He sought treatment for stomach cancer and was ready to hand power over to a trusted lieutenant. 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. A A. But the news was not good on the Key Bank front. He was right, and when Castro took power in 1959, Trafficantes burgeoning gambling-and-drugs empire went under siege. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Services will be followed by a graveside service at the Italian Club Cemetery and a reception at the family home. "[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. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? Love and peace to you all. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. Treasury Department History of Santo Trafficante Jr 1961 Father of Private and Private Rosselli testified in 1975 to the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence on the efforts to kill Castro. 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. Comfort the family with flowers or a sympathy gift. Every so often I think of the Jekyll Island and White Lake, NC trip and laugh. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? Returning to Miami, he joined his father, managing some . Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. 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. Wife : Josephine MARCHESE (Santo TRAFFICANTE Jr. married Josephine in Tampa, Florida on April 17, 1938). Make sure that the file is a photo. Help tell the story of your loved ones unique life. Those were some of the greatest memories growing up. 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. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. THE HIDDEN HISTORY OF TAMPA'S UNDERWORLD IS OFTEN INTERTWINED WITH SOME OF Something went wrong. The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. He headed the . After the Kennedy hubbub, Trafficante kept a low profile or, lower that is. SANTO TRAFFICANTE SR, A Sicilian of the Old School, RULED TAMPAS UNDERWORLD FOR MORE THAN A DECADE! Trafficante Sr. hung back and developed relationships with politicians and his Mob colleagues in New York and Chicago. He owned a West Tampa restaurant called Cafe Sevilla. Federal investigators brought racketeering and conspiracy charges against him in the summer of 1986. They had three daughters, Antoinette born . Santo Trafficante Senior died in 1954. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Santo Trafficante (53540265)? 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. Verify and try again. He maintained all of the lucrative casinos in Cuba, further cemented, After Cuban revolution, the Mafia saw Castro as a threat to their business. 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. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. James Anthony Traficant Jr. (May 8, 1941 - September 27, 2014) was an American politician who served as a Democrat, and later independent, member of the United States House of Representatives from Ohio.He represented the 17th Congressional District, which centered on his hometown of Youngstown and included parts of three counties in northeast Ohio's Mahoning Valley. 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. But Santo knew who was behind the killing a rival Mafia faction. 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. The mobsters also attempted to get Castro into a poisoned wetsuit and even offered to blow him up with an exploding seashell. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. Send a note, share a story or upload a photo. "I'm in the I.O.U. Daughters: Mary Josephine Sarah Ann Brothers: Frank, Salvatore (Sam), Epifanio and Enrico (Henry) Uncle: Joseph M. CACCIATORE (convicted narcotic trafficker) CRIMINAL HISTORY: "I still don't think I did anything wrong," Trafficante says. Reclaiming History: The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy. He convicted infamous criminal labor union head, Jimmy Hoffa. gerry,i am so sorry to hear about santo. Send your deepest condolences with fresh flowers. 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. Trafficante crime family - Wikipedia Please check your email for further instructions. 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. 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. Santo Trafficante Jr. (1914-1987) - Find a Grave Memorial CANDLE HAS BEEN LIT CANDLES HAVE BEEN LIT, We are reviewing your submission. He was known as an organized crimes figure. In 1950, the aging Trafficante Sr. began to slow down. After a violent mob war left several of Trafficantes rivals dead or weakened, his gang rapidly rose to prominence in Tampa. Santo Trafficante grew up in the Florida underworld, working his father's gambling rackets and getting experience in the business. 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. After Fidel Castro's revolutionary government seized the assets of Trafficante's Cuban businesses and expelled him from the country as an "undesirable alien," Trafficante came into contact with various US intelligence operatives, and was involved in several unsuccessful plans to assassinate Castro. Try again later. She was born on March 24, 1920. Santo Trafficante Jr. Wiki & Bio - everipedia.org The elder Trafficante set up illegal casinos in Cuba in the 1940s, which were sanctioned by Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista. A year later they had their first son, Frank, born on April 16, 1910. Afterwards, the son he had groomed to take his place, Santo Trafficante Jr., took the reins of the Trafficante crime family. Hey, they have more convicts at the track than straight people," Trafficante says. His son was turned away from a date's house and his daughter has been refused jobs. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Italian Club of Tampa Cemetery Fund, 1731 East 7th Ave., Tampa, FL 33605. Alongside Chicago boss Sam Giancana, Roselli and Trafficante came up with some truly insane plots to kill Fidel Castro. His positioning in Florida was prime for drug shipping as the product often passed through these ports en route to elsewhere in America. Read free previews and reviews from booklovers. Upon his return to the United States, he became determined to bring down the man who ended his empire. Fine food, and lots of it. Nicknames: The Silent Don 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. He dropped out of high school and spent time in New York learning the trade from some of the countries toughest mobsters. The IRS was unsuccessful, according to Fernandez, Trafficante's attorney. Try again later. We found ourselves in a love affair with Tony Soprano and we could not stop watching. Or does he just look like one? [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. Still, theres a fine line between exploring a topic and glorifying it. Died: March 17, 1987, Houston, Texas Your entry has exceeded the maximum character limit. The wiretap evidence has been thrown out of court. [2] Trafficante Jr. would frequently meet with Lucchese in New York City for dinner.[2]. The guy really tried to do it right.". 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. After that, he ordered casino owners to cough up employee back pay, then shut them down again. For all the power he wielded, Trafficante was often described as quiet and reserved. An editor and public historian, Carly Silver has written for Smithsonian, Narratively, The Atlantic, Atlas Obscura, and Archaeology, among other publications. "I'm a freak for that kind of stuff," he says. At 76,. Many fond memories of Santo will continue with me. Getting in bed with Trafficante and other leading members of Americas organized crime seems like a strange thing to do for the CIA. When you start talking about organized crime, things can get dicey. 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. One small gang, led by Italian immigrant Santo Trafficante Senior, profited from the illegal lottery-style games they ran across Tampa. Though his prison sentence wasnt long and he returned to a strong position in Florida, Trafficante never forgave Castro. Our heartfelt condolences go out to your family. My prayers are with all of you. Several were wounded. This account has been disabled. In fact, Florida had the dubious distinction of being home to a decades-old Mafia criminal network: the Trafficante Family. 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. Forget everything you think you know about Tampa mafia wives and girlfriends in the 1950s. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. His health had declined in his later years. "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. "He's very creative in terms of the combination of things he eats," Alessi says. He was, in many ways, the archetypical old-school Mob boss. 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. Geni requires JavaScript! My ex-wife Erline Lazzara was a childhood friend you might remember. He wants Trafficante, whom he considers to have an authoritative palate, to sample a new pastry that Alessi plans to sell at his bakery. . The email does not appear to be a valid email address. 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. Santo Trafficante, Jr. was born in the United States on November 15, 1914, as one of five sons of Mafia boss Santo Trafficante. 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. It wasn't somebody going into a back room to kiss somebody's ring. JFK Assassination - Santo Trafficante Jr - gibson's world In this episode, we will discuss the fascinating life of Tampa's most powerful mobster: Santo Trafficante Jr. 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. 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. Santo Trafficante Jr. (November 15, 1914 March 17, 1987) was among the most powerful Mafia bosses in the United States. 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. President John F. Kennedy, FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, and Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, Dennis Caruso/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images. Trafficante scrambled out the passenger-side door. Weve updated the security on the site. Santos married Josephine Marchese in 1938, they would have two daughters. Pupello determined that his diabetic patient's arteries were healthy. 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. [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. 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. He was a well-respected boss, even among the far larger New York crime families. When he applied to the state for a parimutuel license that would allow him to race his horses at Tampa Bay Downs, he was refused. Share Santo's life story with friends and family. "Even my uncle (Santo Jr.) told me, "Santo, why don't you change your name?' It may take up to 1 hour for your comment to appear on the website. 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. His wife also was named in the fraud charges. All Rights Reserved. He walked outside and got into a 1951 Mercury sedan driven by one of his associates. "I think it's all bull----," says Trafficante's former horse trainer, Arthur Pedregal Jr. "It's only because his name is Trafficante. She is now living in Virginia. Sign up for service and obituary updates. He escaped conviction all but once, receiving a five-year sentence for bribery in 1954, but his conviction was overturned by the Florida Supreme Court before he entered prison. But before Trafficante testified, someone conveniently killed Roselli. I hold such fond memories of Santo & Gerry when I was growing up. In the meantime, the allegation that he is a mobster has dogged him and his family. Santo Trafficante, Reputed Mafia Chief, Dies at 72 Santo Trafficante Jr. had long followed in his fathers footsteps, and proved to be an even more effective Mafia kingpin. No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments. My heart goes out to the family. 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. He was married to his wife for 49 years. In the early 20th Century, Tampa was a small but growing city, and the organized crime it faced was modest. 12 talking about this. 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. Trafficantes partnership with Batista was profitable for both parties and so the mobsters fate became inextricably tied to that of Cubas political climate. He died of natural causes, at the age of 72, in Houston, Texas. Associates: Sam Giancana, Charlie Lucky Luciano, Meyer Lansky, Cuba, Fidel Castro, Johnny Rosselli, Robert Maheu. However, by the late 1920s, facing little pressure, Sicilian gangsters began setting up lucrative gambling and narcotics rackets. However, by the late 1920s, facing little pressure, Sicilian gangsters began setting up lucrative gambling and narcotics rackets. 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. He dressed nicely but not ostentatiously, and his choice of cars was never flashy. Resend Activation Email. The charges of bank fraud against Trafficante and more than a dozen bank employees and customers may well be dismissed. Following his death, Mobster Vincent LoScalvo took over the Trafficante familys criminal network in Florida. 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. Harris & Ewing/Library of Commons/Wikimedia CommonsCuban leader Fulgencio Batista in Washington, D.C. in 1938. More troubling for Trafficante was a court document that listed him for the first time as "a member of the Trafficante crime family.". His luck has not improved recently. "They'll sleep under trees on you.". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santo_Trafficante_Jr. Thanks for your help! Spoiled by mobsters, Meyer Lansky's daughter recalls family men, not Departed this Life May 13, 2015 Santo Jr. succeeded his father as the boss of Tampa upon his death. Santo Trafficante Jr. (November 15, 1914 - March 17, 1987) was among the most powerful Mafia bosses in the United States. 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. My uncle, never wore a ring," Trafficante says. "My kids suffered a lot by it," he says. The international narcotics trade was also an important topic on the Apalachin agenda. GitHub export from English Wikipedia. And despite relatively small time beginnings, Trafficante proved to be a shrewd mobster. Thanks for subscribing! He was going to be hit.. Failed to delete memorial. Finally, in 1987, Trafficante died at the age of 72. Trafficante was born in Tampa, Florida, to Sicilian parents Santo Trafficante Sr. and his wife Maria Giuseppa Cacciatore in 1914. She touched all who knew her, and upon meeting her, she would embrace you, and you would instantly become part of the family. ". Don Santo Trafficante Jr was one of the last of the old-time American Mafia bosses in the United States. 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. The choice was nothing more than honoring a tradition. GREAT NEWS! Like Trafficante Jr. before him, had many close calls with law enforcement, but always escaped serious charges. Trafficante would rather be force-fed raw carrot sticks for eternity than be seen talking to a reporter. Shop eBooks and audiobooks at Rakuten Kobo. After Cuban revolution, the Mafia saw Castro as a threat to their business. Dennis Caruso/NY Daily News Archive via Getty ImagesFrank Ragano and Santo Trafficante Jr. (right). You'll learn about bolita, the rumored tunnels of Ybor, and the Era of Blood. Another bank sued Trafficante and his wife in October for repayment of a $100,000 promissory note. Santo met and married Maria Giuseppe Cacciatore on April 20, 1909. [1] In 1997, further declassified documents indicated that some mafiosi worked with the agency on assassination attempts against Castro. They lived in modest, ranch-style houses in quiet neighborhoods in Tampa and Miami. Learn more about merges. That horse won $161,080 for its new owners, according to the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders Association. I have thought of you and Santo many times over the past 50 years. 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. So, as the popular theory goes, the mob bosses that lent a helping hand in getting Kennedy into office wanted revenge.
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