One of the oldest Italian crime groups to ever operate in the United States was the Santo Trafficante Family of Florida. This Family first came to the attention of federal law enforcement in the early 1950s, while under the leadership of “Capo” Santo Trafficante Sr.
A Sicilian immigrant, Trafficante assumed the mantle of power from the previous Representante, Ignazio Antinori, who was the leader from approximately 1920 until his gangland-style execution in October of 1940.
Santo Trafficante then became the Capo-Famiglia who would truly put the Tampa Family on the underworld map, so to speak.
For more information and a pictorial hierarchy chart, please see The Trafficante Family Leadership Chart.
This borgata was expanded and grew powerful under his rule. It became one of the most respected borgatas in Cosa Nostra history. With his death from a sudden heart attack in the summer of 1954, the Family was inherited by his son and namesake, Santo Jr.
Almost from birth, Santo Trafficante Jr. had been well “groomed” for mafia life under his father’s tutelage.


