Bolita

A group of men in suits and ties posing for the camera.
SANTO TRAFFICANTE SR, A ‘Sicilian of the Old School,’ RULED TAMPA’S UNDERWORLD FOR MORE THAN A DECADE!
Members of the Tampa Mafia: Santo Trafficante Sr., standing, second from left. Sitting: Alphonso Diecidue...
A man and woman standing next to each other.
THROUGH THE EYES OF A DAUGHTER: THE HIT ON JIMMY VELASCO
Sylvia at age 12 and her father Jimmy Velasco in California, June 1948 Jimmy Velasco...
A group of people sitting around a table.
THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF BOLITA
Forget everything you THINK you know about Tampa mafia wives and girlfriends in the 1950s....
A group of men standing next to each other.
THE DEVIL LOOKS AFTER HIS OWN
THE CHARLIE WALL STORY Kingpin Charlie Wall (center holding bottle, right of child) and his...
A wooden board with buttons on it
BOLITA VICE SQUAD
Bolita Bust In March of 1958, Buddy Meisch, a young, hard-nosed ex-Tampa cop turned deputy,...
A black and white photo of fidel castro and an older man.
SLEEPING WITH THE ENEMY
Did the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office Make a Deal With Fidel Castro for the Release...
A man in a suit and bow tie is sitting at a microphone.
ORGANIZED CRIME ON TRIAL: The Kefauver Hearings
Charlie Wall The Kefauver hearings arrived in Tampa in December of 1950. Tennessee Senator Estes...
A man in striped robe standing next to dresser.
CHARLIE WALL: THE BOLITA KINGPIN
Charlie Wall would conduct illegal gambling meetings in his home wearing his iconic robe. Hollywood...