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. On Oct. 26, 1937, Frank Trafficante named his first son after his own father, Santo Trafficante Sr. 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. The wiretap evidence has been thrown out of court. Drag images here or select from your computer for Santo Trafficante Jr. memorial. Wife : Josephine MARCHESE (Santo TRAFFICANTE Jr. married Josephine in Tampa, Florida on April 17, 1938). He even sent his son, Santo Trafficante Junior, to New York, to gain a better understanding of how the mafia operated there. This site is provided as a service of SCI Shared Resources, LLC. When you start talking about organized crime, things can get dicey. 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. Trafficante maintained links to the Bonanno crime family in New York City, but was more closely allied with Sam Giancana in Chicago. Wikimedia CommonsPresident John F. Kennedy, FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, and Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. Santo Trafficante 5 10 (1.78 m) Born November 15, 1914 Tampa, Florida, USA Died March 17, 1987 Spouse Josephine Marchese April 17, 1938 - March 17, 1987 (his death, 2 children) Publicity listings 2 Portrayals Did you know Edit Trivia Represented by Frank Ragano. 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. But then came Key Bank, a massive drug-money-laundering investigation. Born in Tampa, Florida in 1914, Trafficante hailed from a family already deeply involved in organized crime. While the senior Trafficante had been a major mobster in his own right, nobody could have expected the heights that were going to be reached by his son. "If my uncle knew I was talking to the press, Christ, he'd shoot me," Trafficante says, half-laughing. [15], Ragano also claimed that Trafficante, four days prior to his death, delivered a deathbed confession which suggested that Marcello was meant to assassinate Robert F. Kennedy instead of his brother, the President. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. Santo Trafficante Jr. (November 15, 1914 - March 17, 1987) was among the most powerful Mafia bosses in the United States. Santo told the state attorney, I dont have an enemy in the world. Chronicles of Events and Biographies Related to the American Mafia. She was predeceased in death, by other loving family members. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/53540265/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. Trafficante was jailed and deported when Fidel Castro rose to power, leading him to spend a good portion of his adult life hatching a plan of revenge. TAMPA CRIME BOSS SANTO TRAFFICANTE JR PLAYS A CENTRAL ROLE IN THRILLER MAFIA SPIES. That arrest also led Cuban authorities to become warier of the mobster, especially as the political tides seemed to be turning there. 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. Whether or not a Mafia conspiracy was behind the assassination of Kennedy is still up for debate. Please enable JavaScript in your browser's settings to use this part of Geni. Born in Tampa, Florida to Sicilian parents Mafia don Santo Trafficante, Sr. and his wife Maria Giuseppa Cacciatore. When Fidel Castro began his ascent to power in the 1950s, Santo Trafficante feared the radical Marxist revolutionary wouldnt cooperate with him. "Sam Gold" was Sam Giancana; "Joe" was Trafficante. . 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. [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. So is Santo Jose Trafficante III a mobster? Share Santo's life story with friends and family. Trafficante had now not only lost an ally but a significant portion of his income as his casinos were closed by the Marxist revolutionary. Who better than his son, Trafficante Jr., to inherit his throne? Conspiracy theorists consider Giancana along with Mafia leaders Santo Trafficante Jr. and Carlos Marcello associated with the assassination of Kennedy. Following his death, Mobster Vincent LoScalvo took over the Trafficante familys criminal network in Florida. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? Spoiled by mobsters, Meyer Lansky's daughter recalls family men, not 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. In this episode, we will discuss the fascinating life of Tampa's most powerful mobster: Santo Trafficante Jr. He was going to be hit.. During a recent trip to Lake Tahoe he bought two basketballs autographed by Michael Jordan. Other Mafia leaders, as well as newer organized crime networks, took over many of the rackets the family ran throughout the 20th Century. [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 view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. The senior Trafficante's name has been linked to gambling, drug-dealing and even plots to kill Fidel Castro and John F. Kennedy. Santo Trafficante grew up in the Florida underworld, working his father's gambling rackets and getting experience in the business. "I think it's all bull----," says Trafficante's former horse trainer, Arthur Pedregal Jr. "It's only because his name is Trafficante. After that, he ordered casino owners to cough up employee back pay, then shut them down again. By this point, Trafficante Jr. had fully taken over the oversight of drugs shipped between Florida, Cuba, and the rest of the States. All the convictions were overturned on appeal in 1960. 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. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. He attended the University of Florida for a year, then transferred to the University of Tampa and left without completing his degree. the daughter of immigrants from the Italian region of Basilicata. Please reset your password. Authorities said he leaked a list of suspects in the case and then lied about it. May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow. A Hillsborough judge threw out the wiretaps, the spine of the state's case. 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. You have been in pain too long. He was right, and when Castro took power in 1959, Trafficantes burgeoning gambling-and-drugs empire went under siege. Santo Trafficante, Jr. - facebook.com He attended a notorious convention of Mafia bosses held in the upstate New York town of Apalachin on November 14, 1957. To use this feature, use a newer browser. Trafficante took control of the Tampa mob in 1954 after the death of his father, Santo Trafficante Sr. 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. Authorities also said he urged former bank vice president Michael Pupello to impersonate him in calls to federal bank regulators. Rosselli later claimed to be involved with or to actually be a shooter in a Mob conspiracy to kill President John F. Kennedy, and some accounts have Trafficante involved in the alleged, and unproven, conspiracy. 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. Trafficante Jr. was nonetheless a ruthless and old-school mob boss. 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. was a reserved, modest man married to the same woman for 49 years. View Source Suggest Edits Memorial Photos Flowers Memorials Region North America USA Florida prosecution, fled temporarily to Cuba. [7], In January 1958, Trafficante was questioned by the Cuban police regarding the Apalachin meeting. This is a carousel with slides. They lived in modest, ranch-style houses in quiet neighborhoods in Tampa and Miami. Father of Private and Private 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. 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 Intelligence Agency. Please enter your email and password to sign in. "Now when I walk in a bank," Trafficante says, "the president runs out the back door.". Phil Alessi, a childhood friend, marvels at Trafficante's taste and capacity. Trafficante was a ruthless mob boss, and quickly consolidated control over the criminal networks in Tampa. 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. The first case stemmed from the FBIs well-known Donnie Brasco undercover sting operation. And purchase valuable sports memorabilia for himself. 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. Cuban leader Fulgencio Batista in Washington, D.C. in 1938. He returned to Tampa for the last time for internment in the LUnione Italiana Cemetery. After months of wiretapped phone conversations, investigators seized boxloads of documents, some with Trafficante's name on them. Santo Traficante Jr fue uno de los ltimos y mas poderosos capos de la mafia en Florida y Cuba. When his father died in 1954 he took control of these establishments. 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. 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 maintained all of the lucrative casinos in Cuba, further cemented ties with powerful Mafia families he had established as a young man in New York, and ruthlessly put down any attempts to usurp his territory or power. Meanwhile, he continued to make money from the drugs that came through Tampa. He is currently working on his seventh book, The Jersey Mob., Feedback or questions? He had a big heart and will be missed. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. prosecution, fled temporarily to Cuba. We have set your language to For all the power he wielded, Trafficante was often described as quiet and reserved. My heart goes out to the family. She was a wonderful cook, and she loved to crochet and travel with her husband, but she lived her life for her family. He drove standard cars, lived in regular houses in quiet places, was married to the same woman, and generally described as a quiet man. Donnie Brasco. Josephine Marchese Trafficante In 1965, Giancana was convicted of contempt of court, serving one year in prison. Still, he lives comfortably enough to give his sons Jaguar sports cars, red for Dino and white for Joseph. So, who was this so-called Silent Don who wielded enough power to allegedly kill the President? cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. The IRS was unsuccessful, according to Fernandez, Trafficante's attorney. "When I woke up, they told me they raided Key Bank. "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. 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. 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. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. More troubling for Trafficante was a court document that listed him for the first time as "a member of the Trafficante crime family.". Trafficante was apprehended in November 1957, along with over 60 other mobsters, at the Apalachin meeting in Apalachin, New York. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. Josephine Marchese Trafficante, 95, died peacefully in her sleep, Wednesday morning at her home. A year later they had their first son, Frank, born on April 16, 1910. Santo Trafficante Jr News reports - YouTube At Boxer Cycle Works. Santo Trafficante Jr - Mafia Facts Home - Boxer Cycle Works Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. Our deepest condolences to the Trafficante family. Reclaiming History: The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy. You need a Find a Grave account to continue. 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. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. He moved to Cuba in 1955 where he met the countrys authoritarian ruler Fulgencio Batista. 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. His abiding passion is food. 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. Treasury Department History of Santo Trafficante Jr 1961 She was a native of Tampa, a second-generation Sicilian immigrant who grew up in Ybor city. Trafficantes chance came in the 1960s when he became acquainted with mobster John Handsome Johnny Roselli. He walked outside and got into a 1951 Mercury sedan driven by one of his associates. With deepest sympathy and love. Trafficante was arrested on a bookmaking conspiracy charge. He was a well-respected boss, even among the far larger New York crime families. But considering the fiercely anti-Soviet atmosphere of the Cold War, its not that hard to believe. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. 12 talking about this. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. (November 15, 1914 - March 17, 1987 ). Interestingly, Trafficante who was worth about $25 billion at his height in the 80s lived a fairly reserved, modest lifestyle. I have thought of you and Santo many times over the past 50 years. However, while the Latin American drug trade has figured prominently in the sunshine states less savory history, so has the Mafia. JFK Assassination - Santo Trafficante Jr - gibson's world Help tell the story of your loved ones unique life. "I thought all this would end when my uncle died. Try again later.