The King of Cuba's casinos was on the verge of mob stardom when a revolution destroys his plans. You have funeral questions, we have answers. Your Scrapbook is currently empty. Research genealogy for Santo Trafficante of Tampa, Hillsborough, Florida, USA, as well as other members of the Trafficante family, on Ancestry. . Ways to honor Santo Trafficante's life and legacy. Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love. Among the very first mafiosi to ever set up shop in Tampa were members of the Antinori, Italiano, and Scaglione families, who were all mafiosi back in Sicily. [24], In 1990, Ragano was again convicted of tax evasion. At the same time, in addition to his criminal work for Ignacio Antinori, he began to invest heavily in his own bolita numbers rackets, beginning in Tampa and expanding throughout Central Florida. Over time, Tampa became home to greater numbers of Sicilians from the area of Santo Stefano Quisquina, in the Province of Agrigento, and Mafia leaders originally from Santo Stefano and its neighboring communities became prominent. Trafficante was born in Cianciana, a short distance inland from Santo Stefano in the Province of Agrigento. The Columbia Restaurant is THE Tampa landmark. His successor, Ignazio Antinori, soon found himself in a war for control of the rackets with Charlie Wall, an independent racketeer known as The White Shadow (his nickname from local Latino residents) and dean of the underworld. You can contact the owner of the tree to get more information. A place on Snow in Tampa next to The Great American Food and Beverage Company, the waiters wore tuxedos, was very sedate, not much of a crowd. A A. This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. Please enter your username or email address to reset your password. Those investments were lost when Trafficante was unable to make arrangements with the regime of Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro after 1959. 15, 2010. [43], Selwyn Raab, who co-authored Mob Lawyer with Ragano, when told of these allegations, stated that no mention was ever made by Ragano about this in any of his notes or in the FBI files. Date: Transaction: 2039-11-01: Santo Trafficante has retired from the New York Americans: 2039-06-03: Santo Trafficante collected his 3000th career hit. The real mafia played dominoes at the casino and never disclosed themselves. The family suspected it was Charlie Wall and they had him killed in 1955. The family suspected it was Charlie Wall and they had him killed in 1955. When Fidel Castro and his rogue regime seized power in the late 1950s, Trafficante returned home to the U.S. where he took full control of the Tampa borgata. Trafficante apparently was supported by Mafiosi from the Diecidue family, also originally from Cianciana. The Trafficante crime family, also known as the Tampa Mafia, is an Italian-American Mafia crime family based in Tampa, Florida.The most notable boss was Santo Trafficante, Jr. who ruled Tampa and the crime family with an iron fist. Start a free family tree online and well do the searching for you. I played there in the 70's and many wrestlers use to hang out there. Last edited on 19 February 2023, at 14:50, Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Frank Ragano, 75, Lawyer for Mob and Hoffa", "Married to the Mob; Frank Ragano took a gamble - and lost - when he tied his future to the Mafia's", "Hoffa Lawyer: Jimmy Recruited Mob for JFK Hit", "Lawyer Says Hoffa Told 2 Mob Bosses to Have President Kennedy Killed", "TV REVIEWS: 'JFK, Hoffa and Mob' Hints at Mafia Ties", "The Sins of the Godfather? Maria Giuseppe Trafficante was married to Santo Trafficante, Sr, and died at age 83 years old on March 21, 1971 at Ybor City, Hillsborough County, Florida. lockhart's Gulf Signs at 102 145th Ave., Cliff Lockhart, owner. The complaint was ignored and Italiano and Ferrara were never seen again. And it was the favorite eating establishment of the enigmatic Santo Trafficante Sr, as well as his son and namesake, Santo Jr. [8][28] The book was co-written with Selwyn Raab, a reporter for The New York Times. One of the earliest established Mafia Families in the United States was the criminal network that formed down in Tampa, Florida. He continued to operate his crime Family unscathed until the day he died. Writers of Wrongs: Buckshot finishes Tampa big shot. Born in Cianciana, Sicily, Italy. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? Trafficante is among the underworld bosses regularly named by conspiracy theorists as an organizer of the assassination of U.S. President John F. Kennedy - a claim Trafficante vehemently denied. Lumia was murdered in 1950. If you notice a problem with the translation, please send a message to [emailprotected] and include a link to the page and details about the problem. If you would like to view one of these trees in its entirety, you can contact the owner of the tree to request permission to see the tree. Santo Trafficante was born in Tampa, Florida, on 15th November, 1914. Mary Jo Trafficante Paniella says by telephone that her father was at Miami's Mercy Hospital on March 12 and March 14, and family lawyer Henry Gonzalez, by fax, produces hospital records to show . Mafia Books 1987 - Frank Diecidue (Feb. 20, 1915, to Oct. 19, 1994). Records: 68. Frank Ragano (January 25, 1923 May 13, 1998) was a self-styled "mob lawyer" from Florida, who made his name representing organized crime figures such as Santo Trafficante, Jr. and Carlos Marcello, and also served as lawyer for Teamsters leader Jimmy Hoffa. Information and advice to help you cope with the death of someone important to you. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. At age 16, he boarded the S.S. Lombardia and set sail for American in search of a better life. If it is still there I would love to know. Liberace, the entertainer, was one such client for whom he attempted to get a Teamsters' loan. Mob Lawyer Frank Ragano Says He Knows Who Killed JFK", "Account of famed Riggs vs. King match heightens Tampa mob intrigue", https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1346&dat=19740303&id=OIgsAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1voDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6019,451395, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Frank_Ragano&oldid=1140317521, This page was last edited on 19 February 2023, at 14:50. A system error has occurred. The dictator of Cuba, Fulgencio Batista, received a large cut of the profits. Santo Trafficante Sr was born on May 28, 1886 at Cianciana Provincia di Agrigento Sicilia, Italy. [8], In 1963, again on Trafficante's recommendation, Ragano began serving as attorney for Carlos Marcello, the head of the New Orleans crime family. "[15] He later sued Time for libel[16] and was represented by famed trial lawyer Melvin Belli. This Family first came to the attention of federal law enforcement in the early 1950s, while under the leadership of Capo Santo Trafficante Sr. A Sicilian immigrant, Trafficante assumed the mantle of power from the previous Representante, Ignazio Antinori, who was the leader from approximately 1920, until his gangland-style execution in October, of 1940. Please enable JavaScript in your browser's settings to use this part of Geni. What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative? From Admin Folder L-4. It is unclear just when Trafficante became involved in running illegal liquor (one source says Mob boss Ignazio Antinori brought Trafficante into the fold), but by the late 1920s, Santo Trafficante Sr. was heavily involved in bootlegging whiskey in Ybor during Prohibition., The other racket that Santo Sr. started dabbling in was illegal gambling, specifically the game of bolita, an early type of lottery game with a hundred balls made of wood or ivory drawn in front of a crowd; the game later morphed into a typical numbers game. Born in Tampa, Hillsborough, Florida, USA on 15 Nov 1914 to Santo Trafficante and Maria Giuseppa Cacciatore. HSCA Press Release on organized Crime. His father, Santo Trafficante Senior, was a leading figure in the Mafia. Make sure that the file is a photo. [2] His son, Santo Trafficante Jr. subsequently took over the crime family. We have set your language to The following year, Santo Sr. became a naturalized citizen. By the late 1800s to early 1900s, Italian immigrants from Sicily were drawn to the City of Tampa and a tight-knit Little Italy-type community soon developed. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. [1] After the death of . 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. These trees can change over time as users edit, remove, or otherwise modify the data in their trees. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. Santo Trafficante was married to Maria Giuseppe Cacciatore Trafficante, and died at age 68 years old on August 11, 1954 at Tampa Hillsborough County Florida, USA. While the Santo Stefano and Monreale Mafia organizations in the Tampa area may have remained distinct through this period, some believe Gaetano "Thomas" Zummo became part of a shared Tampa underworld leadership group. Maria was born in 1889, in Santo Stefano, Quisquina, Italy. They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel. The Italian Club was the epicenter of Sicilian life in Tampa. A Sicilian immigrant, Trafficante assumed the mantle of power from the previous Representante, Ignazio Antinori, who was the leader from approximately 1920, until his gangland-style execution in October, of 1940. Please enter your email and password to sign in. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Though Prohibition was over, Trafficante's income was guaranteed by his dominance in gambling rackets - particularly Tampa's "bolita" numbers-type game - and his connections in Cuba proved valuable to the U.S. Mafia network, as investments were made in Havana-area vice establishments. "[37], In his book Reclaiming History: the Assassination of President John F. Kennedy, Vincent Bugliosi has pointed out many flaws in Ragano's claims, including the fact that Trafficante was most likely not in Tampa on the day in question, but was rather in North Miami Beach receiving dialysis treatments. Santo Trafficante: With Lloyd Morris, G. Robert Blakey, Scott Deitche, Andrew Jonas. "Sam" was a supervisor of the Bolita rackets of the Trafficante operation. Genealogy for Santo Trafficante (1886 - 1954) family tree on Geni, with over 230 million profiles of ancestors and living relatives. A high-tech, visual effects-filled true crime travel television series entitled Mobtown America, based on Scott's popular walking tours of Mafia sites, has just started being shopped by Big Machine Productions. "[30] Ronald Goldfarb reviewed the book for The Washington Post stating: "Ragano's biography of his career is full of naive rationalizations about the virtues of these men he cavorted with and represented, and self-serving criticism of the government's Gestapo-like tactics, selective prosecution, use of spies as witnesses and intimidation of suspects' families. The committee subpoenaed leading underworld figures to testify. Her only connection to Tampa, she said, was "Santo," meaning Santo Trafficante Jr., one of . There was Uncle Frank Costello, and Uncle Abe Zwillman, the kings of New York and New Jersey. Ignazio Italiano died in August 1930 at the age of seventy. He was survived by his second wife (former mistress) and their two children, and his first wife and their three children. Drag images here or select from your computer for Santo Trafficante Sr. memorial. Mother: Maria Giuseppa CACCIATORE born in Italy (date and place unknown - believed to be deceased). [9] In his book, Ragano claimed that Hoffa, who was being hounded by United States Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy on corruption and jury tampering charges, asked him to convey a message to Trafficante and Marcello that an assassination of President Kennedy should be arranged. It indicated that his remains would be transported back to the U.S. for burial by his son Salvatore "Sam" Zummo of Rhinelander Avenue in the Bronx. [39] Bugliosi also points out that by allegedly conveying a message in 1963 to that effect, and by relating this confession from an alleged conspirator, Ragano would himself be admitting to having been a part of a murder conspiracy. Learn more about merges. 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 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. By. with his family. Some researchers believe it was to solidify American intelligence involvement in trafficking channels through Central and South America. A native and lifelong resident of Tampa, Mr. Trafficante is survived by his loving family: wife Geraldine "Gerry" L.; sons, Dino Jose & Joseph Frank Trafficante; daughters, Gina M. (Frank) Miranda, and Marisa C. (Jay) Brody; grandsons, Luke F. & Ryan F. Miranda; brother, Frank; sister, Violet Pullara; godson, Alfred Santo Alessi; nieces and nephews, Mario Pullara, Christine Newton, Alia and Alexa Trafficante, Joely Valenti, J.C., and Jayme Valenti; and other loving family members. In 1953 Santo Jr. survived a shooting. Santo Trafficante then became the Capo-Famiglia who would truly put the Tampa Family on the underworld map, so to speak. . Zummo spent considerable time in New York - residing in the Bronx for years - before relocating to Florida during the later Prohibition period and opening Maria's Pizza Restaurant, 907 Tampa Street in Tampa. For some people, the best send-off is one that they would have loved to attendthemselves: a big party. During the late 1920s, a fierce and bitter criminal turf war began between Wall and Antinori, who both fought each other as well as Santos for control of the illegal numbers rackets in the Tampa, Florida, area. "[17] He lost his suit. The Trafficante Family Under Santo Junior . Sam is the cousin of Tampa mob boss Santo Trafficante Sr, and the son of old-school Tampa mobster Joseph "Jo-Jo" Cacciatore. But the Kefauver panel succeeded in uncovering the depth of Mafia influence in Tampa, exposing its citizens to the truth of how deeply ingrained the Mafia were in everything, from politics to law enforcement. The next son was Luigi Santo Trafficante Jr. (his namesake and future Mafia boss), born on November 15, 1914. Loved it there. [19], In connection with an incident made famous in the Martin Scorsese film Goodfellas, Ragano helped represent four mobsters, including "Jimmy the Gent" Burke and Henry Hill, charged in 1972 with extortion in collecting a gambling debt in Tampa, Florida. Immigrating right along with these hard-working early Sicilian immigrants came a band of shadowy criminal figures from their homeland. Santo Trafficante passed away on 17 Mar 1987 in Houston, Harris, Texas, USA. Please try again later. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. He bought a bar, the Rex Caf, on Seventh Avenue, the main drag through Ybor City. Col. White did not reveal any evidence supporting his assertion. In 1953 Santo Jr. survived a shooting. It's surprising how much a musical selection can affect mourning. Antinori was a central focus of the Santo Stefano Mafiosi through their late Prohibition Era conflict with the local gambling gang of Charlie Wall. Early 1960s Tampa Mafia hierarchy (click to enlarge). Thanks to a recommendation from Santo Trafficante, Ragano was hired by Jimmy Hoffa to represent him on union corruption charges, thus beginning a long association with the infamous labor leader. Mob Fireside Chat BGs Official YouTube Channel, assassination of President John Fitzgerald Kennedy, The Frank Piccolo Regime Leadership Chart. TRAFFICANTE, Santo Jose 72, of Tampa, passed away July 13, 2010, surrounded by his loving family. Born in Tampa, Florida to Sicilian parents Mafia don Santo Trafficante, Sr. and his wife Maria Giuseppa Cacciatore. He died, following a bypass operation at the Texas Heart Institute in Houston, before he could stand trial. Except for the shocking disclosures about his deceased former clients, there is no reason to read this book. Encyclopedia of Cold War Espionage, Spies, and Secret Operations 17 "[28] Publishers Weekly said: "The story, which profits from the smooth style of New York Times crime reporter Raab, has less impact as an account of a man who woke up too late than for its revelations about significant events of our time. From the town's contributions to World War II to the secrets lurking beneath Collin Creek Mall, unlock the astonishingly large storehouse of Plano's hidden history. [4] The city has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants,[5][4] and it spans a total of 781.58 km2 (301.77 sq mi) - making it the largest city by area, the most populous city, and the . Raffa died of an apparent suicide in 2000 while awaiting trial on racketeering, loansharking and gambling charges. The Trafficante Family Leadership Chart below depicts all known inducted members and their significant criminal associates from approximately 1910 through 2000. Scott M. Deitche is an author specializing in organized crime. To plant trees in memory, please visit the. Connect to 33 Trafficante profiles on Geni, 1940 - 3010 N Blud, Tampa, Precinct 24, Hillsborough, Florida, USA, May 28 1886 - Cianciana Provincia di Agrigento Sicilia, Italy, Giovanni Trafficanti, Carmela Trafficanti (born Dimicelli), Maria Giuseppa Trafficanti (born Cacciatori), Apr 1 1950 - 3010 W Alfred, Tampa, Hillsborough, Florida, United States, May 28 1886 - Cianciana, Agrigento, Sicilia, Italy, Giovanni Trafficante, Carmela Trafficante (born Di Miceli), Giuseppe Trafficante, Maria Lopresti (born Trafficante), May 28 1886 - Cianciana, Agrigento, Sicily, Italy, Aug 11 1954 - Tampa, Hillsborough, Florida Territory, United States, Maria Giueseppa Trafficante (born Cacciatore), 1910 - Tampa Ward 6, Hillsborough, Florida, USA, Sicilian-born American Mafia Boss And Racketeer, Giuseppe Trafficante, Maria Lopresti (born Trafficante),
Trafficante, Trafficante. Private entombment will follow. Testimony of Santos Trafficante. The feud between Wall and Antinori came to a violent head between factions of the Antinori gang and dissatisfied members of the Chicago and St. Louis crime family to whom Antinori was supplying narcotics, and Wall's crew. [32] Ragano said that Jim Garrison served as a patsy for the New Orleans mob by disseminating theories that served to distract attention from mafia figures who were involved in the plot. Santo Trafficante Jr. took over for his father and built one of the most powerful Mafia families in America. The Florida state attorney considered the Rex to be a bolita place.. Try again later. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. [8], According to Ragano, he met Hoffa at the Teamsters' headquarters in Washington D.C. then delivered the message to Trafficante and Marcello a few days later in a meeting at the Royal Orleans Hotel in New Orleans. I'm sure not many these days will remember the place. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. Two years later, Santo, Sr. followed like thousands of other Italian immigrants, settling near downtown Tampa in . However, by the 1950s, upheaval arose for the Trafficante family. Resend Activation Email. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. All rights reserved. Scott M. Deitche is the author of 5 books and on organized crime, including Cigar City Mafia: A Complete History of the Tampa Underworld, and The Silent Don: The World of Santo Trafficante Jr. Unless you are experienced as an estate executor, you probably should hire an attorney. Geni requires JavaScript! All the Big Music Groups used to come there after they played as Well as Dusty Rhodes, and other Wrestlers, I grew up around many of mentioned places and people mentioned as well as visited regularly 2001 and many other places my dad was friends with mr trafficante and many beloved Italian family's i was cherished as a child in early 60s by alot of them i was too young to know or care what they done. The Italiano faction in Tampa found the situation intolerable. (Some in the Italiano faction reportedly were less than eager to accept Trafficante as leader and remained so into the next generation.) The three men appeared to share underworld executive power, with Italiano likely serving as chief for a time. During the 1940s, Trafficante Sr. maintained a strong alliance with Tommy Lucchese, the boss of the Lucchese crime family in New York City. '"[29] In a review for ABA Journal, Martin Kimel called it an "intelligent memoir" and wrote: "Despite the seaminess of its cast of characters, Mob Lawyer is engrossing reading and an object lesson in lifestyles of the rich and infamous. After a series of gangland murders, the smoke started to clear and a formal Family hierarchy was established. Although his conviction was reversed on appeal, he was later retried and convicted on related charges. On Oct. 23, 1940, Ignazio Antinori was shot to death, likely as a result of a growing feud with Charlie Wall. Genealogy profile for Santo Trafficante. During this period, Steve Raffa (Oct. 2, 1941, to Nov. 16, 2000) gained control of the family's wing in the Miami area. Ragano wrote that on March 13, 1987, a dying Trafficante (he died four days later) asked to meet him in Tampa for a hurried meeting. Family members linked to this person will appear here. Published: August 9th, 2019 - By Scott M. Deitche, Contributing Writer, Santo Trafficante Sr., a Sicilian of the old school, ruled Tampas underworld for more than a decade. Through gambling rackets, Pr. In December 1950, the Kefauver Committee came to Tampa, looking, as it did in other U.S. cities, to uncover the depth of organized crime influence in the city. Please reset your password. In 1962, when the Feds started closing the noose around the Trafficante brothers (Santo Jr, Henry, and Sam), the bar was damaged in a fire. In this episode, we'll spotlight the man responsible for the Tampa Mafia's name being better known as the "Trafficante Family". Trafficante died of stomach cancer on August 11, 1954; he was a member of L'Unione Italiana, and he was buried in L'Unione Italiana Cemetery in Ybor City. Maria Giuseppe Cacciatore Trafficante was born on February 15, 1888, and had a brother Joseph M Cacciatore. [41] According to Hart, Ragano presented an "earthy motive, vastly more plausible than the movie theory. This browser does not support getting your location. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. Santo was born on May 28 1886, in Cianciani, Italy. Add to your scrapbook. There was a problem getting your location. By the early 1930s, Santo Sr. was considered one of the top Mafia powers in Tampa. One of the vigilante gunmen involved in the 1891 Mafia lynchings in New Orleans reported that he subsequently spotted a number of New Orleans Mafiosi doing business in Tampa, Florida. The original site of La Tropicana Cafe, shown here in 1974, was across Seventh Avenue in Ybor City from its current location. If youre in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist. Email blog@themobmuseum.org. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. Santos first gained power as a mobster in Tampa as an associate, and later as a high ranking member, of the Trafficante crime family, helping run illegal bolita numbers rackets during the 1920s. 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. We collect and match historical records that Ancestry users have contributed to their family trees to create each person's profile. Failed to delete memorial. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Maria Giuseppe Cacciatore Trafficante. Santos remained the boss of Tampa until he died of natural causes in 1954. 99 per cent friends are catholic as an earner I slipped through the cracks pentecostal with catholic upbringing semi retired pensacola florida.