Skip . Although his conviction was reversed on appeal, he was later retried and convicted on related charges. from the smallpox epidemic to the gruesome Muncey family murders . Santo met and married Maria Giuseppe Cacciatore on April 20, 1909. [6] He used his position with Hoffa to help place loans from the Teamsters' pension funds in return for "finder's fees." 2021 Cigar City Magazine. 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. With the untimely Kefauver hearings and Charlie Wall testifying in 1950, both Santos Sr and Santos Jr fled to Cuba. On August 12, 1954, Tampa, Florida, Mafia boss Santo Trafficante Sr. died from stomach cancer. This is a carousel with slides. 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. Free trials are normally available and are a good way to . [32][33] He stated he was chosen by Hoffa because, as both Hoffa and Trafficante's lawyer, he could be assured of attorneyclient privilege. He died, following a bypass operation at the Texas Heart Institute in Houston, before he could stand trial. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Ancestry is a major source of information if you are filling out the detail of Santo Trafficante, Sr. in your family tree. Santos remained the boss of Tampa until he died of natural causes in 1954. [11] Trafficante did "celebrate" with Ragano upon hearing word of Kennedy's assassination, but made no admission to Ragano at that time that he was in any way involved. : 2028-05-02: Santo Trafficante of the New York Americans is injured and is . Santo Trafficante grew up in the Florida underworld, working his father's gambling rackets and getting experience in the business. Many of the modern surnames in the dictionary can be traced back to Britain and Ireland, Do not sell or share my personal information. Discover Santo Trafficante's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. OF FATHER'S DEATH, Source: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/52792202/frank-cacciatore-trafficante, Cianciana, Provincia di Agrigento, Sicilia, Italy, L'Unione Italiana Cemetery, Ybor City, Hillsborough County, Florida, USA. According to some researchers, Santo Sr. was personally responsible for drug channels and trafficking, which brought in hundreds of millions of dollars. Soldier of fortune Gerry Hemming had a first-hand look at the Trafficante network, with heroin trafficked through Buenos Aries and brought up through Cuba into the United States. Santo Sr. and his son Santo Jr. also met in Tampa with Bureau of Narcotics head George White in September 1945 at the Columbia restaurant. [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. The U.S. Narcotics Bureau apparently believed Antinori took on far greater foes than Charlie Wall. Maria Giuseppe Cacciatore Trafficante was born on February 15, 1888, and had a brother Joseph M Cacciatore. [1] Lucchese would help train his son Trafficante Jr. in the mafia traditions.[1]. Many big Nashville stars played there. [38] Bugliosi argues that it is absurd to think that Marcello and Trafficante would get involved in plotting to assassinate a president, particularly as nothing more than a supposed favor to Jimmy Hoffa. He figured prominently in such important FBI investigations as the 1957 Apalachin Mafia Meeting after he was captured with other Mafia leaders in Upstate New York, underworld infiltration of Cuban gambling casinos, the assassination of President John Fitzgerald Kennedy in 1963, and his attendance at the 1966 Little Apalachin Meeting of Cosa Nostra bigwigs in Queens, New York. Send simple, comforting meals with Home Chef. Santo Trafficante then became the Capo-Famiglia who would truly put the Tampa Family on the underworld map, so to speak. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. Trafficante was born in Cianciana, a short distance inland from Santo Stefano in the Province of Agrigento. 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.In his 1994 autobiography Mob Lawyer, Ragano recounted his career in defending members of organized crime, and made the controversial . with his family. By the early 1930s, Santo Sr. was considered one of the top Mafia powers in Tampa. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. You can contact the owner of the tree to get more information. Father of Frank Cacciatore Trafficante; Santo Trafficante, Jr; Private and Private. Sam is the cousin of Tampa mob boss Santo Trafficante Sr, and the son of old-school Tampa mobster Joseph "Jo-Jo" Cacciatore. 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. [24], In 1990, Ragano was again convicted of tax evasion. [5], By 1960 Ragano was already known as a shrewd, up-and-coming criminal defense attorney, who defended a wide range of clients. Home American Mafia Mafia Families Coast to Coast The Santo Trafficante Family of Tampa, FL. The original site of La Tropicana Cafe, shown here in 1974, was across Seventh Avenue in Ybor City from its current location. Last edited on 26 December 2022, at 16:12, Learn how and when to remove this template message. 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. [20], Ragano himself became the accused when he was charged with tax evasion in 1972. Funeral services were held June 18. [8][28], Kirkus Reviews described Mob Lawyer as a "riveting memoir of life inside the murderous world of Mafia chieftain Santo Trafficante and Teamster boss Jimmy Hoffa, by their personal lawyer" and an "insider's impossible-to-put-down account of life within the 'Honorable Society. We encourage you to research and examine these records to . 1900 - Ignazio Antinori (Feb. 17, 1885, to Oct. 23, 1940). . 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. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/49035581/santo-trafficante. Liberace, the entertainer, was one such client for whom he attempted to get a Teamsters' loan. 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. While he had been out of the rackets for a decade, Wall took time to educate the committee on the inner workings of Tampa crime during his reign. Through deep-dive biographies and snapshots of mobsters to in-depth stories about mafia regimes and crews, youll uncover an underworld you might never have known existed maybe even in your own hometown! 1928 - Ignazio Italiano and Vaglica served as representatives of Tampa's Mafiosi at a Sicilian-American underworld convention held in Cleveland, Ohio. All photos uploaded successfully, click on the Done button to see the photos in the gallery. The Trafficante Family Leadership Chart below depicts all known inducted members and their significant criminal associates from approximately 1910 through 2000. Santo Trafficante was born in Tampa, Florida, on 15th November, 1914. "[41] Hart quoted G. Robert Blakey as stating that he believed Ragano and that his testimony "would have strengthened the conclusions" of the HSCA. Thanks. lockhart's Gulf Signs at 102 145th Ave., Cliff Lockhart, owner. The real mafia played dominoes at the casino and never disclosed themselves. [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. The two Zummos and their relative, Palermo resident Gaetano Prestigiacomo, reportedly died in a nighttime single-car crash on June 6, 1956. Button Guys of The New York Mafia. From Admin Folder N1. All Rights Reserved. Trafficante was an intimate of top Mafia leaders throughout the country, but he numbered among his closest friends and confidantes such iconic Cosa Nostra leaders as Louisiana boss Carlos Marcello, Texas boss Joseph Civello, New York leader Joseph Profaci, and Chicagos Sam Giancana. Santo Trafficante Sr. was born on May 24, 1886, in Cianciana, Sicily. 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. The most notable boss was Santo Trafficante, Jr. who ruled Tampa and the crime family with an iron fist. However, if they were members of the organization targeted by the 1891 lynchings, they would have been linked with the Matranga family, leaders of a Mafia faction originating in the Monreale-Piana dei Greci area of Sicily and known as "Stuppagghieri" or "Stopagherra." 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. Failed to remove flower. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. Mafia Don. 1903 - Ignazio Italiano (1860 to Aug. 11, 1930) and Santo Trafficante, Sr., (May 28, 1886, to 1954), seen at right, had joined Ignazio Antinori in the Tampa area by this time. The large Italian and Greek-inspired building housed a theater, library, recreational space, meeting rooms, and remains a vibrant part of Tampa to this day. Try again later. Resend Activation Email. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. Not all names listed below served during the same time period, but all of them played a part at one time or another in the criminal function of this borgata. "[14] Within days, Hoffa disappeared under mysterious circumstances, never to be found. Do you have any information on that? Zummo died while vacationing with his sister Vincenza in Palermo, Sicily. By. 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. Santo was being watched closely by police and made Salvatore "Red" Italiano the acting boss. [37] He refused to name them adding: "One guy is afraid of retaliation. Please enter your username or email address to reset your password. The best poems for funerals, memorial services., and cards. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. Santo Trafficante then became the Capo-Famiglia who would truly put the Tampa Family on the underworld map, so to speak. You can contact the owner of the tree to get more information. John Binder Collection. Raffa died of an apparent suicide in 2000 while awaiting trial on racketeering, loansharking and gambling charges. This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. Although the Trafficante Family was based in Tampa and St. Petersburg, they also operated down in South Florida around Miami Beach in Dade County and the island nation of Cuba. Santo Trafficante Jr. took over for his father and built one of the most powerful Mafia families in America. As Santo built a family and a social life, events in Tampa and elsewhere created an environment for upheaval and opportunity in the citys underworld. [8], In 1963, again on Trafficante's recommendation, Ragano began serving as attorney for Carlos Marcello, the head of the New Orleans crime family. Mafia Locations 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. 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. OF FATHER'S DEATH Will Miss Change Of Venue Hearing Death of, "and the Hearst newspapers. TRAFFICANTE, Santo Jose 72, of Tampa, passed away July 13, 2010, surrounded by his loving family. His latest book is Garden State Gangland: The Rise of the Mob in New Jersey. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. At age 16, he boarded the S.S. Lombardia and set sail for American in search of a better life. Ragano worked on various attempts to free Trafficante, who was released in early 1960 and returned to the United States. During his reign, Trafficante was a well-respected boss with ties to Charles "Lucky" Luciano and Thomas Lucchese. 1940s - Salvatore "Red" Italiano and James Lumia became prominent in the Tampa Mafia as Santo Trafficante Sr. sought to operate from the background. The Trafficante connection with New York was strong and lucrative, however. Gathered from those who lived during the same time period , were born in the same place, or who have a family name in common. The three men appeared to share underworld executive power, with Italiano likely serving as chief for a time. Free trials are normally available . Scott is one of the few writers who has donated items to the Mafia Museum in Las Vegas, and is a regularly-featured guest speaker there. According to Hal Shaw, a former employee of the Palma Ceia Golf & Country Club (an exclusive private club near downtown Tampa, Florida), he overheard Ragano tell Trafficante and Marcello that Riggs owed over $100,000 to the mob, and that in exchange for throwing the match his debt would be absolved. Trafficante crime family. Castaways Lounge in Tampa at 4601 W. Kennedy Boulevard in the 1960s and 1970s. [1] After the death of . Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. Santo Sr. was leaving more of the day-to-day operations to his son, Santo Jr. An opposing faction disagreed with the transfer of power and internal battles began in 1950, leaving another trail of bodies in Tampa. 1950 - James Lumia (Sept. 10, 1903, to June 5, 1950) was a highly regarded member of the old Italiano faction, working closely with Salvatore "Red" Italiano. (1914 - 1987) Photos: 28. Remember the odessey and the bar across the street used to go in when I was 15 and make friends with all the working girls. Verify and try again. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. The leaders also attained importance on a national level due to their access to Cuban rum. [43] That year, Riggs and King held a nationally televised tennis match called "The Battle of the Sexes," in which King beat Riggs in three straight sets after Riggs had taunted female tennis players and had beaten Margaret Court. He was survived by his second wife (former mistress) and their two children, and his first wife and their three children. Then there is the Columbia. One of the fugitives from the committees process was Santo Trafficante Sr., reputed Mafia leader in Tampa for more than 20 years, the committee reported. [41], When Ragano was questioned by the Assassination Records Review Board, created in 1992 to reexamine JFK conspiracy theories after the release of Stone's film, he claimed to have contemporaneous notes of his conversations regarding the JFK plot, but when they were produced, "he could not definitively state whether the notes were taken during the meetings [with mob figures] or later when he was working on his book." The Federal Bureau of Narcotics, Interpol, the CIA, and the FBI also say Santo Trafficante Jr. was suspected of conducting criminal activities at destinations as far-flung as Haiti, Dominican Republic, Europe, Singapore, Hong Kong, and South Vietnam, where he was suspected of setting up drug smuggling routes. Copyright 2019-2022. Henry Gonzalez of . This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. Author Scott Deitche reported that Santo Jr. was involved with the CIA to plot assassination attempts on Fidel Castro. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. Year should not be greater than current year. Are you sure that you want to remove this flower? [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. Mafia Books I live at 9205 Poes Rd., Odessa, FL. The complaint was ignored and Italiano and Ferrara were never seen again. [22], In 1978 Ragano testified before the House Select Committee on Assassinations, which was reinvestigating the John F. Kennedy assassination, and he denied any involvement in any JFK plots. Aside from his rackets and legitimate holdings, during the 1950s Santo Trafficante Jr. lived on and off in Havana, Cuba where he held a controlling interest in several major hotel-casino operations under the Fulgencio Batista regime. There was a problem getting your location. Like Antinori, Italiano was from Santo Stefano Quisquina. Purchase an annual subscription for unlimited access to the full Button Guys library! However, statements made by Trafficante during 1963 seemed to predict the assassination. These were the first seeds laid down by the Sicilian Mafia as they took control of the city. We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. From about 1930 until Antinori's death, with both Wall's and Antinori's criminal ranks depleted by the casualties and lives lost by their fighting each other, The war ended in the 1940's when Ignacio Antinori was shot and killed. I played there in the 70's and many wrestlers use to hang out there. Santo Trafficante (Luigi Santo Trafficante) was born on 15 November, 1914 in Tampa, Florida, USA, is an Actor. 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 . 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. The following year, Santo Sr. became a naturalized citizen. I was friends with the old school guys whi went to godfathers on hillsbourgh and the bottle club on dale mabrey. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. Scott's favorite cocktail is the Negroni. All Rights Reserved. '"[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. Col. White did not reveal any evidence supporting his assertion. 15 Nov 1914 - Tampa, Hillsborough, Florida, USA, 17 Mar 1987 - Houston, Harris, Texas, USA. 9209 Post Road, Odessa This is the home of Santo Jose Trafficante, nephew of Santo Trafficante Jr. Santo Jose was named by the FDLE in 1992 as a member of the Trafficante crime family. Jacobo Arbenz Guzman came from a Salvadoran family, and was an army officer and later Defense Minister (1945-1950) in the Guatemalan government before being elected President (1950). Ways to honor Santo Trafficante's life and legacy. We collect and match historical records that Ancestry users have contributed to their family trees to create each person's profile. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. When copying data from this family tree, please include a reference to the origin: Elviera Ooms - Ringeling, "Stamboom Ooms-Ringeling en verwanten", . "[36] Ragano stated three witnesses could support his statement that he met Trafficante in Tampa. He pushed Charlie Wall out of the rackets, and consolidated power in the Tampa Mafia. "Sam" along with Armando Rios were arrested during a raid in Orange County, Florida. 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. Please send online condolences to: www.jgrfuneralhome.com. Visit a military tank, a five-hundred-year-old tree and the pioneer cemetery started by a smallpox epidemic. Netflix, le novit in catalogo giorno per giorno. Writers of Wrongs: Caught in Cleveland - 1928 arrests at Hotel Statler. Bill Feather's Mafia Membership Charts: Tampa Family membership chart 1960-90s. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. Its still there today. You need a Find a Grave account to continue. Oops, something didn't work. Feedback or questions? Skip . Through deep-dive biographies and snapshots of mobsters to in-depth stories about mafia regimes and crews, youll uncover an underworld you might never have known existed maybe even in your own hometown! The dictator of Cuba, Fulgencio Batista, received a large cut of the profits. Geni requires JavaScript! Be the first to post a memory or condolences. In 1909, Santo began courting Maria Giuseppe Cacciatore, the sister of a reputed Tampa drug kingpin known as "Jo Jo" Cacciatore. The Trafficante Family Leadership Chart. This could indicate that the Tampa Sicilian underworld organizations with origins in Santo Stefano and Monreale had merged or that the two men were bosses of still-distinct organizations. Other men of honor considered to be contemporaries included such iconic names as Santo Trafficante Sr., Alfonso Diecidue, and the Lazzara family. From Admin Folder L-4. [7] Ragano witnessed kickbacks of millions of dollars to Hoffa from the Teamsters' pension fund. We caught up with Scott -- who wrote The Cigar City Mafia, an excellent book on Tampa gangsters, in 2003 . In this episode, we'll spotlight the man responsible for the Tampa Mafia's name being better known as the "Trafficante Family". 1986 - Trafficante was unsuccessfully tried by federal prosecutors for racketeering and conspiracy. Dino's drew many wrestlers including a bass player who became to be known as Hulk Hogan (his name was Terry Bollea). [2] His son, Santo Trafficante Jr. subsequently took over the crime family. [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. If everyone who was ever involved in organized crime was excommunicated today, the Vatican would declare bankruptcy tomorrow. One of the earliest established Mafia Families in the United States was the criminal network that formed down in Tampa, Florida.