Organized crime in Tampa was born during the 1920s Prohibition Era. The first prominent figure of organized crime in Tampa was Charlie Wall. His major activity was the running of illegal bolita games, a type of gambling originating in Cuba and rarely found outside of Florida within the United States.
Wall’s main competition was Ignacio Antinori. When Charlie Wall fell from prominence, he was replaced by Antinori’s associate, Santo Trafficante, Sr. Trafficante himself would be succeeded upon his death in 1954 by his son, Luigi Santo Trafficante—regarded to be the most powerful mafia member in Florida history, and one of the most powerful in United States history.
When Luigi Santo Trafficante died in 1987, he was replaced by his protégée, Vincent LoScalzo. LoScalzo is effectively “retired” from organized crime, seemingly bringing the era of the Trafficante/Tampa crime family to an end.
During this era, the Tampa family reportedly engaged in bolita and other forms of illegal gambling, racketeering, drug trafficking, “grafting” (bribing government figures), prostitution and was implicated in assassination attempts on Fidel Castro, and in the death of President John F. Kennedy.
Wall’s main competition was Ignacio Antinori. When Charlie Wall fell from prominence, he was replaced by Antinori’s associate, Santo Trafficante, Sr. Trafficante himself would be succeeded upon his death in 1954 by his son, Luigi Santo Trafficante—regarded to be the most powerful mafia member in Florida history, and one of the most powerful in United States history.
When Luigi Santo Trafficante died in 1987, he was replaced by his protégée, Vincent LoScalzo. LoScalzo is effectively “retired” from organized crime, seemingly bringing the era of the Trafficante/Tampa crime family to an end.
During this era, the Tampa family reportedly engaged in bolita and other forms of illegal gambling, racketeering, drug trafficking, “grafting” (bribing government figures), prostitution and was implicated in assassination attempts on Fidel Castro, and in the death of President John F. Kennedy.
Audience
This pathfinder is intended for undergraduate and graduate students of the University of South Florida system. It might be of particular interest to students taking courses in the History or Florida Studies programs.
Organized crime is a popular subject for recreational research, and this pathfinder might be interesting to the general public, especially to those who live in the Tampa Bay area. In deference to the topic’s popular interest, some material listed in the “Additional Resources” section is of entertainment, but not academic, quality. This material is clearly labeled as such.
Organized crime is a popular subject for recreational research, and this pathfinder might be interesting to the general public, especially to those who live in the Tampa Bay area. In deference to the topic’s popular interest, some material listed in the “Additional Resources” section is of entertainment, but not academic, quality. This material is clearly labeled as such.