Share this memorial using social media sites or email. He maintained all of the lucrative casinos in Cuba, further cemented, After Cuban revolution, the Mafia saw Castro as a threat to their business. 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. 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. Forget everything you think you know about Tampa mafia wives and girlfriends in the 1950s. His uncle, the late Santo Trafficante Jr., was reputed to have been the boss of the local Mafia. Santo was one of the FBIs targets in that case. 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. Trafficante maintained links to the Bonanno crime family in New York City, but was more closely allied with Sam Giancana in Chicago. He convicted infamous criminal labor union head, Jimmy Hoffa. Santo Trafficante Jr. (November 15, 1914 - March 17, 1987) was among the most powerful Mafia bosses in the United States. ". Santos ran numerous legitimate businesses as well as illegal, including several legal casinos in Cuba, a Havana drive-in movie theater, and shares in restaurants and bars in Tampa. The international narcotics trade was also an important topic on the Apalachin agenda. Then, check out these photos of the aftermath from some of the bloodiest mob hits. [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. He dressed nicely but not ostentatiously, and his choice of cars was never flashy. She was an amazing daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt and friend. "I'm a freak for that kind of stuff," he says. Scott M. Deitche, Mob Museum Advisory Council member and mob http://www.scottdeitche.com/books.htmlauthor of Tampa's favorite books, Cigar City Mafia: A Complete History of the Tampa Underworld & The Silent Don: The Criminal Underworld of Santo Trafficante Jror Manny Leto, previous Editor of Cigar City Magazine and Tampa historian, will guide you on a 1.5 -2 hour walking tour to old gambling palaces, street corners, and alleys where some mobsters met their demise, and restaurants where wise guys, like famed boss Santo Trafficante Jr, held court. After the Kennedy hubbub, Trafficante kept a low profile or, lower that is. Learn more about merges. That horse won $161,080 for its new owners, according to the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders Association. [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. For all the power he wielded, Trafficante was often described as quiet and reserved. cemeteries found in Ybor City, Hillsborough County, Florida, USA will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Santo Trafficante 5 10 (1.78 m) Born November 15, 1914 Tampa, Florida, USA Died March 17, 1987 Spouse Josephine Marchese April 17, 1938 - March 17, 1987 (his death, 2 children) Publicity listings 2 Portrayals Did you know Edit Trivia Represented by Frank Ragano. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santo_Trafficante_Jr. "I'm in the I.O.U. You may not upload any more photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 20 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 5 photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 30 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 15 photos to this memorial. The gunmen drove off, unaware they had failed to kill Trafficante, merely grazing his arm. He had a big heart and will be missed. "If my uncle knew I was talking to the press, Christ, he'd shoot me," Trafficante says, half-laughing. The Trafficante Family Under Santo Junior. And despite relatively small time beginnings, Trafficante proved to be a shrewd mobster. Try again. By December 1953, one more rival was dead and another was too scared to even venture out of his home. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. Harris & Ewing/Library of Commons/Wikimedia CommonsCuban leader Fulgencio Batista in Washington, D.C. in 1938. But before Trafficante testified, someone conveniently killed Roselli. There are few indicators that the family is still an active crime network. His abiding passion is food. When his father died in 1954 he took control of these establishments. This is a carousel with slides. "They wouldn't even let me go to the track. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. [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. In 1954, Santo Sr. died of natural causes (at a time when some of his remaining rivals were still being violently dispatched), and his son took over leadership of the crime family. He returned to Tampa for the last time for internment in the LUnione Italiana Cemetery. 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. When Fidel Castro began his ascent to power in the 1950s, Santo Trafficante feared the radical Marxist revolutionary wouldnt cooperate with him. Or does he just look like one? The original Malio's Restaurant located on South Dale Mabry Highway in Tampa, Florida. In 1963, the Mob allegedly had enough of Kennedy. Try again later. Reclaiming History: The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy. You and Santo will always have a special place in my heart. Frank Ragano and Santo Trafficante Jr. (right). Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). Are you sure that you want to remove this flower? He flew to Houston on March 15 for heart bypass surgery. He maintained close working ties with the Lucchese crime family and the Bonanno crime family from New York City. "The Mob? [14], The HSCA had previously quoted Aleman as stating that he thought Trafficante's use of the phrase "he is going to be hit" meant that the mob boss knew Kennedy was going to be killed. Despite all of this or, perhaps, because of it, a few writers and filmmakers have chosen to focus on organized crime, determined to give Tampa its due. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. Josephine Marchese Trafficante, 95, died peacefully in her sleep, Wednesday morning at her home. He was the lynchpin in Tampa Charlie Wall The Kefauver hearings arrived in Tampa in December of 1950. Santo was known to have been deeply involved in the CIA efforts to involve the underworld in assassination attempts on Fidel Castro. Oops, we were unable to send the email. Visitation will take place on Saturday, May 16th, from 9:30 to 11:30 AM, with service to follow at Gonzalez Funeral Home, 7209 N. Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa, FL. One small gang, led by Italian immigrant Santo Trafficante Senior, profited from the illegal lottery-style games they ran across Tampa. Santo worked closely with Lucchese family boss Tommy Lucchese, who was a friend of his father, and a man who helped train him in the 1940s. Santo told the state attorney, I dont have an enemy in the world. After his father died in 1954, he became the head in Tampa and took over his fathers interests in Cuba. Many of the familys gangsters were in prison, or too old to be effective. The chairman cited a confession from Roselli that Trafficantes allies organized a sharpshooter, Lee Harvey Oswald, to take out the President. 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. Trafficante maintained links to the Bonanno crime family in New York City, but was more closely allied with Sam Giancana in Chicago. Authorities also said he urged former bank vice president Michael Pupello to impersonate him in calls to federal bank regulators. Afterwards, the son he had groomed to take his place, Santo Trafficante Jr., took the reins of the Trafficante crime family. Geni requires JavaScript! We never paid cash. And the Trafficante Crime family found out that it had an unusual ally in their concerns about Castro: the Central Intelligence Agency. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. Notoriety comes with family name - Tampa Bay Times "Sam Gold" was Sam Giancana; "Joe" was Trafficante. Their plans ranged from simply shooting him to having him smoke poisoned cigars or drinking a tainted milkshake. Weve updated the security on the site. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Alongside Chicago boss Sam Giancana, Roselli and Trafficante came up with some truly insane plots to kill Fidel Castro. The mobster would later testify: I got news that Cuban officials were looking for to put me in jail because one of the things was that I was a Batista collaborator. Some people also alleged that Trafficante Jr played a role in the assassination of President John F. Kennedy due to his anti-organized crime efforts, but Trafficante Jr. always denied it. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. Undercover detectives ran a gambling sting operation there, hoping to nab a circle of Tampa men they said were making illegal sports bets. Today, Santo Trafficantes criminal legacy lives on through his nephew and namesake, Santo Trafficante III, who was charged with organized fraud in 1992. At age 16, he boarded the S.S. Lombardia and set sail for American in search of a better life. Failed to report flower. Conspiracy theorists consider Giancana along with Mafia leaders Santo Trafficante Jr. and Carlos Marcello associated with the assassination of Kennedy. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. Please try again later. More importantly, Castro imprisoned Trafficante and then had him exiled from Cuba. My uncle, never wore a ring," Trafficante says. Fine food, and lots of it. Federal investigators brought racketeering and conspiracy charges against him in the summer of 1986. His positioning in Florida was prime for drug shipping as the product often passed through these ports en route to elsewhere in America. 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. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Santo Trafficante (53540265)? Getty ImagesSanto Trafficante was wanted in 48 states by the time he was 43. Born Tampa, Florida March 24, 1920 prosecution, fled temporarily to Cuba. Chris and I will never forget Santo's presence at Leia's welcome home party. One small gang, led by Italian immigrant Santo Trafficante Senior, profited from the illegal lottery-style games they ran across Tampa. He escaped conviction all but once, receiving a five-year sentence for bribery in 1954, but his conviction was overturned by the Florida Supreme Court before he entered prison. Love and peace to you all. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. Trafficante was a ruthless mob boss, and quickly consolidated control over the criminal networks in Tampa. It was clear that federal and local law enforcement had an acute interest in the Trafficante family. The Trafficante Family - American Mafia History The charges of bank fraud against Trafficante and more than a dozen bank employees and customers may well be dismissed. During the 1950s, Trafficante Jr. maintained a narcotic trafficking network with Tommy Lucchese, the boss of the Lucchese crime family in New York City. Don Santo Trafficante Jr. the godfather from Tampa, Florida, USA. Santo met and married Maria Giuseppe Cacciatore on April 20, 1909. Chronicles of Events and Biographies Related to the American Mafia. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. F. Kennedy not only failed to deliver on his promise to the mob but also actually put the Mafia under increasing pressure. 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 Jr. (November 15, 1914 - March 17, 1987) was among the most powerful Mafia bosses in the United States. 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. English "My kids suffered a lot by it," he says. After a violent mob war left several of Trafficantes rivals dead or weakened, his gang rapidly rose to prominence in Tampa. We have set your language to Santo Trafficante, Jr. - facebook.com Santo Trafficante Jr. - Wikipedia Bankruptcy court documents show that Trafficante is owed $500,000 by a business partner. He died on March 17, 1987. One of the last surviving mobsters from the Luciano era, he died of heart disease in a Houston, Texas, hospital in 1987. Salcines was observed at the properties the weekend of June 9, 1967. 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 . In this episode, we will discuss the fascinating life of Tampa's most powerful mobster: Santo Trafficante Jr. Our prayers are with you. The people of Tampa, especially the ones still around to remember those days still feel a duty of sorts to keep quite of these things, as if these people are still amongst us and can hear our chatter. Comfort the family with flowers or a sympathy gift. Trafficante again escaped conviction. The Shore Acres home is 2,350-square-feet with 10 rooms that Capone reputedly built in 1925 for his mother. In a final disappointment, he sold a filly named "Run Marisa Run" (after his daughter) for $7,500. In February 2016, many of Trafficante's personal belongings were sold at an auction in St. Petersburg, Florida. 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. Passing before her were her parents Antonino and Sarafina Marchese; her beloved husband Santo Trafficante Jr.; her son-in-law's Augie Paniello and Richard Valdes; and her brothers, Bennie Marchese, Tommy Marchese, and Peter Marchese. Buy the time LoScalzo took over in 1987, the Trafficante Crime Family was far past its heyday. His new attorney general his beloved brother, Robert F. Kennedy went after organized crime with a vengeance. My ex-wife Erline Lazzara was a childhood friend you might remember. Robert F. Kennedy even taunted those mobsters he brought into court, telling Chicago mob boss Sam Giancana that I thought only little girls giggled, Mr. Giancana.. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. The senior Trafficante's name has been linked to gambling, drug-dealing and even plots to kill Fidel Castro and John F. Kennedy. The choice was nothing more than honoring a tradition. However, while the Latin American drug trade has figured prominently in the sunshine states less savory history, so has the Mafia. The CIA came to Trafficante, and asked for his help in enlisting the Mafia to assassinate the Cuban leader. GREAT NEWS! Trafficante tried to win Castro over to his side, but that didnt work. based on information from your browser. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. In the 1960 presidential election, Kennedy family patriarch Joe Kennedy Sr. used his ties to organized crime to secure votes for his son, John F. Kennedy. On March 17, 1987, Trafficante died at the age of 72 at the Texas Heart Institute in Houston where he had gone for heart surgery. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. Robert Anderson aka The Killer Between 50 and 100 buildings were burned. Rosselli testified in 1975 to the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence on the efforts to kill Castro. President John F. Kennedy, FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, and Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, Dennis Caruso/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images. This site is provided as a service of SCI Shared Resources, LLC. Late in life LoScalzo denied any connections to organized crime. Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. He is just a businessman, he says, his money tied up in wholesale automobiles, an orange grove and real estate. 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. Trafficante took control of the Tampa mob in 1954 after the death of his father, Santo Trafficante Sr. 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? When the CIA decided to recruit the Mob in their efforts to assassinate Fidel Castro, they went to see Trafficante. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. Anthony Accardo & Santo Trafficante Jr - Labor Union Kickbacks (1977- 1981)https://www.nytimes.com/1981/06/05/us/16-indicted-over-union-fund-use.htmlCredit:. 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. Santo, Jr. never spent a day in jail, and he died of natural causes in 1987. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Resend Activation Email. As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. He allegedly controlled organized crime operations in Florida and Cuba santo trafficante daughters - shantisrl.com "My wife's got money. He is currently working on his seventh book, The Jersey Mob., Feedback or questions? During a recent trip to Lake Tahoe he bought two basketballs autographed by Michael Jordan. Share Santo's life story with friends and family. Peter Moruzzi/Wikimedia Commons The glamorous casino in the Hotel Nacional De Cuba in Havana in 1958. Santo Trafficante Jr. (November 15, 1914 March 17, 1987) was among the most powerful Mafia bosses in the United States. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. We found ourselves in a love affair with Tony Soprano and we could not stop watching. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/53540265/santo-trafficante. 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. In October 1966, while waiting in a Queens courthouse for his turn to be questioned by a grand jury about the infamous LaStella meeting (later dubbed "Little Apalachin") held a couple of weeks earlier on September 22, Santo Trafficante Jr., who was the boss of the Tampa Bay Crime Family, overheard reporters talking about someone . He was going to be hit.. Year should not be greater than current year. Florida Mafia boss Santo Trafficante Jr. died 30 years ago March 17 But the news was not good on the Key Bank front. Century, Tampa was a small but growing city, and the organized crime it faced was modest. During the rule of Cuba's authoritarian dictator Fulgencio Batista, Trafficante openly operated the Sans Souci Cabaret and the Casino International gambling establishments in Havana. Finally, after the infamous failed Bay of Pigs Invasion, the CIA gave up on their attempts to kill the Cuban dictator and thus Trafficantes attempts at revenge never materialized. So, as the popular theory goes, the mob bosses that lent a helping hand in getting Kennedy into office wanted revenge. 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. This account has been disabled. He will be sorely missed and his heart of gold will be remembered by all who new him. 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. A system error has occurred. "I thought all this would end when my uncle died. Search results for "Images of America" at Rakuten Kobo. Rosselli later claimed to be involved with or to actually be a shooter in a Mob conspiracy to kill President John F. Kennedy, and some accounts have Trafficante involved in the alleged, and unproven, conspiracy. So, at his attorney Ralph Fernandez's urging, he has agreed to talk publicly, hoping to shore up his damaged reputation. Santo Trafficante Jr. had long followed in his father's footsteps, and proved to be an even more effective Mafia kingpin. Sign up for service and obituary updates. Send your deepest condolences with fresh flowers. "But then you get into alias this and alias that and when they get you in court, you probably just create more problems," he says. Home - Boxer Cycle Works Instead of Italian suits, he wears horizontally striped golf shirts. If the decision is upheld on appeal, charges against Trafficante may be dismissed. On the day that investigators raided Key Bank, a cardiologist at St. Joseph's Hospital was inserting a catheter in Trafficante's groin. "When my uncle visited it was like a family reunion. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. 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. Daughters: Mary Josephine Sarah Ann Brothers: Frank, Salvatore (Sam), Epifanio and Enrico (Henry) Uncle: Joseph M. CACCIATORE (convicted narcotic trafficker) CRIMINAL HISTORY: He owned a West Tampa restaurant called Cafe Sevilla. Whether or not a Mafia conspiracy was behind the assassination of Kennedy is still up for debate. All the while, he lives in a palatial lakeside compound in rural northwest Hillsborough. His wife also was named in the fraud charges. She lived an exciting life dividing her time between her multiple family members and friends in Tampa, Miami and Havana. But he was also the most powerful crime boss in pre-Castro Cuba, with influence that extended into Florida and the rest of the United States. James Anthony Traficant Jr. (May 8, 1941 - September 27, 2014) was an American politician who served as a Democrat, and later independent, member of the United States House of Representatives from Ohio.He represented the 17th Congressional District, which centered on his hometown of Youngstown and included parts of three counties in northeast Ohio's Mahoning Valley. You need a Find a Grave account to continue. [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. Seven people were murdered. Santo Trafficante arrives at Queens Supreme Court in Kew Gardens. Spoiled by mobsters, Meyer Lansky's daughter recalls family men, not "Now when I walk in a bank," Trafficante says, "the president runs out the back door.". After Cuban revolution, the Mafia saw Castro as a threat to their business. A few months later, two members of that group took the train to New York City to drum up support for a move against Santo. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. The men started to drive away when another sedan drove past the Mercury, the occupants unloading a blast of buckshot as they passed. Leave a memory or share a photo or video below to show your support. Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. In the early 20th Century, Tampa was a small but growing city, and the organized crime it faced was modest. 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. Santo Trafficante Jr. (1914-1987) - Find a Grave Memorial His health had declined in his later years. It may take up to 1 hour for your comment to appear on the website. [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. He owned and operated some of the most lavish casinos in pre-Castro Cuba. There is a problem with your email/password. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. Santo Jr. succeeded his father as the boss of Tampa upon his death. 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. THE CHARLIE WALL STORY Kingpin Charlie Wall (center holding bottle, right of child) and his notorious gang. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. santo trafficante daughters Wikimedia CommonsPresident John F. Kennedy, FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, and Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy. Departed this Life May 13, 2015 Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. Santo Trafficante Jr. was a reserved, modest man married to the same woman for 49 years. SANTO TRAFFICANTE SR, A Sicilian of the Old School, RULED TAMPAS UNDERWORLD FOR MORE THAN A DECADE! Trafficante had now not only lost an ally but a significant portion of his income as his casinos were closed by the Marxist revolutionary. He wants Trafficante, whom he considers to have an authoritative palate, to sample a new pastry that Alessi plans to sell at his bakery. Santo Jr.'s daughters still owns 3610, where Santo spent time when he wasn't in Tampa or Miami. 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. Tampa Mafia Tour - Tampa Mafia I hold such fond memories of Santo & Gerry when I was growing up. Born in Tampa, Florida to Sicilian parents Mafia don Santo Trafficante, Sr. and his wife Maria Giuseppa Cacciatore. The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. Help tell the story of your loved ones unique life. Please allow 24 hours for your entry to be reviewed for appropriate content. The mafiosos that made up the family are either retired, in prison, or have died due to old age. The east coast of Florida was a loosely knit conglomerate of New York family interests with links to Meyer Lansky, Bugsy Siegel, Angelo Bruno, Carlos Marcello, and Frank Ragano. As we all know, he was right, and Kennedy was assassinated by a sniper in November 1963. "[1][13] He stated that he was positive that he did not say it because he always spoke to Aleman in Spanish, and said that there was no way to state the phrase in Spanish. Over the next 30-plus years, Trafficante, Jr. rose to oversee Mafia operations across the state of Florida. Every so often I think of the Jekyll Island and White Lake, NC trip and laugh. By Santo III's own estimation, this was a wise move. Santo Trafficante Jr. Learns About Sonny Franzese Santo Trafficante Jr.: The Florida Godfather Who Tried To Kill Castro The idea behind the assassination wasnt just to punish JFK but also to get his brother off the Mobs back. We send our most sincere sympathies to the Trafficante family.