa said to me, This has to be done.'. Many of the familys gangsters were in prison, or too old to be effective. Century, Tampa was a small but growing city, and the organized crime it faced was modest. A Hillsborough judge threw out the wiretaps, the spine of the state's case. please know that i am praying for you and your family. Indeed, some people would rather not dwell on the less-than-noble aspects of our local history. All the convictions were overturned on appeal in 1960. You and Santo will always have a special place in my heart. Trafficante scrambled out the passenger-side door. They had three daughters, Antoinette born . 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. So is Santo Jose Trafficante III a mobster? "Sam Gold" was Sam Giancana; "Joe" was Trafficante. 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. U.S. Treasury Department documents indicate that law enforcement believed Trafficante's legitimate business interests to include several legal casinos in Cuba; a Havana drive-in movie theater; and shares in several restaurants and bars in Trafficante's hometown of Tampa, Florida. [4] All were fined, up to $10,000 each, and given prison sentences ranging from three to five years. Wife : Josephine MARCHESE (Santo TRAFFICANTE Jr. married Josephine in Tampa, Florida on April 17, 1938). ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. Santo was known to have been deeply involved in the CIA efforts to involve the underworld in assassination attempts on Fidel Castro. He will always be remembered with fondness. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. Santo Trafficante, Jr. - facebook.com Santo Trafficante then categorically denied every allegation about stating he wanted RFK or JFK dead and got off scot-free. Trafficante was born in Tampa, Florida, to Sicilian parents Santo Trafficante Sr. and his wife Maria Giuseppa Cacciatore in 1914. His health had declined in his later years. 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. 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. The guy really tried to do it right.". And despite relatively small time beginnings, Trafficante proved to be a shrewd mobster. The first case stemmed from the FBIs well-known Donnie Brasco undercover sting operation. James Traficant - Wikipedia When Fidel Castro began his ascent to power in the 1950s, Santo Trafficante feared the radical Marxist revolutionary wouldnt cooperate with him. Trafficante had been operating in Cuba since the late 1940s under his father, Santo Trafficante Sr., a mobster in Tampa, Florida. 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. Please try again later. THE CHARLIE WALL STORY Kingpin Charlie Wall (center holding bottle, right of child) and his notorious gang. May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow. Treasury Department History of Santo Trafficante Jr 1961 Authorities said he leaked a list of suspects in the case and then lied about it. Failed to delete memorial. 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 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. Santo Trafficante Jr.: The Florida Godfather Who Tried To Kill Castro Our prayers are with you. He headed the . And then there are the infinite conspiracy theories about the assassination of President Kennedy, many of them featuring Trafficante. With deepest sympathy and love. I thought you might like to see a memorial for Santo Trafficante Jr. Cuban leader Fulgencio Batista in Washington, D.C. in 1938. 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. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. In February 2016, many of Trafficante's personal belongings were sold at an auction in St. Petersburg, Florida. After that, he ordered casino owners to cough up employee back pay, then shut them down again. 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. Several were wounded. In Trafficante's food chain, reporters rank only marginally higher than prosecutors and bank regulators, whom he likes to refer to as "rat bastards.". Santo Trafficante Jr. - IMDb If the decision is upheld on appeal, charges against Trafficante may be dismissed. "The Mob? By this point, Trafficante Jr. had fully taken over the oversight of drugs shipped between Florida, Cuba, and the rest of the States. "He's very creative in terms of the combination of things he eats," Alessi says. He attended the University of Florida for a year, then transferred to the University of Tampa and left without completing his degree. Husband of Private 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. It was all on the up and up. This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. Though his prison sentence wasnt long and he returned to a strong position in Florida, Trafficante never forgave Castro. She was a wonderful cook, and she loved to crochet and travel with her husband, but she lived her life for her family. You'll learn about bolita, the rumored tunnels of Ybor, and the Era of Blood. The Shore Acres home is 2,350-square-feet with 10 rooms that Capone reputedly built in 1925 for his mother. At age 16, he boarded the S.S. Lombardia and set sail for American in search of a better life. One small gang, led by Italian immigrant Santo Trafficante Senior, profited from the illegal lottery-style games they ran across Tampa. 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. My ex-wife Erline Lazzara was a childhood friend you might remember. [2] Trafficante Jr. would frequently meet with Lucchese in New York City for dinner.[2]. The international narcotics trade was also an important topic on the Apalachin agenda. Let others know about your loved one's death. Year should not be greater than current year. "My wife's got money. Contribute to chinapedia/wikipedia.en development by creating an account on GitHub. cemeteries found in Ybor City, Hillsborough County, Florida, USA will be saved to your photo volunteer list. 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. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. I think it was a case of mistaken identity.. He was, in many ways, the archetypical old-school Mob boss. At 76,. The next son was Luigi Santo Trafficante Jr. (his namesake and future Mafia boss), born on November 15, 1914. Try again later. In January 1963, he married Geraldine Valenti, the daughter of J.C. Valenti, who owned a thriving produce business. Home - Boxer Cycle Works Mobster dies, two nations. Daughters: Mary Josephine Sarah Ann Brothers: Frank, Salvatore (Sam), Epifanio and Enrico (Henry) Uncle: Joseph M. CACCIATORE (convicted narcotic trafficker) CRIMINAL HISTORY: Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. Anthony Accardo & Santo Trafficante Jr - Labor Union Kickbacks (1977- 1981)https://www.nytimes.com/1981/06/05/us/16-indicted-over-union-fund-use.htmlCredit:. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. Santos married Josephine Marchese in 1938, they would have two daughters. His business ventures have not always been successful. The Trafficante Family - American Mafia History I can answer any questions you . All photos uploaded successfully, click on the Done button to see the photos in the gallery. Trafficantes chance came in the 1960s when he became acquainted with mobster John Handsome Johnny Roselli. Departed this Life May 13, 2015 SANTO TRAFFICANTE SR, A Sicilian of the Old School, RULED TAMPAS UNDERWORLD FOR MORE THAN A DECADE! He was right, and when Castro took power in 1959, Trafficantes burgeoning gambling-and-drugs empire went under siege. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. Your Scrapbook is currently empty. Alongside Chicago boss Sam Giancana, Roselli and Trafficante came up with some truly insane plots to kill Fidel Castro. We found ourselves in a love affair with Tony Soprano and we could not stop watching. His abiding passion is food. Trafficante had now not only lost an ally but a significant portion of his income as his casinos were closed by the Marxist revolutionary. [15][16] He stated he was chosen by Hoffa because, as both Hoffa and Trafficante's lawyer, he could be assured of attorneyclient privilege. 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. Verify and try again. 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. 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. While the plot never came to fruition, Trafficante later testified that he did help the CIA recruit other mobsters for the surreal plot. Harris & Ewing/Library of Commons/Wikimedia Commons. Trafficante was apprehended in November 1957, along with over 60 other mobsters, at the Apalachin meeting in Apalachin, New York. Every so often I think of the Jekyll Island and White Lake, NC trip and laugh. During a recent trip to Lake Tahoe he bought two basketballs autographed by Michael Jordan. In the early 20th Century, Tampa was a small but growing city, and the organized crime it faced was modest. gerry,i am so sorry to hear about santo. Spoiled by mobsters, Meyer Lansky's daughter recalls family men, not After Cuban revolution, the Mafia saw Castro as a threat to their business. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. The other guys are two doctors, who say they'll testify if they're summoned to court. Like many of the most prominent mobsters of the 20th century, his father, Santo Trafficante Sr., grew up in Sicily, Italy but became a major player in the criminal world after migrating to America. Donnie Brasco. Try again later. Resend Activation Email. 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. Sign up for service and obituary updates. [15] He repeated the claim two days later on ABC's Good Morning America,[16] in Newfield's Frontline report entitled JFK, Hoffa and Mob broadcast in November 1992,[17] and again in his 1994 autobiography Mob Lawyer. My heart goes out to the family. In 1975, the CIA declassified a report stating that Trafficante had been persuaded to poison Castro, an allegation he denied. After months of wiretapped phone conversations, investigators seized boxloads of documents, some with Trafficante's name on them. 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. 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. Santo Trafficante Jr. (November 15, 1914 - March 17, 1987) was among the most powerful Mafia bosses in the United States. Share Santo's life story with friends and family. "When my uncle visited it was like a family reunion. With that act, Santo Trafficante now reigned supreme in Tampa. Love, Jimmy Schaffer. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. 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 original Malio's Restaurant located on South Dale Mabry Highway in Tampa, Florida. 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. His new attorney general his beloved brother, Robert F. Kennedy went after organized crime with a vengeance. Trafficante's appetite and his legal woes seem linked like the strands of a cruller. Santo Trafficante Jr. (November 15, 1914 March 17, 1987) was among the most powerful Mafia bosses in the United States. CANDLE HAS BEEN LIT CANDLES HAVE BEEN LIT, We are reviewing your submission. Valenti hired his son-in-law at the produce company and allowed him to name his own salary. That horse won $161,080 for its new owners, according to the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders Association. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santo_Trafficante_Jr. Chris and I will never forget Santo's presence at Leia's welcome home party.