Santo Trafficante Sr.

Santo Trafficante, Sr.

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 and ruled the Mafia in Tampa from the 1930s until his death in 1954. Trafficante was heavily involved in the operation of illegal bolita lotteries. During his reign, Trafficante was a well-respected boss with ties to Charles "Lucky" Luciano and Thomas Lucchese. He sent his son, Santo Trafficante, Jr. to New York to learn from other mobsters. Upon his death, Santo Trafficante Sr. gave the power to his son, Santo Trafficante, Jr. This was a respected decision since the New York bosses and Tampa mobsters liked Santo, Jr