James Traficant - Wikipedia 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. A car registered to former state attorney and current state appellate judge E.J. [5] He was the lynchpin in Tampa Charlie Wall The Kefauver hearings arrived in Tampa in December of 1950. In 1965, Giancana was convicted of contempt of court, serving one year in prison. Failed to delete memorial. Year should not be greater than current year. He has been featured on the History Channel, A&E, Discovery Channel, AHC, Oxygen Network and many local and national news shows. 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. Our thoughts and prayers are with you Gerry and your family. Comfort the family with flowers or a sympathy gift. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. After this look at Santo Trafficante Jr., read the gruesome story of the murderous American dentist, Benjamin Salomon, of World War II. [1] Trafficante maintained several residences in New York City and Florida. As we all know, he was right, and Kennedy was assassinated by a sniper in November 1963. 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. At 76,. 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. At Boxer Cycle Works. The report was given to the District Attorney's office. She was the Matriarch of the Trafficante Family; and we will all miss her presence, guidance, love and affection. All the convictions were overturned on appeal in 1960. Santo Trafficante was wanted in 48 states by the time he was 43. Santo Trafficante, Jr. - facebook.com He drove a forklift for 20 years. 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. 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. Share Santo's life story with friends and family. 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. [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. My aim is to provide you with the best Service experience for you and your motorcycle. "They'll sleep under trees on you.". THE CHARLIE WALL STORY Kingpin Charlie Wall (center holding bottle, right of child) and his notorious gang. 2023, Tampa Mafia. 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. Mrs. Gerry, Gina, Dino, Joe and Marisa - they broke the mold with Traff. She is survived by her daughters, Mary Jo Paniello and Sarah Ann Valdes; her grandchildren, Dr. Santo Paniello and wife Susan; Dina Smith and husband Don; Melissa Castellana and husband John; and Valerie Cordell and husband Ian; her great-grandchildren, Michael Sierra, Elizabeth Paniello, Sam Paniello, Christopher Paniello, Christina Castellana, Augie Castellana, Alexa Cordell, Anna Cordell Drew Smith, Allison Hunt and husband Joey; as well as endless extended family. The wiretap evidence has been thrown out of court. Santo Trafficante: Building the Family Business - Gangsters Inc "[12] Aleman claimed to have reported Trafficante's comments to his FBI contacts, who "dismissed the Kennedy warnings as gangland braggadocio. Anthony Accardo & Santo Trafficante Jr - Labor Union Kickbacks President John. Batista let Trafficante and other mobsters build as many casinos and hotels as they wanted in exchange for a cash kickback. Associates: Sam Giancana, Charlie Lucky Luciano, Meyer Lansky, Cuba, Fidel Castro, Johnny Rosselli, Robert Maheu. When Fidel Castro began his ascent to power in the 1950s, Santo Trafficante feared the radical Marxist revolutionary wouldnt cooperate with him. Santo Trafficante Jr Santo Trafficante Jr. (November 15, 1914 - March 17, 1987) was among the most powerful Mafia bosses in the United States. 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 . This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. . 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. But considering the fiercely anti-Soviet atmosphere of the Cold War, its not that hard to believe. Buy the time LoScalzo took over in 1987, the Trafficante Crime Family was far past its heyday. The investigators were looking for proof of drug-money laundering. Trafficante's appetite and his legal woes seem linked like the strands of a cruller. Love, Jimmy Schaffer. Valenti hired his son-in-law at the produce company and allowed him to name his own salary. 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. When his father died in 1954 he took control of these establishments. Sign up for service and obituary updates. 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. Email blog@themobmuseum.org. Oops, something didn't work. For all the power he wielded, Trafficante was often described as quiet and reserved. Santos married Josephine Marchese in 1938, they would have two daughters. Santo Trafficante Jr. (November 15, 1914 - March 17, 1987) was among the most powerful Mafia bosses in the United States. A system error has occurred. "My kids suffered a lot by it," he says. Born in Tampa, Florida in 1914, Trafficante hailed from a family already deeply involved in organized crime. [1] In 1997, further declassified documents indicated that some mafiosi worked with the agency on assassination attempts against Castro. Interestingly, Trafficante who was worth about $25 billion at his height in the 80s lived a fairly reserved, modest lifestyle. During the 1950s, Trafficante Jr. maintained a narcotic trafficking network with Tommy Lucchese, the boss of the Lucchese crime family in New York City. But before Trafficante testified, someone conveniently killed Roselli. Ed Giorandino/NY Daily News Archive via Getty ImagesSanto Trafficante arrives at Queens Supreme Court in Kew Gardens. The charges of bank fraud against Trafficante and more than a dozen bank employees and customers may well be dismissed. Let others know about your loved one's death. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. According to some, he was even involved in the infamous assassination of President John F. Kennedy. 12 talking about this. A Drive-By Historical Tour of Tampa's Notorious Wise Guys Born: November 15, 1914, Tampa, Florida Still, theres a fine line between exploring a topic and glorifying it. "[19] In his book Reclaiming History: The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy, Vincent Bugliosi has claimed there to be many flaws in Ragano's claims, including his own claim that Trafficante was most likely not in Tampa on the day in question, but was rather in North Miami Beach, Florida, receiving dialysis treatments. "There's no such thing as organized crime in Hillsborough County," Trafficante says, clapping his hands for emphasis. "Banks are my greatest enemy. The gunmen drove off, unaware they had failed to kill Trafficante, merely grazing his arm. Ex-FBI agent and later Howard Hughes aide Robert Maheu of Las Vegas was one of the primary go-betweens for Trafficante. After months of wiretapped phone conversations, investigators seized boxloads of documents, some with Trafficante's name on them. Santo Trafficante Sr., a 'Sicilian of the old school,' ruled Tampa's 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. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.. Share to let others add their own memories and condolences. Santo Jr. succeeded his father as the boss of Tampa upon his death. Over the next 30-plus years, Trafficante, Jr. rose to oversee Mafia operations across the state of Florida. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. Getty ImagesSanto Trafficante was wanted in 48 states by the time he was 43. They never returned. RIP Santo. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). [3] His wife, Josephine, died in 2015 at the age of 95; he is survived by two of his daughters. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Services will be followed by a graveside service at the Italian Club Cemetery and a reception at the family home. Santo Trafficante then categorically denied every allegation about stating he wanted RFK or JFK dead and got off scot-free. While he had several close calls with law enforcement including the famed FBI, Late in life LoScalzo denied any connections to organized crime. Santo Trafficante Jr. was a reserved, modest man married to the same woman for 49 years. The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. She was a native of Tampa, a second-generation Sicilian immigrant who grew up in Ybor city. Santo Trafficante Senior died in 1954. She was born on March 24, 1920. The Trafficante Family - American Mafia History Trafficante scrambled out the passenger-side door. Cuban leader Fulgencio Batista in Washington, D.C. in 1938. He was severed from that trial for medical reasons. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. On the day that investigators raided Key Bank, a cardiologist at St. Joseph's Hospital was inserting a catheter in Trafficante's groin. Please allow 24 hours for your entry to be reviewed for appropriate content. "My wife's got money. In the early 20th Century, Tampa was a small but growing city, and the organized crime it faced was modest. My thoughts and prayers are with you all! "When I woke up, they told me they raided Key Bank. 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. [5][6] Cuba was one of the Apalachin topics of discussion, particularly the gambling and narcotics smuggling interests of La Cosa Nostra on the island. "[12] He said that Trafficante complained about the honesty of the Kennedys and their "attacks" on Jimmy Hoffa and other associates. The first case stemmed from the FBIs well-known Donnie Brasco undercover sting operation. 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. In 1959, the Cuban Revolution toppled the corrupt Batista government and the rebel leader, Fidel Castro, nationalized foreign-owned properties and shuttered the casinos, a huge financial blow to Trafficante, who was second only to Meyer Lansky in the depth of his investments in Havana. Santo Trafficante Senior died in 1954. Welcome to Boxer Cycle Works. "I'm a freak for that kind of stuff," he says. The other case was a RICO indictment for insurance fraud. 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. "I don't go to the bank and make all these billion-dollar deposits," he says. My ex-wife Erline Lazzara was a childhood friend you might remember. It wasn't somebody going into a back room to kiss somebody's ring. 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. The CIA came to Trafficante, and asked for his help in enlisting the Mafia to assassinate the Cuban leader. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. Husband of Private Sorry! There are no volunteers for this cemetery. We found ourselves in a love affair with Tony Soprano and we could not stop watching. [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. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. The other guys are two doctors, who say they'll testify if they're summoned to court. In 1957 he was suspected of involvement in the barbershop slaying of Albert Anastasia, the . Trafficante again escaped conviction. Trafficante had been operating in Cuba since the late 1940s under his father, Santo Trafficante Sr., a mobster in Tampa, Florida. [3] Trafficante moved to Cuba in 1955, where he came into contact with Batista and Meyer Lansky. This is a carousel with slides. Donnie Brasco. After the Kennedy hubbub, Trafficante kept a low profile or, lower that is. Returning to Miami, he joined his father, managing some . Santo Trafficante Jr. - The Mob Museum Harris & Ewing/Library of Commons/Wikimedia Commons. [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. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. Santo Trafficante Jr News reports - YouTube A native and lifelong resident of Tampa, Mr. Traffi-cante is survived by his loving family, wife, Geraldine "Gerry" L. Trafficante; sons, Dino Jose and Joseph Frank Trafficante; daughters,. The next son was Luigi Santo Trafficante Jr. (his namesake and future Mafia boss), born on November 15, 1914. 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. 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. More importantly, Castro imprisoned Trafficante and then had him exiled from Cuba. 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. Josephine Trafficante Obituary - Tampa, FL Notoriety comes with family name - Tampa Bay Times "Even my uncle (Santo Jr.) told me, "Santo, why don't you change your name?' However, by the late 1920s, facing little pressure, Sicilian gangsters began setting up lucrative gambling and narcotics rackets. She handled great adversity and difficult, troubling times with grace, dignity, and style; with respect and love for all around her. 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 the news was not good on the Key Bank front. There was a problem getting your location. 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. 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. 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. As such, Trafficante Sr. controlled gambling rackets for bolita, a lottery game popular in Florida and Cuba, until 1940 when the murder of Tampa boss Ignacio Antinori pushed the Trafficantes to assume ultimate power in the Florida underworld. Under pressure of a court order granting him immunity from prosecution, but threatening him with contempt if he refused to talk, Santos admitted to a Congressional committee in 1975 that he had in the early 1960s recruited other mobsters to assassinate Castro. "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. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. [11], In 1976, Cuban exile and FBI informant Jose Aleman told The Washington Post that in September 1962, Trafficante had offered him a loan of $1.5million to replace Aleman's three-story "ramshackle motel with a 12-story glass wonder. JFK Assassination - Santo Trafficante Jr - gibson's world Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? The Trafficante Family Under Santo Junior. For the last 20 years, everyone knew her as JuJu. On Oct. 26, 1937, Frank Trafficante named his first son after his own father, Santo Trafficante Sr. She lived an exciting life dividing her time between her multiple family members and friends in Tampa, Miami and Havana. During a recent trip to Lake Tahoe he bought two basketballs autographed by Michael Jordan. Photos of Santo Trafficante Jr. - Find a Grave Memorial 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. You've got to be a fool to marry wrong," he says. Santo was one of the FBIs targets in that case. No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments. TAMPA CRIME BOSS SANTO TRAFFICANTE JR PLAYS A CENTRAL ROLE IN THRILLER MAFIA SPIES. [13] Trafficante also stated that he had no recollection of meeting Oswald or Oswald's assassin, Jack Ruby. Santo Trafficante Jr. was a reserved, modest man married to the same woman for 49 years. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. But then came Key Bank, a massive drug-money-laundering investigation. 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. Episode 58: The Tampa Mafia- Santo Trafficante Jr - YouTube Send a note, share a story or upload a photo. Then, check out these photos of the aftermath from some of the bloodiest mob hits. He has thought about it. His health had declined in his later years. 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. There is a problem with your email/password. "I was the most expensive forklift driver in the world," he says with a smile. [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. "You hope things will just disappear two or three years from now.". 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. However, by the late 1920s, facing little pressure, Sicilian gangsters began setting up lucrative gambling and narcotics rackets. 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. [15][16] He stated he was chosen by Hoffa because, as both Hoffa and Trafficante's lawyer, he could be assured of attorneyclient privilege. To add further credence to this theory of JFKs assassination, famed prosecutor Vincent Bugliosi (who also wrote the infamous true crime novel on the Manson Family, Helter Skelter), who penned Reclaiming History: The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy, quoted a witness who said that New Orleans boss Marcello had quipped: The dog [JFK] will keep biting you if you only cut off its tail [RFK]., The final piece of evidence for the theory that Santo Trafficante was involved in JFKs assassination was a witness who reported that the mobster had once said himself that JFK not going to make it to the [1964] election. Trafficantes chance came in the 1960s when he became acquainted with mobster John Handsome Johnny Roselli. With that act, Santo Trafficante now reigned supreme in Tampa. "[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. 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. Santo Trafficante Jr. had long followed in his fathers footsteps, and proved to be an even more effective Mafia kingpin. But according to declassified documents released in 1992, Santo Trafficante Jr. made a deathbed confession of his involvement in the Presidents murder. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 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. Resend Activation Email.
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