Finally, in 1987, Trafficante died at the age of 72. Santo Trafficante Jr. had long followed in his father's footsteps, and proved to be an even more effective Mafia kingpin. The other case was a RICO indictment for insurance fraud. love gloria "owens" hill. 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. 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. prosecution, fled temporarily to Cuba. 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. My prayers are with all of you. Wikimedia CommonsPresident John F. Kennedy, FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, and Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy. Santo Jr.'s daughters still owns 3610, where Santo spent time when he wasn't in Tampa or Miami. Your Scrapbook is currently empty. 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. You can always change this later in your Account settings. By 1987, the Mafia boss, who had walked the casino floors of the Sans Souci in Cuba, dined and hobnobbed with Frank Sinatra in the nightclubs and hotels of South Beach, and who commanded a presence in Tampa that is still felt today, was suffering from a diseased kidney and bad heart. 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. Interestingly, Trafficante who was worth about $25 billion at his height in the 80s lived a fairly reserved, modest lifestyle. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. Our thoughts and prayers with you. "I thought I could just go down to (former Hillsborough State Attorney) Bill James and (Assistant State Attorney) Lee Atkinson and explain it all away in 15 minutes.". He headed the . It never did exist.". "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. Authorities said he leaked a list of suspects in the case and then lied about it. His luck has not improved recently. The choice was nothing more than honoring a tradition. In the meantime, the allegation that he is a mobster has dogged him and his family. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. Son of Santo Trafficante and Maria Giuseppa Trafficante I will always remember your perseverance, happiness and smiles at Marisa's wedding. A system error has occurred. Let others know about your loved one's death. [13] On September 27, 1978, Aleman reiterated to HSCA investigators that Trafficante had complained to him for hours in June or July 1963 about Kennedy's crackdown on organized crime at a meeting to discuss a business loan. 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. He was married to his wife for 49 years. Trafficante Jr. controlled his Tampa-based crime network for over three decades. A few months later, two members of that group took the train to New York City to drum up support for a move against Santo. 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. [14], After a grant of immunity from prosecution, Trafficante testified before the HSCA the following day, September 28, and denied the allegation that he told Aleman that "Kennedy was going to be hit. I am sorry I am unable to attend the services due to a illness. Visitation will take place on Saturday, May 16th, from 9:30 to 11:30 AM, with service to follow at Gonzalez Funeral Home, 7209 N. Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa, FL. (November 15, 1914 - March 17, 1987 ). The wiretap evidence has been thrown out of court. Getty ImagesSanto Trafficante was wanted in 48 states by the time he was 43. Late in life LoScalzo denied any connections to organized crime. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. His business ventures have not always been successful. The guy really tried to do it right.". I can answer any questions you . He was right, and when Castro took power in 1959, Trafficantes burgeoning gambling-and-drugs empire went under siege. Authorities also said he urged former bank vice president Michael Pupello to impersonate him in calls to federal bank regulators. If the decision is upheld on appeal, charges against Trafficante may be dismissed. While shouldering the legacy of his father and. 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. This account has been disabled. Santo Trafficante Jr. had long followed in his fathers footsteps, and proved to be an even more effective Mafia kingpin. Email [email protected]. Please reset your password. "I was the most expensive forklift driver in the world," he says with a smile. 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. Mobster dies, two nations. [8] Allusions to these historic connections were confirmed by the CIA's 2007 declassification of the "Family Jewels" documents. James Traficant - Wikipedia So, at his attorney Ralph Fernandez's urging, he has agreed to talk publicly, hoping to shore up his damaged reputation. ". You have chosen this person to be their own family member. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. [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. The authorities continued to charge him with participating in illegal activities, but the aging mob boss escaped conviction each time. In 1946, Santo Sr. sent his son, already a family underboss, to Cuba to invest in the growing number of nightclubs and casinos in the island nation. At age 16, he boarded the S.S. Lombardia and set sail for American in search of a better life. Reclaiming History: The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Despite all of this or, perhaps, because of it, a few writers and filmmakers have chosen to focus on organized crime, determined to give Tampa its due. There was a problem getting your location. Then, check out these photos of the aftermath from some of the bloodiest mob hits. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. 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. [7], In January 1958, Trafficante was questioned by the Cuban police regarding the Apalachin meeting. Santo Trafficante then categorically denied every allegation about stating he wanted RFK or JFK dead and got off scot-free. They had three daughters, Antoinette born . cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. [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. Trafficante was apprehended in November 1957, along with over 60 other mobsters, at the Apalachin meeting in Apalachin, New York. Died: March 17, 1987, Houston, Texas He even sent his son, Santo Trafficante Junior, to New York, to gain a better understanding of how the mafia operated there. 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. Florida Mafia boss Santo Trafficante Jr. died 30 years ago March 17 On Oct. 26, 1937, Frank Trafficante named his first son after his own father, Santo Trafficante Sr. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. The Shore Acres home is 2,350-square-feet with 10 rooms that Capone reputedly built in 1925 for his mother. With over 1,900 locations, Dignity Memorial providers proudly serve over 375,000 families a year. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? Please allow 24 hours for your entry to be reviewed for appropriate content. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. Santo Trafficante Jr. was a reserved, modest man married to the same woman for 49 years. However, LoScalzo was nonetheless able to expand the families criminal reach into new locations across Florida, and took advantage of alliances with other Mafia families to ensure the mob maintained its hold on criminal activities. Chris and I will never forget Santo's presence at Leia's welcome home party. Seven people were murdered. Josephine Trafficante Obituary - Tampa, FL Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. 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." "My kids suffered a lot by it," he says. Santo told the state attorney, I dont have an enemy in the world. In this episode, we will discuss the fascinating life of Tampa's most powerful mobster: Santo Trafficante Jr. From bolitaan illegal version of the now-legal Florida lotteryto narcotics, Tampas experience with organized crime is as notable as Chicagos or New Yorks. We have set your language to Tampa Mafia Tour - Tampa Mafia At 76,. So is Santo Jose Trafficante III a mobster? Geni requires JavaScript! Love and peace to you all. "[1][13] He stated that he was positive that he did not say it because he always spoke to Aleman in Spanish, and said that there was no way to state the phrase in Spanish. 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. The first case stemmed from the FBIs well-known Donnie Brasco undercover sting operation. Santo Trafficante Jr Santo Trafficante Jr. (November 15, 1914 - March 17, 1987) was among the most powerful Mafia bosses in the United States. Organized Crime Figure. ", 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. ). A A. He convicted infamous criminal labor union head, Jimmy Hoffa. 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. They never returned. He went to Jesuit High School and played some football. Father of Private and Private 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. You'll learn about bolita, the rumored tunnels of Ybor, and the Era of Blood. wills o' nats last of the summer wine. Indeed, some people would rather not dwell on the less-than-noble aspects of our local history. Whether or not a Mafia conspiracy was behind the assassination of Kennedy is still up for debate. That arrest also led Cuban authorities to become warier of the mobster, especially as the political tides seemed to be turning there. That was in part due to his lifestyle. 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. For the U.S. government, it was a classic case of the enemy of my enemy is my friend.. Santo Trafficante Senior died in 1954. You and Santo will always have a special place in my heart. Sign up for service and obituary updates. Trafficante proceeded to open casinos in Cuba at his fathers behest and facilitated heroin smuggling by working together with famous mobsters Charles Lucky Luciano and Meyer Lansky. Sorry! She was predeceased in death, by other loving family members. Ed Giorandino/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images. 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. Thanks for your help! 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. But according to declassified documents released in 1992, Santo Trafficante Jr. made a deathbed confession of his involvement in the Presidents murder. Santo was one of the FBIs targets in that case. Trafficante tried to win Castro over to his side, but that didnt work. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Santo Trafficante (53540265)? Santo Trafficante Jr. (November 15, 1914 March 17, 1987) was among the most powerful Mafia bosses in the United States. She lived an exciting life dividing her time between her multiple family members and friends in Tampa, Miami and Havana. "There's no such thing as organized crime in Hillsborough County," Trafficante says, clapping his hands for emphasis. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.. Share to let others add their own memories and condolences. Though his prison sentence wasnt long and he returned to a strong position in Florida, Trafficante never forgave Castro. I thought you might like to see a memorial for Santo Trafficante Jr. 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.