santo trafficante jr daughters

He had a big heart and will be missed. Try again later. Father of Private and Private She is now living in Virginia. Santo Trafficante Senior died in 1954. Undercover detectives ran a gambling sting operation there, hoping to nab a circle of Tampa men they said were making illegal sports bets. [3] Trafficante moved to Cuba in 1955, where he came into contact with Batista and Meyer Lansky. 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. Trafficante was arrested on a bookmaking conspiracy charge. We are one of them! According to the account of Judith Exner, however, one of JFKs many mistresses, it was she who introduced Kennedy to Chicago boss Giancana. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.. Share to let others add their own memories and condolences. 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. 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 before Trafficante testified, someone conveniently killed Roselli. The mafiosos that made up the family are either retired, in prison, or have died due to old age. Send your deepest condolences with fresh flowers. Reputed 'boss of bosses' dies at 72 TAMPA, Fla, "' Trafficante dies at age 72 TAMPA. Resend Activation Email. In January 1963, he married Geraldine Valenti, the daughter. In this episode, we will discuss the fascinating life of Tampa's most powerful mobster: Santo Trafficante Jr. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. Our thoughts and prayers are with you Gerry and your family. In 1975, the CIA declassified a report stating that Trafficante had been persuaded to poison Castro, an allegation he denied. He was a well-respected boss, even among the far larger New York crime families. All photos uploaded successfully, click on the Done button to see the photos in the gallery. "I think it's all bull----," says Trafficante's former horse trainer, Arthur Pedregal Jr. "It's only because his name is Trafficante. 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. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? Brother of Frank Cacciatore Trafficante; Private and Private. 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. But the news was not good on the Key Bank front. He dressed nicely but not ostentatiously, and his choice of cars was never flashy. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. gerry,i am so sorry to hear about santo. The other case was a RICO indictment for insurance fraud. I found on Findagrave.com. Your Scrapbook is currently empty. According to Scott M. Deitche in The Silent Don, the family was profiting not only from its offshore casinos but from narcotics trafficking. Born: November 15, 1914, Tampa, Florida Late in life LoScalzo denied any connections to organized crime. prosecution, fled temporarily to Cuba. In 1963, the Mob allegedly had enough of Kennedy. As law enforcement pressure increased on the Mafia in the late 1940s, Santo, fearing. She was the Matriarch of the Trafficante Family; and we will all miss her presence, guidance, love and affection. prosecution, fled temporarily to Cuba. For all the power he wielded, Trafficante was often described as quiet and reserved. He moved to Cuba in 1955 where he met the countrys authoritarian ruler Fulgencio Batista. Santo Trafficante Jr. continued to develop his interests in Cuba serving as Luciano and Lanskys local liaison. This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. The investigators were looking for proof of drug-money laundering. He wears tasselled leather loafers without socks. Santo Jr. was indicted several times through the 1950s but was convicted only once, on state charges in 1954 for bribery, and that conviction was overturned by the Florida Supreme Court. 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. Though his prison sentence wasnt long and he returned to a strong position in Florida, Trafficante never forgave Castro. He attended the University of Florida for a year, then transferred to the University of Tampa and left without completing his degree. 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. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. "They wouldn't even let me go to the track. Santo, Jr. never spent a day in jail, and he died of natural causes in 1987. [3] His wife, Josephine, died in 2015 at the age of 95; he is survived by two of his daughters. Phil Alessi, a childhood friend, marvels at Trafficante's taste and capacity. "[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. Organized Crime Figure. 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. This browser does not support getting your location. There was a problem getting your location. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/53540265/santo-trafficante. "I still don't think I did anything wrong," Trafficante says. Please enter your email and password to sign in. The wiretap evidence has been thrown out of court. The first case stemmed from the FBIs well-known Donnie Brasco undercover sting operation. 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. The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. He was the lynchpin in Tampa Charlie Wall The Kefauver hearings arrived in Tampa in December of 1950. 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. please know that i am praying for you and your family. In 1965, Giancana was convicted of contempt of court, serving one year in prison. As we all know, he was right, and Kennedy was assassinated by a sniper in November 1963. He drove a forklift for 20 years. In the 1950s, Tampas reputation for corruption and vice was so bad it prompted one national magazine to label the area the Hell Hole of the Gulf Coast. Given such negativity, who can blame people for just wanting to forget? Today, Santo Trafficantes criminal legacy lives on through his nephew and namesake, Santo Trafficante III, who was charged with organized fraud in 1992. We guarantee you'll never look at Ybor City the same way again. Year should not be greater than current year. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. ). He convicted infamous criminal labor union head, Jimmy Hoffa. He sought treatment for stomach cancer and was ready to hand power over to a trusted lieutenant. "He's very creative in terms of the combination of things he eats," Alessi says. Authorities said he leaked a list of suspects in the case and then lied about it. But those werent even their most ridiculous ideas. "You hope things will just disappear two or three years from now.". Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? Santo Trafficante Jr Santo Trafficante Jr. (November 15, 1914 - March 17, 1987) was among the most powerful Mafia bosses in the United States. Cuban leader Fulgencio Batista in Washington, D.C. in 1938. Then, check out these photos of the aftermath from some of the bloodiest mob hits. He has played golf with former New York Yankees third baseman Graig Nettles and former New York Islanders hockey player Clark Gillies. Ex-FBI agent and later Howard Hughes aide Robert Maheu of Las Vegas was one of the primary go-betweens for Trafficante. Josephine Marchese Trafficante, 95, died peacefully in her sleep, Wednesday morning at her home. [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. After this look at Santo Trafficante Jr., read the gruesome story of the murderous American dentist, Benjamin Salomon, of World War II. After his father died in 1954, he became the head in Tampa and took over his fathers interests in Cuba. Born Tampa, Florida March 24, 1920 Trafficante again escaped conviction. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. We have set your language to By Santo III's own estimation, this was a wise move. Now in his late 70s or early 80s, LoScalzo is reported to be retired. He headed the Trafficante crime family from 1954 to 1987 and controlled organized criminal operations in Florida and Cuba, which had previously been consolidated from several rival gangs by his father, Santo Trafficante Sr. The chairman cited a confession from Roselli that Trafficantes allies organized a sharpshooter, Lee Harvey Oswald, to take out the President. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. Perched on the edge of a leather chair in his attorney's office, Santo J. Trafficante III wears a pained expression on his jowly face. 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. He was left with about 25 horses at his stable in Lutz that he couldn't race and couldn't sell for more than it cost to keep them fed. 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. This was proven in 1953 when he eliminated the last contender to the Tampa mob throne: Joe Antinori, son of the late Ignacio. 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. With deepest sympathy and love. GitHub export from English Wikipedia. Please check your entries and try again. But then came Key Bank, a massive drug-money-laundering investigation. 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 . Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. He even sent his son, Santo Trafficante Junior, to New York, to gain a better understanding of how the mafia operated there. Over the next 30-plus years, Trafficante, Jr. rose to oversee Mafia operations across the state of Florida. "Banks are my greatest enemy. You'll learn about bolita, the rumored tunnels of Ybor, and the Era of Blood. This is a carousel with slides. [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? Santo Trafficante, Jr. was born in the United States on November 15, 1914, as one of five sons of Mafia boss Santo Trafficante. Read free previews and reviews from booklovers. You can always change this later in your Account settings. But once Kennedy actually entered the White House, he didnt live up to his end of the bargain. So, as the popular theory goes, the mob bosses that lent a helping hand in getting Kennedy into office wanted revenge. I will never forget him as a fellow stroke survivor. 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. There is a problem with your email/password. He attended a notorious convention of Mafia bosses held in the upstate New York town of Apalachin on November 14, 1957. Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. To use this feature, use a newer browser. Our heartfelt condolences go out to your family. A system error has occurred. He flew to Houston on March 15 for heart bypass surgery. 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. Harris & Ewing/Library of Commons/Wikimedia Commons. The Trafficante Family Under Santo Junior . Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. TAMPA CRIME BOSS SANTO TRAFFICANTE JR PLAYS A CENTRAL ROLE IN THRILLER MAFIA SPIES. That was in part due to his lifestyle. It may take up to 1 hour for your comment to appear on the website. Santo Trafficante grew up in the Florida underworld, working his father's gambling rackets and getting experience in the business. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. 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. [1] In 1997, further declassified documents indicated that some mafiosi worked with the agency on assassination attempts against Castro. 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. And the Trafficante Crime family found out that it had an unusual ally in their concerns about Castro: the Central, Trafficante Jr. controlled his Tampa-based crime network for over three decades. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. Santo Trafficante Jr. had long followed in his father's footsteps, and proved to be an even more effective Mafia kingpin. Another bank sued Trafficante and his wife in October for repayment of a $100,000 promissory note. Santo told the state attorney, I dont have an enemy in the world. Trafficante Jr. was nonetheless a ruthless and old-school mob boss. So, at his attorney Ralph Fernandez's urging, he has agreed to talk publicly, hoping to shore up his damaged reputation. 2023 SCI SHARED RESOURCES, LLC. Trafficante Sr. hung back and developed relationships with politicians and his Mob colleagues in New York and Chicago. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. In the mid-2000s, he would say he was a legitimate businessman, citing his ownership of a car dealership, and employment at various restaurants and night clubs over the years. 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. She was born on March 24, 1920. The CIA came to Trafficante, and asked for his help in enlisting the Mafia to assassinate the Cuban leader. They lived in modest, ranch-style houses in quiet neighborhoods in Tampa and Miami. 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. THE HIT THAT EXPOSED SOME OF TAMPAS ELITE. We send our most sincere sympathies to the Trafficante family. [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. One small gang, led by Italian immigrant Santo Trafficante Senior, profited from the illegal lottery-style games they ran across Tampa. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. He owned a West Tampa restaurant called Cafe Sevilla. Santo Trafficante Jr. was a reserved, modest man married to the same woman for 49 years. Upon his return to the United States, he became determined to bring down the man who ended his empire. The idea behind the assassination wasnt just to punish JFK but also to get his brother off the Mobs back. Santos Trafficante Jr. was the son of Santos Trafficante Sr., who owned several casinos in Havana. Daughters: Mary Josephine Sarah Ann Brothers: Frank, Salvatore (Sam), Epifanio and Enrico (Henry) Uncle: Joseph M. CACCIATORE (convicted narcotic trafficker) CRIMINAL HISTORY: Interestingly, Trafficante who was worth about $25 billion at his height in the 80s lived a fairly reserved, modest lifestyle. Rosselli testified in 1975 to the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence on the efforts to kill Castro. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. That horse won $161,080 for its new owners, according to the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders Association. "There's no such thing as organized crime in Hillsborough County," Trafficante says, clapping his hands for emphasis. [7], In January 1958, Trafficante was questioned by the Cuban police regarding the Apalachin meeting. President John F. Kennedy, FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, and Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, Dennis Caruso/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images. [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. Forget everything you think you know about Tampa mafia wives and girlfriends in the 1950s. "My wife's got money. Alongside Chicago boss Sam Giancana, Roselli and Trafficante came up with some truly insane plots to kill Fidel Castro. Trafficante was a ruthless mob boss, and quickly consolidated control over the criminal networks in Tampa. After a violent mob war left several of Trafficantes rivals dead or weakened, his gang rapidly rose to prominence in Tampa. If you notice a problem with the translation, please send a message to [emailprotected] and include a link to the page and details about the problem. He was married to his wife for 49 years. All Rights Reserved. [13] During his testimony, Trafficante also admitted for the first time that he had worked with the CIA from 1960 to 1961 for an attempt to poison Castro but stated that his role was only as an interpreter between CIA officials and Cuban exiles. Geni requires JavaScript! Wife : Josephine MARCHESE (Santo TRAFFICANTE Jr. married Josephine in Tampa, Florida on April 17, 1938). 0 cemeteries found in Ybor City, Hillsborough County, Florida, USA. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. [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. His health had declined in his later years. On the day that investigators raided Key Bank, a cardiologist at St. Joseph's Hospital was inserting a catheter in Trafficante's groin. The report was given to the District Attorney's office. Reclaiming History: The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy. 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. In January 1963, he married Geraldine Valenti, the daughter of J.C. Valenti, who owned a thriving produce 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. He was right, and when Castro took power in 1959, Trafficantes burgeoning gambling-and-drugs empire went under siege. There are few indicators that the family is still an active crime network. Shop eBooks and audiobooks at Rakuten Kobo. ", Christopher Sabella elected as Hillsborough Countys next chief judge, Tampa man arrested in death of person found in apartment with unharmed infant, deputies say, Suspect in Hillsborough slaying of woman IDd, man known as Ya Dig, deputies say, After nearly a century of fixing Tampas flat tires, downtown Firestone closes, Under investigation, HART CEO proposes settlement, payout and exit, Dead body found in Hillsborough apartment with unharmed infant, deputies say, NAACP wants reparations for Tampas Black cemeteries that governments stole, Latin Kings gang leaders among 21 arrested in Hillsborough drug operation, sheriff says, Estimated 630,000 gallons of raw sewage spilled into the Hillsborough River, records show, Tampa man who was first to face trial for Florida voter fraud in 2020 election gets probation. The gunmen drove off, unaware they had failed to kill Trafficante, merely grazing his arm. She was a native of Tampa, a second-generation Sicilian immigrant who grew up in Ybor city. All the while, he lives in a palatial lakeside compound in rural northwest Hillsborough. 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. Ed Giorandino/NY Daily News Archive via Getty ImagesSanto Trafficante arrives at Queens Supreme Court in Kew Gardens. 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. My thoughts and prayers are with you all! GREAT NEWS! I think it was a case of mistaken identity.. [1] Trafficante maintained several residences in New York City and Florida. While the plot never came to fruition, Trafficante later testified that he did help the CIA recruit other mobsters for the surreal plot. In a final disappointment, he sold a filly named "Run Marisa Run" (after his daughter) for $7,500. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. 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. Oops, we were unable to send the email. "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. Weve updated the security on the site. Trafficante was a ruthless mob boss, and quickly consolidated control over the criminal networks in Tampa. Santo Trafficante Jr. (November 15, 1914 March 17, 1987) was among the most powerful Mafia bosses in the United States. Failed to report flower. They never returned. The glamorous casino in the Hotel Nacional De Cuba in Havana in 1958. Those were some of the greatest memories growing up. When you think of Florida and organized crime, it is difficult to avoid conjuring up images of Tony Montana in Scarface, or the heyday of Miami Vice. cemeteries found in Ybor City, Hillsborough County, Florida, USA will be saved to your photo volunteer list. [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. I will always remember your perseverance, happiness and smiles at Marisa's wedding. Or does he just look like one? 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 allegedly controlled organized crime operations in Florida and Cuba He headed the . He has thought about it. Like Trafficante Jr. before him, had many close calls with law enforcement, but always escaped serious charges. Oops, something didn't work. We cant help ourselves when it comes to watching mob films like The Godfather, Goodfellas, Casino and HBOs Boardwalk Empire and the iconic cable TV show, The Sopranos. This account has been disabled. Santo Traficante Jr fue uno de los ltimos y mas poderosos capos de la mafia en Florida y Cuba. Born in Tampa, Florida to Sicilian parents Mafia don Santo Trafficante, Sr. and his wife Maria Giuseppa Cacciatore. U.S., Newspapers.com Obituary Index, 1800s-current, U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947, Florida, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1823-1982, Thank you for fulfilling this photo request. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. 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. With over 1,900 locations, Dignity Memorial providers proudly serve over 375,000 families a year.

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