santo trafficante jr daughters
In fact, Florida had the dubious distinction of being home to a decades-old Mafia criminal network: the Trafficante Family. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. In 1975, the CIA declassified a report stating that Trafficante had been persuaded to poison Castro, an allegation he denied. 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. santo trafficante daughters 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. The choice was nothing more than honoring a tradition. 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. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? ). After his father died in 1954, he became the head in Tampa and took over his fathers interests in Cuba. Trafficantes father was the lucky survivor of what was called the Era of Blood, when rival gangs based in Tampa fought for control of Prohibition-era nightclubs and, crucially, the local numbers rackets called bolitas. Battling Mob rivals in South Florida essentially weakened each other financially and, through murder, the number of available soldiers. [20], In 2005, Lamar Waldron and Thom Hartmann's book Ultimate Sacrifice said that Trafficante was behind an aborted plot to kill Kennedy in Tampa on November 18, 1963. Santo Trafficante Jr. (November 15, 1914 - March 17, 1987) was among the most powerful Mafia bosses in the United States. In this episode, we will discuss the fascinating life of Tampa's most powerful mobster: Santo Trafficante Jr. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santo_Trafficante_Jr. He moved to Cuba in 1955 where he met the countrys authoritarian ruler Fulgencio Batista. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. Born: November 15, 1914, Tampa, Florida 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. [3] His wife, Josephine, died in 2015 at the age of 95; he is survived by two of his daughters. But the mobster tag has outlasted the case itself. Please allow 24 hours for your entry to be reviewed for appropriate content. 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. Those were some of the greatest memories growing up. He was the lynchpin in Tampa Charlie Wall The Kefauver hearings arrived in Tampa in December of 1950. 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. Now he owns a 210-acre orange grove in southern Hillsborough. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. I have thought of you and Santo many times over the past 50 years. Trafficante Jr. was nonetheless a ruthless and old-school mob boss. Honorary Pallbearers are Joe Castellana, Malio Iavarone, FrankCookie Fava, Antonino Marchese, Derek Iavarone, Frank Albano, Drew Smith, Joey Hunt, Michael Sierra, Tony Marchese, Peter Albano, Mario Pullara, Frank Miranda, Dino Trafficante, and Joseph Trafficante. However, by the late 1920s, facing little pressure, Sicilian gangsters began setting up lucrative gambling and narcotics rackets. Plant a tree to honor the memory of your loved one. [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. Leave a memory or share a photo or video below to show your support. Fine food, and lots of it. That was in part due to his lifestyle. Buy the time LoScalzo took over in 1987, the Trafficante Crime Family was far past its heyday. Search above to list available cemeteries. [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. Other Mafia leaders, as well as newer organized crime networks, took over many of the rackets the family ran throughout the 20th Century. Santo, Jr. never spent a day in jail, and he died of natural causes in 1987. Mobster dies, two nations. This account has been disabled. He was known as an organized crimes figure. 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. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. Wife : Josephine MARCHESE (Santo TRAFFICANTE Jr. married Josephine in Tampa, Florida on April 17, 1938). However, there were events outside of the United States and even organized crime that inadvertently led Santo Trafficante Jr. to put his own peculiar stamp on American history. 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. 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. Maheu hid the fact that he was sent by the CIA, instead portraying himself an advocate for international corporations. My heart goes out to the family. Santo Trafficante Senior died in 1954. Send a note, share a story or upload a photo. Still, theres a fine line between exploring a topic and glorifying it. In 1963, the Mob allegedly had enough of Kennedy. Every so often I think of the Jekyll Island and White Lake, NC trip and laugh. Your Scrapbook is currently empty. 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. 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. Santo Trafficante Senior died in 1954. "I was the most expensive forklift driver in the world," he says with a smile. Santo Trafficante Jr. was a reserved, modest man married to the same woman for 49 years. Chronicles of Events and Biographies Related to the American Mafia. 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. Trafficante Jr. controlled his Tampa-based crime network for over three decades. Trafficante scrambled out the passenger-side door. "There's no such thing as organized crime in Hillsborough County," Trafficante says, clapping his hands for emphasis. Don Santo Trafficante Jr. the godfather from Tampa, Florida, USA. Frank Ragano and Santo Trafficante Jr. (right). Salcines was observed at the properties the weekend of June 9, 1967. He was married to his wife for 49 years. Our heartfelt condolences go out to your family. Conspiracy theorists consider Giancana along with Mafia leaders Santo Trafficante Jr. and Carlos Marcello associated with the assassination of Kennedy. 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. He has played golf with former New York Yankees third baseman Graig Nettles and former New York Islanders hockey player Clark Gillies. In the early 20th Century, Tampa was a small but growing city, and the organized crime it faced was modest. Then, check out these photos of the aftermath from some of the bloodiest mob hits. He grimaces at the thought that the rumor has persisted so long. The people of Tampa, especially the ones still around to remember those days still feel a duty of sorts to keep quite of these things, as if these people are still amongst us and can hear our chatter. She was an amazing daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt and friend. 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. 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 . love gloria "owens" hill. The American governments close ties to Santo Trafficante Jr. and the rest of the Mafia didnt end with their attempts to kill Castro. After a violent mob war left several of Trafficantes rivals dead or weakened, his gang rapidly rose to prominence in Tampa. 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. [19] He claimed three witnesses could support his statement that he met Trafficante in Tampa, but refused to name them, adding: "One guy is afraid of retaliation. However the meeting came to be, the mob nonetheless brought influential states like Illinois into the Kennedy fold in exchange for the White House going easy on organized crime. Trafficante would rather be force-fed raw carrot sticks for eternity than be seen talking to a reporter. 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. And then there are the infinite conspiracy theories about the assassination of President Kennedy, many of them featuring Trafficante. 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. [14] He stated that he was concerned for his safety and was not certain that he had ever correctly heard or understood Trafficante's comment. [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. 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. ". "They wouldn't even let me go to the track. He attended the University of Florida for a year, then transferred to the University of Tampa and left without completing his degree. With over 30 years experience in the field of Mechanics, I will work with you on a personal basis, I will discuss with you your specific needs pertaining to your motorcycle. 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. Ed Giorandino/NY Daily News Archive via Getty ImagesSanto Trafficante arrives at Queens Supreme Court in Kew Gardens. And the Trafficante Crime family found out that it had an unusual ally in their concerns about Castro: the Central Intelligence Agency. His new attorney general his beloved brother, Robert F. Kennedy went after organized crime with a vengeance. Our deepest condolences to the Trafficante family. Rosselli testified in 1975 to the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence on the efforts to kill Castro. But considering the fiercely anti-Soviet atmosphere of the Cold War, its not that hard to believe. Trafficante was arrested frequently throughout the 1950s on various charges of bribery and of running illegal bolita lotteries in Tampa's Ybor City district. Learn more about managing a memorial . After this look at Santo Trafficante Jr., read the gruesome story of the murderous American dentist, Benjamin Salomon, of World War II. 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. The next son was Luigi Santo Trafficante Jr. (his namesake and future Mafia boss), born on November 15, 1914. So, who was this so-called Silent Don who wielded enough power to allegedly kill the President? Returning to Miami, he joined his father, managing some . The first case stemmed from the FBIs well-known Donnie Brasco undercover sting operation. 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. [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. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. Try again later. Chris and I will never forget Santo's presence at Leia's welcome home party. 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. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. Oops, we were unable to send the email. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. THE CHARLIE WALL STORY Kingpin Charlie Wall (center holding bottle, right of child) and his notorious gang. Oops, something didn't work. Scott M. Deitche, Mob Museum Advisory Council member and mob http://www.scottdeitche.com/books.htmlauthor of Tampa's favorite books, Cigar City Mafia: A Complete History of the Tampa Underworld & The Silent Don: The Criminal Underworld of Santo Trafficante Jror Manny Leto, previous Editor of Cigar City Magazine and Tampa historian, will guide you on a 1.5 -2 hour walking tour to old gambling palaces, street corners, and alleys where some mobsters met their demise, and restaurants where wise guys, like famed boss Santo Trafficante Jr, held court. Are you sure that you want to remove this flower? Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? Love, Jimmy Schaffer. "Now when I walk in a bank," Trafficante says, "the president runs out the back door.". Year should not be greater than current year. He owned a West Tampa restaurant called Cafe Sevilla. Santo Trafficante Jr. (November 15, 1914 March 17, 1987) was among the most powerful Mafia bosses in the United States. The wiretap evidence has been thrown out of court. [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? GREAT NEWS! His sons, Dino and Joseph, run it for him, though he worries that sometimes they don't work hard. 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. Undercover detectives ran a gambling sting operation there, hoping to nab a circle of Tampa men they said were making illegal sports bets. Reputed 'boss of bosses' dies at 72 TAMPA, Fla, "' Trafficante dies at age 72 TAMPA. I found on Findagrave.com. Please check your email for further instructions. 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. In January 1963, he married Geraldine Valenti, the daughter of J.C. Valenti, who owned a thriving produce business. Welcome to Boxer Cycle Works. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. Peter Moruzzi/Wikimedia Commons The glamorous casino in the Hotel Nacional De Cuba in Havana in 1958. On the day that investigators raided Key Bank, a cardiologist at St. Joseph's Hospital was inserting a catheter in Trafficante's groin. [8] Allusions to these historic connections were confirmed by the CIA's 2007 declassification of the "Family Jewels" documents. "Banks are my greatest enemy. [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. You've got to be a fool to marry wrong," he says. Trafficantes chance came in the 1960s when he became acquainted with mobster John Handsome Johnny Roselli. It may take up to 1 hour for your comment to appear on the website. My uncle, never wore a ring," Trafficante says. [4] All were fined, up to $10,000 each, and given prison sentences ranging from three to five years. The authorities continued to charge him with participating in illegal activities, but the aging mob boss escaped conviction each time. That arrest also led Cuban authorities to become warier of the mobster, especially as the political tides seemed to be turning there. At Boxer Cycle Works. Upon his return to the United States, he became determined to bring down the man who ended his empire. "My wife's got money. But once Kennedy actually entered the White House, he didnt live up to his end of the bargain. Failed to report flower. Santo Trafficante was wanted in 48 states by the time he was 43. Share Santo's life story with friends and family. She was a native of Tampa, a second-generation Sicilian immigrant who grew up in Ybor city. Many fond memories of Santo will continue with me. "You hope things will just disappear two or three years from now.". His health had declined in his later years. Mob Lawyer Frank Ragano Says He Knows Who Killed JFK", "Book alleges plot to kill JFK in Tampa, cover-up", "At Santo Trafficante auction, a chance to buy a piece of Tampa's mob history", Donnie Brasco: My Undercover Life in the Mafia, Associated Press report on Trafficante's death, "Little Man: Meyer Lansky and the Gangster Life" By Robert Lacy, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Santo_Trafficante_Jr.&oldid=1140940042, This page was last edited on 22 February 2023, at 15:02. His luck has not improved recently. His son was turned away from a date's house and his daughter has been refused jobs. He convicted infamous criminal labor union head, Jimmy Hoffa. "I'm in the I.O.U. But then came Key Bank, a massive drug-money-laundering investigation. The Shore Acres home is 2,350-square-feet with 10 rooms that Capone reputedly built in 1925 for his mother. While he had several close calls with law enforcement including the famed FBI, Late in life LoScalzo denied any connections to organized crime. While the plot never came to fruition, Trafficante later testified that he did help the CIA recruit other mobsters for the surreal plot. "I'm a freak for that kind of stuff," he says. In 1965, Giancana was convicted of contempt of court, serving one year in prison. So is Santo Jose Trafficante III a mobster? "I thought all this would end when my uncle died. Many of the familys gangsters were in prison, or too old to be effective. Send your deepest condolences with fresh flowers. [1] Trafficante maintained several residences in New York City and Florida. [2] Trafficante Jr. would frequently meet with Lucchese in New York City for dinner.[2]. He is just a businessman, he says, his money tied up in wholesale automobiles, an orange grove and real estate. Harris & Ewing/Library of Commons/Wikimedia Commons. 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. F. Kennedy not only failed to deliver on his promise to the mob but also actually put the Mafia under increasing pressure. His wife also was named in the fraud charges. You can always change this later in your Account settings. I will always remember your perseverance, happiness and smiles at Marisa's wedding. She was born on March 24, 1920. Santo Trafficante, Jr. was born in the United States on November 15, 1914, as one of five sons of Mafia boss Santo Trafficante. He drove a forklift for 20 years. All Rights Reserved. Try again later. Please reset your password. Santo Trafficante Jr. was a reserved, modest man married to the same woman for 49 years. 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. 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. But the news was not good on the Key Bank front. It never did exist.". Trafficantes partnership with Batista was profitable for both parties and so the mobsters fate became inextricably tied to that of Cubas political climate. Early in Trafficantes federal court case in 1986, the judge declared a mistrial. A year later they had their first son, Frank, born on April 16, 1910. Ed Giorandino/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images. By December 1953, one more rival was dead and another was too scared to even venture out of his home. This is a carousel with slides. 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. "But then you get into alias this and alias that and when they get you in court, you probably just create more problems," he says. He 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. You and Santo will always have a special place in my heart. Sign up for service and obituary updates. President John F. Kennedy, FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, and Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, Dennis Caruso/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images. Authorities also said he urged former bank vice president Michael Pupello to impersonate him in calls to federal bank regulators. Trafficante Sr. passed away four years later, leaving Jr. his Tampa and Cuba-based criminal empire. 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. We found ourselves in a love affair with Tony Soprano and we could not stop watching. After the death of his wife, the Trafficante family sold their Tampa 1970-built home for $950,000. Our thoughts and prayers are with you Gerry and your family. 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. Geni requires JavaScript! 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. 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. [7], In January 1958, Trafficante was questioned by the Cuban police regarding the Apalachin meeting. 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. 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. [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. 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. English Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. 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. Add to your scrapbook. The IRS was unsuccessful, according to Fernandez, Trafficante's attorney. "Sam Gold" was Sam Giancana; "Joe" was Trafficante. 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. 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." She touched all who knew her, and upon meeting her, she would embrace you, and you would instantly become part of the family. Trafficante was born in Tampa, Florida, to Sicilian parents Santo Trafficante Sr. and his wife Maria Giuseppa Cacciatore in 1914. In 1957 he was suspected of involvement in the barbershop slaying of Albert Anastasia, the .
Kirksey Funeral Home Morganton, Nc Obituaries,
Articles S
