Florida History

Santo Trafficante Jr.

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Born:
1914
Died:
1987

Santo Trafficante Jr., born in 1914, rose to become a powerful American Mafia boss. He inherited the Florida-based Trafficante crime family from his father and expanded its reach into Cuba during dictator Fulgencio Batista’s reign. Nicknamed “The Silent Don” for his demeanor, he was a ruthless leader suspected of involvement in plots to assassinate Cuban revolutionary Fidel Castro and possibly even President John F. Kennedy. Despite facing numerous charges, he evaded prison time and died a free man in 1987.

 

Father:
Santo Trafficante Sr.