The Trafficante crime family, also known as the Tampa Mafia, is an Italian-American Mafia crime family based in Tampa, Florida, United States. 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. 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. Researching Santo Trafficante, Jr. - familytreeassistant.com In 1953 Santo Jr. survived a shooting. In 1975, Ragano was asked by Trafficante to convey an urgent message to Hoffa to "be very careful and not take any chances. 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. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. The committee subpoenaed leading underworld figures to testify. Born in Tampa, Hillsborough, Florida, USA on 15 Nov 1914 to Santo Trafficante and Maria Giuseppa Cacciatore. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. Henry Gonzalez of . All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. Santo Trafficante Senior died in 1954. Trafficante and Marcello were not known to frequent the Palma Ceia Country Club, preferring meetings at Malio's Steakhouse in Tampa or La Tropicana Cafe in Ybor City to discuss mob business.[43]. A system error has occurred. [2] In 1954 he was recruited by another attorney to represent several defendants arrested in Tampa for involvement in Santo Trafficante, Jr.'s illegal bolita operations. Published by Tampa Bay Times on Jul. Search for yourself and well build your family tree together, Historically, surnames evolved as a way to sort people into groups - by occupation, place of origin, clan affiliation, patronage, parentage, adoption, and even physical characteristics (like red hair). The U.S. Narcotics Bureau apparently believed Antinori took on far greater foes than Charlie Wall. 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. Author Scott Deitche reported that Santo Jr. was involved with the CIA to plot assassination attempts on Fidel Castro. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 2pm Friday, July 16, at St. Lawrence Catholic Church, 5225 N. Himes Ave. The real mafia played dominoes at the casino and never disclosed themselves. [21] As a result, he was suspended from the practice of law in 1976, and claims that Trafficante provided no support and abandoned him. Mob Fireside Chat BGs Official YouTube Channel, The Frank Piccolo Regime Leadership Chart. HSCA Press Release on organized Crime. Gaetano Zummo's death was recorded by the American Foreign Service in Palermo on June 13. Italiano, Vaglica and more than twenty of their Mafia colleagues were arrested on suspicion, photographed and fingerprinted when Cleveland police discovered them at the Statler Hotel on December 5. Santo Trafficante Sr. - Wikiwand (Trafficante's wife was born in Santo Stefano.) Encyclopedia Of Cold War Espionage, Spies, And Secret Operations [PDF Santo Jose was arrested in 1984 as part of Operation Super Bowl. The Trafficante Family Leadership Chart - The New York Mafia 1954 - Santo Trafficante, Jr., (Nov. 15, 1914, to March 17, 1987), became Tampa Mafia boss upon the death of his father. Resend Activation Email. By. We encourage you to research and examine these records to . I grew up in Tampa. 708, and a founding member of the Robin Hood Social Club, formed for social activities and the presentation of plays. He also sat on the Board of Directors of the LUnion Italiana, known as The Italian Club, in Ybor City. All Rights Reserved. 0 cemeteries found in Ybor City, Hillsborough County, Florida, USA. All Rights Reserved. Born in Ybor City, Tampa, Florida to Sicilian parents,[1] Ragano attended Stetson Law School and clerked for the Florida Supreme Court before admission to the Florida Bar in 1952 and beginning his trial practice in Tampa, Florida. '"[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. I don't think (Ragano) would have excluded it. Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? 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. It results in a secret alliance between the mob and the CIA and a failed assassination attempt. Thank you for fulfilling this photo request. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. "[43], Chris Ragano, a Tampa attorney and son of Frank Ragano from his second marriage to his mistress Nancy, responded to the allegations by stating that the Ragano family did not move to Tampa until 1979. Santo Trafficante Sr. (May 28, 1886 August 11, 1954) was a Sicilian-born mobster, and father of the powerful mobster Santo Trafficante Jr. Santo Trafficante Sr. gained power as a mobster in Tampa, Florida and ruled the Mafia in Tampa from the 1930s until his death in 1954. A core group of Mafia leaders in the region's Santo Stefano colony formed around Antinori. 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. 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. Santo Trafficante was born in Tampa, Florida, on 15th November, 1914. The Best of Tampa's Mobster Hangouts - Cigar City Magazine Santo Trafficante Sr. was a Sicilian-born mobster, and father of the powerful mobster Santo Trafficante Jr. For faster navigation, this Iframe is preloading the Wikiwand page for Santo Trafficante Sr. . In those early days, there were violent conflicts between Tampas competing racketeers as they gained a foothold in America. "[31], On January 14, 1992, Ragano told Jack Newfield of the New York Post that he relayed a request from Hoffa to Trafficante and Marcello asking that the two Mafia bosses kill Kennedy. "Sam" was a supervisor of the Bolita rackets of the Trafficante operation. Discover your family history in millions of family trees and more than a billion birth,marriage, death, census, and miltary records. Purchase an annual subscription for unlimited access to the full Button Guys library! Funeral services were held June 18. The King of Cuba's casinos was on the verge of mob stardom when a revolution destroys his plans. Family members linked to this person will appear here. 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! Be the first to post a memory or condolences. In 2016, Robert J. Cipriano obtained the film rights to Mob Lawyer from Ragano's wife Nancy and son Chris. 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. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. The Sins of The Godfather? Mob Lawyer Frank Ragano Says He Knows Who 1886 Santo Trafficante, Sr., Italian-American mobster ( 1954) 1888 Jim Thorpe, American decathlete, football player, and coach . One of the earliest established Mafia Families in the United States was the criminal network that formed down in Tampa, Florida. The next son was Luigi Santo Trafficante Jr. (his namesake and future Mafia boss), born on November 15, 1914. We should have killed Bobby. Sam is the cousin of Tampa mob boss Santo Trafficante Sr, and the son of old-school Tampa mobster Joseph "Jo-Jo" Cacciatore. 99 per cent friends are catholic as an earner I slipped through the cracks pentecostal with catholic upbringing semi retired pensacola florida. By the early 1930s, Santo Sr. was considered one of the top Mafia powers in Tampa. [41] Hart also quoted Frank Mankiewicz, Robert F. Kennedy's press secretary, as finding Ragano's scenario as "the most plausible (assassination) theory". Skip . Its still there today. The original site of La Tropicana Cafe, shown here in 1974, was across Seventh Avenue in Ybor City from its current location. 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. 24 Jul 1975 MFR on Santos . The Italian Club was the epicenter of Sicilian life in Tampa. Santo Trafficante (1886 - 1954) - Genealogy Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. The Santo Trafficante Family of Tampa, FL. Mafia Books Expand the Memories and Condolences form. Youll get hints when we find information about your relatives . The Columbia Restaurant is the Tampa landmark. The two wed that April, and had five sons. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Santo Trafficante (49035581)? Scott lives in St. Petersburg, FL. Trafficante was heavily involved in the . Some researchers believe it was to solidify American intelligence involvement in trafficking channels through Central and South America. 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. 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. Oops, we were unable to send the email. Published Aug. 6, 1993 | Updated Oct. 9, 2005. However, statements made by Trafficante during 1963 seemed to predict the assassination. [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. . 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. hotze de jong (1885-????) Stamboom Ooms-Ringeling en verwanten For a time, Trafficante and other Mafia leaders worked with American intelligence agencies to plot the overthrow or assassination of Castro. Giving to charity is a meaningful way to honor someone who has died. This is a carousel with slides. 1940s - Salvatore "Red" Italiano and James Lumia became prominent in the Tampa Mafia as Santo Trafficante Sr. sought to operate from the background. John Binder Collection. He always wanted to make it big in Cuban casinos and dispatched his son, Santo, Jr., to Havana in 1946 to help operate a mob owned casino. Netflix, le novit in catalogo giorno per giorno Santo Trafficante Jr. (November 15, 1914 - March 17, 1987) was among the most powerful Mafia bosses in the United States. 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 . The theory is that the mafia had been angered by the Kennedy family because mob bosses had used their influence to have Kennedy . [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. 1986 - Trafficante was unsuccessfully tried by federal prosecutors for racketeering and conspiracy. But the vast majority of these affiliates were as stated. Antonio Italiano and Dominic Ferrara reportedly went to New York Mafia bosses with a complaint. Salvatore, called Sam, was born on November 14, 1916, Epifano, or Fano, was born on January 5, 1919, and Enrico known as Henry, was born on November 23, 1924. Free trials are normally available and are a good way to . Trafficante crime family - Wikiwand A Drive-By Historical Tour of Tampa's Notorious Wise Guys Share this memorial using social media sites or email. Both men traveled extensively across the U.S. and had many underworld connections. 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. [6] He used his position with Hoffa to help place loans from the Teamsters' pension funds in return for "finder's fees." Blvd., Suite 310, Tampa, FL 33607 or to the Salesian Sisters, 315 W. Columbus Drive, Tampa, FL 33602 in memory of Santo J. Trafficante. On August 12, 1954, Tampa, Florida, Mafia boss Santo Trafficante Sr. died from stomach cancer. Many large databases are available to search covering from births, deaths and marriages, military records, census records and immigration records with many other smaller collections too. Sim Dynasty Baseball - Santo Trafficante (Tim Raines League) Then there is the Columbia. Through gambling rackets, Pr. Trafficante and Antinori resided close to each other in Tampa and may have been boss and underboss at this time. Santo Trafficante Sr. (1886-1954) - Find a Grave Memorial Ancestry is a major source of information if you are filling out the detail of Santo Trafficante, Sr. in your family tree. [25] In 1993 he served 10 months in prison. TRAFFICANTE, Santo Jose 72, of Tampa, passed away July 13, 2010, surrounded by his loving family. The following year, he was charged with taking kickbacks from the International Laborers Union dental and eye health care plans. After the Kefauver hearings, Santo Trafficante Sr. stepped into the shadows, and Santo Jr. took over, expanding the familys reach and influence in Havana, attending major Mafia summits in New York and Cuba, and becoming one of the most influential Mob bosses of his time, following the groundwork laid by his father years earlier. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. [5], By 1960 Ragano was already known as a shrewd, up-and-coming criminal defense attorney, who defended a wide range of clients. hidden history of plano Full Book - bookforread.com [42], In August, 2013, The Tampa Tribune newspaper and ESPN published allegations by a former employee of the Palma Ceia Country Club in Tampa, claiming that in 1973 the employee overheard Ragano, Trafficante and Marcello discussing plans by Bobby Riggs to throw the famed tennis match with female tennis star Billie Jean King. ). 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. He died, following a bypass operation at the Texas Heart Institute in Houston, before he could stand trial. Despite his decision to testify in front of the Kefauver Committee, Wall faced no retribution in Tampa. 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 . Santo Trafficante Sr. was born on May 24, 1886, in Cianciana, Sicily. He bought a bar, the Rex Caf, on Seventh Avenue, the main drag through Ybor City. Mafia Don. Try again later. 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. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. He has written seven books and more than 50 articles on organized crime for local and national publications. You have funeral questions, we have answers. Lumia may have seized power in the Tampa underworld briefly during the absences of Santo Trafficante Sr. and Salvatore Italiano. 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. 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. FAMILY BACKGROUND: Father: Santo TRAFFICANTE Sr. born Cianciani, Sicily on 5-28-1886, son of Alfonso and Mother Lucia (maiden name unknown). Unless you are experienced as an estate executor, you probably should hire an attorney. [18] Belli had previously represented Jack Ruby, the man who killed Lee Harvey Oswald, the accused killer of Kennedy, and Ragano claimed that Trafficante warned him not to ask Belli any questions about Ruby. We shouldn't have killed John. "[17] He lost his suit. Trafficante was born in Cianciana, a short distance inland from Santo Stefano in the Province of Agrigento. Zummo died while vacationing with his sister Vincenza in Palermo, Sicily. Button Guys of The New York Mafia. From there he took a train to Tampa, already home to a sizable Sicilian population from the towns of Cianciana, Alessandria Della Rocca and Santo Stefano. : 2034-09-03: Santo Trafficante of the New York Americans is injured and is expected to be out 50 days. Pin on Florida Trafficante Crime Family - Pinterest We collect and match historical records that Ancestry users have contributed to their family trees to create each person's profile. To plant trees in memory, please visit the. [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. Trafficante in Miami: "He Had the Clout" - Miami New Times Family. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. 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. The Trafficante Family Leadership Chart below depicts all known inducted members and their significant criminal associates from approximately 1910 through 2000.