The rise of Castro and the fall of the Havana Mob
When Fidel Castro, his brother Raul, Che Guevara and 79 other Cuban rebels piled into the 43-foot yacht Granma on…
‘A good man in a bad business’
The 1930s were a tumultuous time in the Tampa underworld. Dubbed the “Era of Blood” by local journalists, the sound…
Seventy years ago today, Bugsy Siegel’s storied Mob life came to an abrupt end
It is important to our Museum and to me as the resident historian that criminals and their criminal acts are…
Florida Mafia boss Santo Trafficante Jr. died 30 years ago March 17
At 7:25 p.m. on January 3, 1953, Florida Mafia boss Santo Trafficante Jr. had just finished dinner with his wife…
Seventy years ago, Luciano’s Havana sojourn was cut short
Written February 2017 In 1946, Charles “Lucky” Luciano was persona non grata in America. Though he was granted a pardon…
Castro revolution had major effect on Las Vegas
This is the third of three blogs on the death of Fidel Castro. Part one looks at the harsh blow Castro dealt…
Mob involved in attempts to assassinate Castro
This is the second of three blogs on the death of Fidel Castro. Part one looks at the harsh blow…
Fidel Castro derailed Mob’s plans in Cuba
This is the first of three blogs on the death of Fidel Castro. Part two looks at Mob ties to…
Mojitos, daiquiris and beyond
In the early 20th century Cuban bartenders, known as cantineros, created a unique cocktail culture that hit its zenith in…
The Havana conference
Mob meetings are tricky events to organize. Travel logistics aside, the conflicting personalities, territorial beefs, and ever-present threat of law…