Meet Santo Trafficante: The Silent Don Who Tried To Kill Fidel Castro And May Have Ordered JFKs Assassination. Conspiracy theorists consider Giancana along with Mafia leaders Santo Trafficante Jr. and Carlos Marcello associated with the assassination of Kennedy. He moved to Cuba in 1955 where he met the countrys authoritarian ruler Fulgencio Batista. 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. 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. There was an error deleting this problem. Several were wounded. The other guys are two doctors, who say they'll testify if they're summoned to court. So is Santo Jose Trafficante III a mobster? After that, he ordered casino owners to cough up employee back pay, then shut them down again. Nicknames: The Silent Don Trafficante tried to win Castro over to his side, but that didnt work. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. He wears tasselled leather loafers without socks. A year later they had their first son, Frank, born on April 16, 1910. 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. Santo told the state attorney, I dont have an enemy in the world. [1] In 1997, further declassified documents indicated that some mafiosi worked with the agency on assassination attempts against Castro. However, while the Latin American drug trade has figured prominently in the sunshine states less savory history, so has the Mafia. We never paid cash. But Santo knew who was behind the killing a rival Mafia faction. cemeteries found in Ybor City, Hillsborough County, Florida, USA will be saved to your photo volunteer list. He owned and operated some of the most lavish casinos in pre-Castro Cuba. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. The mobsters also attempted to get Castro into a poisoned wetsuit and even offered to blow him up with an exploding seashell. His uncle, the late Santo Trafficante Jr., was reputed to have been the boss of the local Mafia. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. I hold such fond memories of Santo & Gerry when I was growing up. [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. An email has been sent to the person who requested the photo informing them that you have fulfilled their request, There is an open photo request for this memorial. The American governments close ties to Santo Trafficante Jr. and the rest of the Mafia didnt end with their attempts to kill Castro. 0 cemeteries found in Ybor City, Hillsborough County, Florida, USA. After months of wiretapped phone conversations, investigators seized boxloads of documents, some with Trafficante's name on them. 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. The guy really tried to do it right.". This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. Brother of Frank Cacciatore Trafficante; Private and Private. Trafficante scrambled out the passenger-side door. Like Trafficante Jr. before him, had many close calls with law enforcement, but always escaped serious charges. Try again later. 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. 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. 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. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. [2] Trafficante Jr. had known Lucchese since the 1940s, when his father and Lucchese had trained him in the mafia traditions. President John. In his previous statements, Roselli also tied Lee Harvey Oswalds killer, Jack Ruby, to Santo Trafficante. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. I have thought of you and Santo many times over the past 50 years. A A. 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. He will be sorely missed and his heart of gold will be remembered by all who new him. gerry,i am so sorry to hear about santo. Santo Trafficante Jr Santo Trafficante Jr. (November 15, 1914 - March 17, 1987) was among the most powerful Mafia bosses in the United States. Getty ImagesSanto Trafficante was wanted in 48 states by the time he was 43. He is just a businessman, he says, his money tied up in wholesale automobiles, an orange grove and real estate. 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. "When I woke up, they told me they raided Key Bank. The wiretap evidence has been thrown out of court. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. 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. 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. Plant a tree to honor the memory of your loved one. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. "I still don't think I did anything wrong," Trafficante says. In the 1950s, Tampas reputation for corruption and vice was so bad it prompted one national magazine to label the area the Hell Hole of the Gulf Coast. Given such negativity, who can blame people for just wanting to forget? He was, in many ways, the archetypical old-school Mob boss. Add to your scrapbook. Search above to list available cemeteries. Finally, after the infamous failed Bay of Pigs Invasion, the CIA gave up on their attempts to kill the Cuban dictator and thus Trafficantes attempts at revenge never materialized. 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. 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. Santo Trafficante Jr. (November 15, 1914 - March 17, 1987) was among the most powerful Mafia bosses in the United States. Santo Trafficante Jr. had long followed in his fathers footsteps, and proved to be an even more effective Mafia kingpin. Trafficante would rather be force-fed raw carrot sticks for eternity than be seen talking to a reporter. 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. This browser does not support getting your location. May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow. Died: March 17, 1987, Houston, Texas Authorities also said he urged former bank vice president Michael Pupello to impersonate him in calls to federal bank regulators. His wife also was named in the fraud charges. 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. 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. And despite relatively small time beginnings, Trafficante proved to be a shrewd mobster. He even sent his son, Santo Trafficante Junior, to New York, to gain a better understanding of how the mafia operated there. One small gang, led by Italian immigrant Santo Trafficante Senior, profited from the illegal lottery-style games they ran across Tampa. My uncle, never wore a ring," Trafficante says. Please check your entries and try again. Our prayers are with you. It was all on the up and up. Associates: Sam Giancana, Charlie Lucky Luciano, Meyer Lansky, Cuba, Fidel Castro, Johnny Rosselli, Robert Maheu. Trafficante had been operating in Cuba since the late 1940s under his father, Santo Trafficante Sr., a mobster in Tampa, Florida. Despite his arrest, Trafficante managed to escape charges and continue to fly under the laws radar. My heart goes out to the family. [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. More importantly, Castro imprisoned Trafficante and then had him exiled from Cuba. Salcines was observed at the properties the weekend of June 9, 1967. A Hillsborough judge threw out the wiretaps, the spine of the state's case. Verify and try again. We send our most sincere sympathies to the Trafficante family. Though his prison sentence wasnt long and he returned to a strong position in Florida, Trafficante never forgave Castro. Learn more about merges. One of the last surviving mobsters from the Luciano era, he died of heart disease in a Houston, Texas, hospital in 1987. Santo met and married Maria Giuseppe Cacciatore on April 20, 1909. Santo Jr. succeeded his father as the boss of Tampa upon his death. ", 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. He walked outside and got into a 1951 Mercury sedan driven by one of his associates. THE CHARLIE WALL STORY Kingpin Charlie Wall (center holding bottle, right of child) and his notorious gang. Please enter your email and password to sign in. He attended the University of Florida for a year, then transferred to the University of Tampa and left without completing his degree. 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. Santo Trafficante Jr. had long followed in his fathers footsteps, and proved to be an even more effective Mafia kingpin. Federal investigators brought racketeering and conspiracy charges against him in the summer of 1986. Josephine Marchese Trafficante [22], sfn error: no target: CITEREFDouglass2010 (, Last edited on 22 February 2023, at 15:02, United States House Select Committee on Assassinations, Reclaiming History: The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy, "With Santo Trafficante, an era is ending", "SANTO TRAFFICANTE, REPUTED MAFIA CHIEF, DIES AT 72", "Why mob bigs who met to crown a king had to run like roaches", "For Sale, a House WithAcreage.Connections Extra;Site of 1957 Gangland Raid Is Part of Auction on Saturday", "20 Apalachin Convictions Ruled Invalid On Appeal", "Narcotic Traffic Called Topic In Apalachin Talks", Memorandum for the Director of Central Intelligence, Subject: Roselli, Johnny, "Witness denies assassination, Cuba tied", "Mafia Linked In JFK Probe; By Cuban Exile", "Hoffa Lawyer: Jimmy Recruited Mob for JFK Hit", "Lawyer Says Hoffa Told 2 Mob Bosses to Have President Kennedy Killed", "Frank Ragano, 75, Lawyer for Mob and Hoffa", "The Sins of the Godfather? As we all know, he was right, and Kennedy was assassinated by a sniper in November 1963. 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.
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