Santo Trafficante Jr. (November 15, 1914 - March 17, 1987) was among the most powerful Mafia bosses in the United States. Trafficantes father was the lucky survivor of what was called the Era of Blood, when rival gangs based in Tampa fought for control of Prohibition-era nightclubs and, crucially, the local numbers rackets called bolitas. Battling Mob rivals in South Florida essentially weakened each other financially and, through murder, the number of available soldiers. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Join us for this one-of-a-kind walking tour of Tampa's most storied neighborhood. Pallbearers are Augie Castellana, Sam Paniello, Christopher Paniello, Anthony B. Marchese, Peter Marchese Jr., Ian Cordell, Don Smith, Frank Pancho Trafficante, John Castellana, and Dr. Santo Paniello. Please enable JavaScript in your browser's settings to use this part of Geni. He went to Jesuit High School and played some football. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Trafficante was born in Tampa, Florida, to Sicilian parents Santo Trafficante Sr. and his wife Maria Giuseppa Cacciatore in 1914. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. English [14] He stated that he was concerned for his safety and was not certain that he had ever correctly heard or understood Trafficante's comment. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. His sons, Dino and Joseph, run it for him, though he worries that sometimes they don't work hard. Conspiracy theorists consider Giancana along with Mafia leaders Santo Trafficante Jr. and Carlos Marcello associated with the assassination of Kennedy. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. More troubling for Trafficante was a court document that listed him for the first time as "a member of the Trafficante crime family.". Trafficante was apprehended in November 1957, along with over 60 other mobsters, at the Apalachin meeting in Apalachin, New York. Trafficante would be charged with bank fraud, perjury and disclosure of criminal investigation. While the senior Trafficante had been a major mobster in his own right, nobody could have expected the heights that were going to be reached by his son. He owned a West Tampa restaurant called Cafe Sevilla. 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. Please enter your email and password to sign in. Son of Santo Trafficante and Maria Giuseppa Trafficante The gunmen drove off, unaware they had failed to kill Trafficante, merely grazing his arm. In 1950, the aging Trafficante Sr. began to slow down. Oops, something didn't work. And as for the rest of the Trafficante Crime family? Salcines was observed at the properties the weekend of June 9, 1967. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. Trafficantes chance came in the 1960s when he became acquainted with mobster John Handsome Johnny Roselli. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. Are you sure that you want to remove this flower? Reputed 'boss of bosses' dies at 72 TAMPA, Fla, "' Trafficante dies at age 72 TAMPA. Santo Trafficante Jr. was a reserved, modest man married to the same woman for 49 years. based on information from your browser. 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. Harris & Ewing/Library of Commons/Wikimedia CommonsCuban leader Fulgencio Batista in Washington, D.C. in 1938. My thoughts and prayers are with you all! Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. In the mid-2000s, he would say he was a legitimate businessman, citing his ownership of a car dealership, and employment at various restaurants and night clubs over the years. Fifteen years following the assassination, Trafficante testified in front of the United States House Select Committee on the murder of JFK in exchange for immunity. Meanwhile, he continued to make money from the drugs that came through Tampa. At this point in our collective history, we're not sure anyone would be surprised to learn that there is, in fact, something called The Mafia. What you might be surprised to learn, however, is how prevalent-even rampantorganized crime in Tampa was in the early and mid-20th century. He was the lynchpin in Tampa Charlie Wall The Kefauver hearings arrived in Tampa in December of 1950. He maintained all of the lucrative casinos in Cuba, further cemented, After Cuban revolution, the Mafia saw Castro as a threat to their business. He grimaces at the thought that the rumor has persisted so long. After this look at Santo Trafficante Jr., read the gruesome story of the murderous American dentist, Benjamin Salomon, of World War II. Early in Trafficantes federal court case in 1986, the judge declared a mistrial. In the early 20th Century, Tampa was a small but growing city, and the organized crime it faced was modest. Resend Activation Email, Please check the I'm not a robot checkbox, If you want to be a Photo Volunteer you must enter a ZIP Code or select your location on the map. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. He buys Jaguars for his two sons, hobnobs with sports stars on resort golf courses and occasionally flies to Miami for lunch at a favorite restaurant, the Rascal House. More importantly, Castro imprisoned Trafficante and then had him exiled from Cuba. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. Born in Tampa, Florida to Sicilian parents Mafia don Santo Trafficante, Sr. and his wife Maria Giuseppa Cacciatore. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. 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. 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 known as an organized crimes figure. By this point, Trafficante Jr. had fully taken over the oversight of drugs shipped between Florida, Cuba, and the rest of the States. As a leading member of the syndicate, he also was suspected of having behind-the-scenes interests in other syndicate-owned Cuban casinos: the Hotel Habana Riviera, the Tropicana Club, the Sevilla-Biltmore, the Capri Hotel Casino, the Commodoro, the Deauville, and the Havana Hilton. Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. When he applied to the state for a parimutuel license that would allow him to race his horses at Tampa Bay Downs, he was refused. While the plot never came to fruition, Trafficante later testified that he did help the CIA recruit other mobsters for the surreal plot. He died of natural causes, at the age of 72, in Houston, Texas. "I think it's all bull----," says Trafficante's former horse trainer, Arthur Pedregal Jr. "It's only because his name is Trafficante. "I'm in the I.O.U. [5][6] Cuba was one of the Apalachin topics of discussion, particularly the gambling and narcotics smuggling interests of La Cosa Nostra on the island. The American governments close ties to Santo Trafficante Jr. and the rest of the Mafia didnt end with their attempts to kill Castro. [1] Trafficante maintained several residences in New York City and Florida. The other case was a RICO indictment for insurance fraud. Year should not be greater than current year. [20], In 2005, Lamar Waldron and Thom Hartmann's book Ultimate Sacrifice said that Trafficante was behind an aborted plot to kill Kennedy in Tampa on November 18, 1963. He moved to Cuba in 1955 where he met the countrys authoritarian ruler Fulgencio Batista. Try again later. "I thought I could just go down to (former Hillsborough State Attorney) Bill James and (Assistant State Attorney) Lee Atkinson and explain it all away in 15 minutes.". You'll learn about bolita, the rumored tunnels of Ybor, and the Era of Blood.Join us for this one-of-a-kind walking tour of Tampa's most storied neighborhood. There is a problem with your email/password. In this episode, we will discuss the fascinating life of Tampa's most powerful mobster: Santo Trafficante Jr. Failed to delete memorial. Passing before her were her parents Antonino and Sarafina Marchese; her beloved husband Santo Trafficante Jr.; her son-in-laws Augie Paniello and Richard Valdes; and her brothers, Bennie Marchese, Tommy Marchese, and Peter Marchese. I am sorry I am unable to attend the services due to a illness. Shop eBooks and audiobooks at Rakuten Kobo. Trafficante along with 56 other mobsters was arrested in New York while discussing what to do about the recent death of Gambino family head, Albert Anastasia. He convicted infamous criminal labor union head, Jimmy Hoffa. Interestingly, Trafficante who was worth about $25 billion at his height in the 80s lived a fairly reserved, modest lifestyle. He had a big heart and will be missed. In Trafficante's food chain, reporters rank only marginally higher than prosecutors and bank regulators, whom he likes to refer to as "rat bastards.". [11], In 1976, Cuban exile and FBI informant Jose Aleman told The Washington Post that in September 1962, Trafficante had offered him a loan of $1.5million to replace Aleman's three-story "ramshackle motel with a 12-story glass wonder. Reclaiming History: The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy. However, there were events outside of the United States and even organized crime that inadvertently led Santo Trafficante Jr. to put his own peculiar stamp on American history. GitHub export from English Wikipedia. Trafficante was one of the last surviving members of the original Luciano mob era upon his death, and the truth behind the JFK assassination may have perhaps died with him. That arrest also led Cuban authorities to become warier of the mobster, especially as the political tides seemed to be turning there. Comfort the family with flowers or a sympathy gift. Now in his late 70s or early 80s, LoScalzo is reported to be retired. Santo was one of the FBIs targets in that case. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. He headed the . And while cocaine-fueled Latin American criminal networks have been a serious problem in Florida for decades, the Trafficante familys illicit activities were quite infamous as well. Santo Trafficante Jr, was born on November 15, 1914 in Tampa, Florida and followed in the footsteps of his father, Santo Trafficante Sr, into a life of organized crime. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. At age 16, he boarded the S.S. Lombardia and set sail for American in search of a better life. No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments. To use this feature, use a newer browser. The senior Trafficante's name has been linked to gambling, drug-dealing and even plots to kill Fidel Castro and John F. Kennedy. You need a Find a Grave account to continue. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. One bank filed suit in November against him and a business partner, alleging that they defaulted on an $85,000 loan for a piece of property. Santo, Jr. never spent a day in jail, and he died of natural causes in 1987. The Dignity Memorial brand name is used to identify a network of licensed funeral, cremation and cemetery providers that include affiliates of Service Corporation International, 1929 Allen Parkway, Houston, Texas. While shouldering the legacy of his father and. She touched all who knew her, and upon meeting her, she would embrace you, and you would instantly become part of the family. With that act, Santo Trafficante now reigned supreme in Tampa. Failed to remove flower. Trafficante Jr. was nonetheless a ruthless and old-school mob boss. "My kids suffered a lot by it," he says. [9][10] The CIA and the Mafia had a common enemy in Castro, a communist revolutionary who had shut down Cuba's lucrative casino businesses. The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. While he had several close calls with law enforcement including the famed FBI, Late in life LoScalzo denied any connections to organized crime. [19] He claimed three witnesses could support his statement that he met Trafficante in Tampa, but refused to name them, adding: "One guy is afraid of retaliation. Santo Trafficante Senior died in 1954. With over 30 years experience in the field of Mechanics, I will work with you on a personal basis, I will discuss with you your specific needs pertaining to your motorcycle. Mobster Johnny Rosselli, who worked for both Trafficante and the Chicago Outfit, was another associate involved in the unsuccessful efforts to kill Castro and, according to some biographies, was the man who put Trafficante and Giancana together with Maheu. Valenti hired his son-in-law at the produce company and allowed him to name his own salary. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. 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. Oops, we were unable to send the email. For the U.S. government, it was a classic case of the enemy of my enemy is my friend.. Wife : Josephine MARCHESE (Santo TRAFFICANTE Jr. married Josephine in Tampa, Florida on April 17, 1938). She was a native of Tampa, a second-generation Sicilian immigrant who grew up in Ybor city. Mobster dies, two nations. 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. During the 1950s, Trafficante Jr. maintained a narcotic trafficking network with Tommy Lucchese, the boss of the Lucchese crime family in New York City. In 1963, the Mob allegedly had enough of Kennedy. He headed the Trafficante crime family from 1954 to 1987 and controlled organized criminal operations in Florida and Cuba, which had previously been consolidated from several rival gangs by his father, Santo Trafficante Sr. 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. However, LoScalzo was nonetheless able to expand the families criminal reach into new locations across Florida, and took advantage of alliances with other Mafia families to ensure the mob maintained its hold on criminal activities. Late in life LoScalzo denied any connections to organized crime. 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. Finally, in 1987, Trafficante died at the age of 72. The men started to drive away when another sedan drove past the Mercury, the occupants unloading a blast of buckshot as they passed. Send a note, share a story or upload a photo. "[12], In 1978, both Trafficante and Aleman were called to testify before members of the United States House Select Committee on Assassinations investigating possible links between Kennedy assassin Lee Harvey Oswald and anti-Castro Cubans, including the theory that Castro had Kennedy killed in retaliation for the CIA's attempts on his own life. [8] Allusions to these historic connections were confirmed by the CIA's 2007 declassification of the "Family Jewels" documents. [15], Ragano also claimed that Trafficante, four days prior to his death, delivered a deathbed confession which suggested that Marcello was meant to assassinate Robert F. Kennedy instead of his brother, the President. Thanks for subscribing! When the CIA decided to recruit the Mob in their efforts to assassinate Fidel Castro, they went to see Trafficante. Donnie Brasco. 93461.". prosecution, fled temporarily to Cuba. Mob Lawyer Frank Ragano Says He Knows Who Killed JFK", "Book alleges plot to kill JFK in Tampa, cover-up", "At Santo Trafficante auction, a chance to buy a piece of Tampa's mob history", Donnie Brasco: My Undercover Life in the Mafia, Associated Press report on Trafficante's death, "Little Man: Meyer Lansky and the Gangster Life" By Robert Lacy, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Santo_Trafficante_Jr.&oldid=1140940042, This page was last edited on 22 February 2023, at 15:02. He attended the University of Florida for a year, then transferred to the University of Tampa and left without completing his degree. Search results for "Images of America" at Rakuten Kobo. There was an error deleting this problem. Wife : Josephine MARCHESE (Santo TRAFFICANTE Jr. married Josephine in Tampa, Florida on April 17, 1938). By Santo III's own estimation, this was a wise move. The original Malio's Restaurant located on South Dale Mabry Highway in Tampa, Florida. 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. During a recent trip to Lake Tahoe he bought two basketballs autographed by Michael Jordan. Upon his return to the United States, he became determined to bring down the man who ended his empire. Despite his arrest, Trafficante managed to escape charges and continue to fly under the laws radar. Another bank sued Trafficante and his wife in October for repayment of a $100,000 promissory note. Sorry! After a violent mob war left several of Trafficantes rivals dead or weakened, his gang rapidly rose to prominence in Tampa. And purchase valuable sports memorabilia for himself. "You hope things will just disappear two or three years from now.". You'll learn about bolita, the rumored tunnels of Ybor, and the Era of Blood. [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. Santo Trafficante Jr Santo Trafficante Jr. (November 15, 1914 - March 17, 1987) was among the most powerful Mafia bosses in the United States. 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. For the last 20 years, everyone knew her as JuJu. So, who was this so-called Silent Don who wielded enough power to allegedly kill the President? At 7:25 p.m. on January 3, 1953, Florida Mafia boss Santo Trafficante Jr. had just finished dinner with his wife and children at his father-in-laws house in the Ybor City section of Tampa, Florida. The guy really tried to do it right.". Family members linked to this person will appear here. You've got to be a fool to marry wrong," he says. 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 was jailed and deported when Fidel Castro rose to power, leading him to spend a good portion of his adult life hatching a plan of revenge. A A. 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. He was going to be hit.. In January 1963, he married Geraldine Valenti, the daughter. All the while, he lives in a palatial lakeside compound in rural northwest Hillsborough. 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. Reputedly the most powerful crime boss in Batista -era Cuba, he . [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? Weve updated the security on the site. [13], On January 14, 1992, Trafficante's former attorney, Frank Ragano, told Jack Newfield of the New York Post that he relayed a request from Hoffa to Trafficante and New Orleans boss Carlos Marcello to have Kennedy killed. santo trafficante daughters (November 15, 1914 - March 17, 1987 ). Chronicles of Events and Biographies Related to the American Mafia. He is currently working on his seventh book, The Jersey Mob., Feedback or questions? Services will be followed by a graveside service at the Italian Club Cemetery and a reception at the family home. The authorities continued to charge him with participating in illegal activities, but the aging mob boss escaped conviction each time. A car registered to former state attorney and current state appellate judge E.J. Dennis Caruso/NY Daily News Archive via Getty ImagesFrank Ragano and Santo Trafficante Jr. (right). Their plans ranged from simply shooting him to having him smoke poisoned cigars or drinking a tainted milkshake. 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. Nicknames: The Silent Don Santo Trafficante grew up in the Florida underworld, working his father's gambling rackets and getting experience in the business. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. Bankruptcy court documents show that Trafficante is owed $500,000 by a business partner. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. "I was going to ask him to come over and try our beignets to see how they compare to the Cafe Du Monde in New Orleans," Alessi says. Try again later. The first case stemmed from the FBIs well-known Donnie Brasco undercover sting operation. In January 1963, he married Geraldine Valenti, the daughter of J.C. Valenti, who owned a thriving produce business. My aim is to provide you with the best Service experience for you and your motorcycle. By 1987, the Mafia boss, who had walked the casino floors of the Sans Souci in Cuba, dined and hobnobbed with Frank Sinatra in the nightclubs and hotels of South Beach, and who commanded a presence in Tampa that is still felt today, was suffering from a diseased kidney and bad heart. gerry,i am so sorry to hear about santo. SANTO TRAFFICANTE SR, A Sicilian of the Old School, RULED TAMPAS UNDERWORLD FOR MORE THAN A DECADE! 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. The Internal Revenue Service tried to collect $400,000 in back taxes owed on the business, saying it had not been run as business eligible for tax write-offs, but a hobby. [13] Trafficante also stated that he had no recollection of meeting Oswald or Oswald's assassin, Jack Ruby. Getting in bed with Trafficante and other leading members of Americas organized crime seems like a strange thing to do for the CIA. 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. U.S. Treasury Department documents indicate that law enforcement believed Trafficante's legitimate business interests to include several legal casinos in Cuba; a Havana drive-in movie theater; and shares in several restaurants and bars in Trafficante's hometown of Tampa, Florida. Fla. (AP), Source: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/52792202/frank-cacciatore-trafficante, L'Unione Italiana Cemetery, Ybor City, Hillsborough County, Florida, USA, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santo_Trafficante_Jr, Death of Santo Trafficante, Jr at Houston, TX. This account has been disabled. Leave a memory or share a photo or video below to show your support. Trafficante was a ruthless mob boss, and quickly consolidated control over the criminal networks in Tampa. Trafficante Jr. controlled his Tampa-based crime network for over three decades. So, at his attorney Ralph Fernandez's urging, he has agreed to talk publicly, hoping to shore up his damaged reputation. She was a wonderful cook, and she loved to crochet and travel with her husband, but she lived her life for her family. "I was the most expensive forklift driver in the world," he says with a smile. 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. Welcome to Boxer Cycle Works. "If my uncle knew I was talking to the press, Christ, he'd shoot me," Trafficante says, half-laughing. One small gang, led by Italian immigrant Santo Trafficante Senior, profited from the illegal lottery-style games they ran across Tampa. His business ventures have not always been successful. THE HIDDEN HISTORY OF TAMPA'S UNDERWORLD IS OFTEN INTERTWINED WITH SOME OF Something went wrong. He was, in many ways, the archetypical old-school Mob boss. He died on March 17, 1987. I can answer any questions you . "I thought all this would end when my uncle died. You and Santo will always have a special place in my heart. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. 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. 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. Resend Activation Email. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. Hey, they have more convicts at the track than straight people," Trafficante says. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. I hold such fond memories of Santo & Gerry when I was growing up. My ex-wife Erline Lazzara was a childhood friend you might remember. [15][16] He stated he was chosen by Hoffa because, as both Hoffa and Trafficante's lawyer, he could be assured of attorneyclient privilege. This browser does not support getting your location. [1] In 1997, further declassified documents indicated that some mafiosi worked with the agency on assassination attempts against Castro. But before Trafficante testified, someone conveniently killed Roselli. Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? 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. 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. But once Kennedy actually entered the White House, he didnt live up to his end of the bargain. 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. Meet Santo Trafficante: The Silent Don Who Tried To Kill Fidel Castro And May Have Ordered JFKs Assassination. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. He wears tasselled leather loafers without socks. love gloria "owens" hill. GREAT NEWS! In 1946, Santo Sr. sent his son, already a family underboss, to Cuba to invest in the growing number of nightclubs and casinos in the island nation. As such, Trafficante Sr. controlled gambling rackets for bolita, a lottery game popular in Florida and Cuba, until 1940 when the murder of Tampa boss Ignacio Antinori pushed the Trafficantes to assume ultimate power in the Florida underworld. 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.