Whether or not a Mafia conspiracy was behind the assassination of Kennedy is still up for debate. After the Kennedy hubbub, Trafficante kept a low profile or, lower that is. The gunmen drove off, unaware they had failed to kill Trafficante, merely grazing his arm. "When my uncle visited it was like a family reunion. He will always be remembered with fondness. She lived an exciting life dividing her time between her multiple family members and friends in Tampa, Miami and Havana. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. 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. Trafficante was arrested frequently throughout the 1950s on various charges of bribery and of running illegal bolita lotteries in Tampa's Ybor City district. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/53540265/santo-trafficante. 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. Santo Trafficante Sr. was a Florida mobster who survived a series of vicious gang wars to become the leader of a powerful Mafia crime family based in Tampa. He was going to be hit.. In this episode, we will discuss the fascinating life of Tampa's most powerful mobster: Santo Trafficante Jr. "They wouldn't even let me go to the track. Comfort the family with flowers or a sympathy gift. 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. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. Please reset your password. Meet Santo Trafficante: The Silent Don Who Tried To Kill Fidel Castro And May Have Ordered JFKs Assassination. But the mobster tag has outlasted the case itself. "I still don't think I did anything wrong," Trafficante says. "I think it's all bull----," says Trafficante's former horse trainer, Arthur Pedregal Jr. "It's only because his name is Trafficante. My aim is to provide you with the best Service experience for you and your motorcycle. If the decision is upheld on appeal, charges against Trafficante may be dismissed. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. 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. So, at his attorney Ralph Fernandez's urging, he has agreed to talk publicly, hoping to shore up his damaged reputation. She handled great adversity and difficult, troubling times with grace, dignity, and style; with respect and love for all around her. [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. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. Please check your entries and try again. 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. Try again later. [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. Love and peace to you all. He walked outside and got into a 1951 Mercury sedan driven by one of his associates. "I'm in the I.O.U. In the meantime, the allegation that he is a mobster has dogged him and his family. 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. 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. He returned to Tampa for the last time for internment in the LUnione Italiana Cemetery. She was a wonderful cook, and she loved to crochet and travel with her husband, but she lived her life for her family. He maintained close working ties with the Lucchese crime family and the Bonanno crime family from New York City. After a lifetime in organized crime, Trafficante Jr. died of national causes in 1987. Santo Trafficante was wanted in 48 states by the time he was 43. We cant help ourselves when it comes to watching mob films like The Godfather, Goodfellas, Casino and HBOs Boardwalk Empire and the iconic cable TV show, The Sopranos. My thoughts and prayers are with you all! 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,. Trafficante scrambled out the passenger-side door. [13] Trafficante said that he introduced the trio to Cuban exiles in Florida. Like Trafficante Jr. before him, had many close calls with law enforcement, but always escaped serious charges. Santo Trafficante Jr. (November 15, 1914 March 17, 1987) was among the most powerful Mafia bosses in the United States. 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. [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. Trafficante was arrested on a bookmaking conspiracy charge. Trafficante was a ruthless mob boss, and quickly consolidated control over the criminal networks in Tampa. gerry,i am so sorry to hear about santo. In his previous statements, Roselli also tied Lee Harvey Oswalds killer, Jack Ruby, to Santo Trafficante. In 1963, the Mob allegedly had enough of Kennedy. 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. Frank Ragano and Santo Trafficante Jr. (right). He was a well-respected boss, even among the far larger New York crime families. 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. Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. tampa crime boss santo trafficante jr plays a central role in thriller 'mafia spies' Bolita , Mob Hits , Scott M. Deitche , Tampa Mafia SANTO TRAFFICANTE SR, A 'Sicilian of the Old School,' RULED TAMPA'S UNDERWORLD FOR MORE THAN A DECADE! He is currently working on his seventh book, The Jersey Mob., Feedback or questions? Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. Though his prison sentence wasnt long and he returned to a strong position in Florida, Trafficante never forgave Castro. In a final disappointment, he sold a filly named "Run Marisa Run" (after his daughter) for $7,500. 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. 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. Trafficante was a ruthless mob boss, and quickly consolidated control over the criminal networks in Tampa. He owned a West Tampa restaurant called Cafe Sevilla. Born: November 15, 1914, Tampa, Florida U.S., Newspapers.com Obituary Index, 1800s-current, U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947, Florida, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1823-1982, Thank you for fulfilling this photo request. She was the Matriarch of the Trafficante Family; and we will all miss her presence, guidance, love and affection. Trafficante was apprehended in November 1957, along with over 60 other mobsters, at the Apalachin meeting in Apalachin, New York. Anthony Accardo & Santo Trafficante Jr - Labor Union Kickbacks (1977- 1981)https://www.nytimes.com/1981/06/05/us/16-indicted-over-union-fund-use.htmlCredit:. He flew to Houston on March 15 for heart bypass surgery. His abiding passion is food. Shop eBooks and audiobooks at Rakuten Kobo. Santo was known to have been deeply involved in the CIA efforts to involve the underworld in assassination attempts on Fidel Castro. A car registered to former state attorney and current state appellate judge E.J. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. Mobster dies, two nations. santo trafficante daughters Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. Indeed, a wiretapped conversation picked up a Key Bank official calling Trafficante a "sacred cow," with loans in excess of a million dollars. Santo Jr., who had inherited the leadership of the Tampa Mafia around 1950 when his father, Santo Sr., fell ill, had now completed his consolidation of power in Tampa and beyond. The mobsters also attempted to get Castro into a poisoned wetsuit and even offered to blow him up with an exploding seashell. Try again later. the daughter of immigrants from the Italian region of Basilicata. Reclaiming History: The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Trafficante was born in Tampa, Florida, to Sicilian parents Santo Trafficante Sr. and his wife Maria Giuseppa Cacciatore in 1914. 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. 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. Late in life LoScalzo denied any connections to organized crime. Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? 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. Resend Activation Email. His sons, Dino and Joseph, run it for him, though he worries that sometimes they don't work hard. He even sent his son, Santo Trafficante Junior, to New York, to gain a better understanding of how the mafia operated there. 2023 SCI SHARED RESOURCES, LLC. I laughed _ until I realized it was a total f------ disaster," Trafficante says.