Santo Trafficante, Sr.
Santo Trafficante, Sr. (
May 28,
1886-
August,
1954) was a
Mafia don who became powerful during the early and mid
20th century in
Tampa,
Florida. Trafficante was heavily involved in the illegal bolita lotteries which were popular in Florida at the time.
Trafficante assumed control of the Tampa mafia after the death of boss James Lumia on June 5, 1950. Upon his own death from stomach cancer in 1954, control passed to his son, Santo Trafficante, Jr