Asked if he knew Frank Sinatra, Franzese replied:You asked the question the wrong way. But he did it.. As a caporegime, Michael was making $5-10m weekly from a petrol bootlegging scheme, involving the Russian Mafia.Watch my interview on Michael Franzese's channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6hqYXMeeZU\u0026t=64sSupport us on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/shaunattwoodShaun Attwood merch: https://shaunattwood.shop/collections/allShaun Attwood's social media:TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@shaunattwood1?Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shaunattwood/?hl=enTwitter: https://twitter.com/shaunattwoodFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/shaunattwood1/Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/shaunattwoodOdysee: https://odysee.com/@ShaunAttwood:aJen's website: https://www.organiccottonclothing.co.uk/Jen's Insta: https://www.instagram.com/boomer_jen/Jen's Twitter: https://twitter.com/boomerandjenLtdJen on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ7utxeVCXBkhDXms36xLfgJen's clothing company on Insta: https://www.instagram.com/boomerandjen_organic_clothing/Jen on FB: https://www.facebook.com/BoomerJen-106167247767169/Andrew Gold's links: YouTube: http://youtube.com/andrewgold1 On the Edge with Andrew Gold Podcast - https://podfollow.com/on-the-edge-with-andrew-gold Twitter: twitter.com/andrewgold_ok Dr DAS' CHANNEL: https://www.youtube.com/c/APsychForSoreMinds Dr DAS\" social media: TWITTER - https://twitter.com/PsychSore FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/psychsore INSTAGRAM - https://www.instagram.com/psychforsoremindsWatch our true crime podcasts: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLPT_cCpNMvT50d_7cJ55ciKoZEY8q_YPtWatch all of our Wild Man videos: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLPT_cCpNMvT5SlYuhHm-kLYekc8FIAWvzWatch UK Wild Woman, Sammy the Bull Gravano, Arizona, Mexico: Kerry Osborne: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5CKU-Qg0tM\u0026list=PLPT_cCpNMvT50d_7cJ55ciKoZEY8q_YPt\u0026index=3Watch our Royal Family videos here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLPT_cCpNMvT7FSrvAJL-44G2_WQTeU5d5 Watch John Abbott's California San Quentin prison stories: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLPT_cCpNMvT4opC39yEqNU3fmPBQUHsv3UK gangsters playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLPT_cCpNMvT55XryzNClntlWEHGqDs-HZWatch our full interview with a Mafia hit man for the Gambino crime family: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_o3tTOekqY\u0026list=PLPT_cCpNMvT50d_7cJ55ciKoZEY8q_YPt\u0026index=6\u0026t=9075sWatch smuggling stories with David McMillan: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLPT_cCpNMvT6P4orHr3HqE2Dpw5aPyv_OOur donation links: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/shaunattwoodPayPal: https://www.paypal.me/SAttwoodJustGiving: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/shaun-attwood-1SubscribeStar: https://www.subscribestar.com/true-crime-podcastMerch:Books: https://shaunattwood.com/shaun/books/Wild Man T-shirts: https://everpress.com/wildmanShaun's Website: http://shaunattwood.com/ Shaun's Blog: http://jonsjailjournal.blogspot.co.uk/ #truecrime #mafia #thegodfather #franzese #gravano #sammythebull #podcast [25], With the help of Franzese Jr.'s testimony, the 93-year-old Franzese Sr., on January 14, 2011, was sentenced to eight years in prison for extorting two Manhattan strip clubs, running a loanshark operation and extorting a pizzeria on Long Island. [4], In the late 1930s, Franzese worked under Joseph Profaci, boss of the Profaci crime family (later named the Colombo crime family). They [would] come up to me, actually pick me up. He was chasing me all over the place. Because its my principle.. Both had immigrated to the United States from Italy. At home, a loving father and husband, but on the street, a hard-core guy who never had regrets, never would admit to any crime, never give anybody up, never violate his Mafia oaths a mobster all the way., After this look at John Sonny Franzese, check out these astounding facts about Al Capone. That had been before Cassatos time. Her very personal tribute to the president shocked many of the fifteen thousand people in the audience. That advice was accompanied by a warning. She added, I give that advice to all my female colleagues, too. One of Monroe's last flings was Giancana, who was arguably the most powerful gangster in the country at that time, and was in Sinatra's circle. Jayne sat down, and they began flirting. Then-Nassau District Attorney William Cahn, who went to Washington D.C. to debrief Valachi, became keenly interested in Franzese. coronavirus What's new He recounted a time when he was starting out in music and grew weary of playing classical works. He was in his new parish when his administrative assistant had announced that a very handsome man had come to see him. To Sonny, that was tantamount to throwing down the gauntlet. . According to law enforcement, Franzese remained the official underboss of the Colombo family. Early on, Franzese had an aptitude for crime. [28], Michael Franzese had entered a pre-med program at Hofstra University in 1969, as John Franzese originally did not want him to be involved in organized crime. No doubt about it. He thought every girl was, was in love with him. He was back at Mount Carmel on Friday for the funeral. [34] After the mob allowed John to divorce his first wife, Grillo disappeared, and he married Capobianco. He was also a regular at the Copacabana and met such stars as Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr. on a frequent basis. 82.4k. 09:25 GMT 28 Apr 2011 In 1931, Franzese was straightened out, or inducted into the mob, when he was just 14, his son John said. When Kennedys Learned of Marilyn Monroe & Sonny Franzese's Relationship: Michael Franzese 5,011 views Jun 27, 2022 Watch full Franzese podcast:. In 1967, Franzese was arrested for a series of bank robberies. Both had . women Your wifes a whore? John (Sonny)Franzese and wife, Tina,leave federal courtin Uniondale, where their son Michael Franzese was on trial, in December 1985. Credit: Newsday. But one particular patron never had a problem. John Franzese as a free man in 2018. People would come there to see me, too, Sonny said. Down in the darkened arena, a very different personal drama was playing out. What if Sam Giancana said, Look, Frank, you didnt get it done. Especially in his mafia career, Franzese was making money by making money for the family in various ways. So I ran away. By clicking Sign up, you agree to our privacy policy. His son John Franzese Jr. had testified against him, becoming the first son of a New York mobster to turn state's evidence and testify against his father. Two of them delivered eulogies at Fridays funeral, making it grander by another measure than the mob boss sendoffs of old. In October, the Queens district attorney indicted him in the homicide of Ernest (The Hawk) Rupolo, a one-eyed mob hit man from Baldwin. Sonny franzese and marilyn monroe I could never give a guy up because I knew what jail was, he said. Taxes, a number of the roughly 75 mourners joined him in saying. But then, in 1967, he was convicted for his involvement in a bank robbery and sentenced to 50 years in prison. He infers that this affair happened later on in time though. I would win, too., But his bottom line on prison where he spent more than a third of his long life is I hate everything about it.. A cause of death has not been announced. But despite the odds, that wasnt the case. Nevertheless, murder wasnt the case that authorities were able to use to bring Franzese down. Interesting interview. Maurice also recounted a story from the 1960s, before Franzese was sent to prison. Ruggedly handsome with a swagger many women found irresistible, he frequented the citys top clubs, especially the Copacabana, where Frank Costello boss of the Luciano mob family, which was the precursor of todays Genovese family was a silent partner and Franzese was an honored guest among the celebrities. The renowned tough guy did his prison time without ever turning on his mob associates following a 1967 conviction that was widely considered both inside and outside organized crime as a setup. In 2017, at the age of 100, the underboss of the Colombo crime family was released early from a prison sentence that would have capped off his turbulent life of crime. He said, Youre nothing without an education, you got to he smart about life.. When Sinatra was dating actress Ava Gardner, she would come to the Copa to watch him perform. I just want to go to the bathroom! Franzese could be heard pleading. The mourners who came down the steps included 90-year-old Dr. Louis Barricelli, who grew up with Fanzese and was his physician. The extraordinary life and times of a legendary crime boss who refused to squealbut who finally agreed to talk to an award-winning New York Newsday reporter shortly before his death at age 103 . [4][40] He was buried on February 28, at St. John Cemetery following his funeral at Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.[41]. [4] Altogether, Franzese had eight children, 18 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. You should have asked, Did Frank Sinatra know Sonny Franzese?. Did a lot of time. He served as underboss of the Colombo family from 1963 until he was sentenced to 50 years in . COVID-19 But it wasnt announced until two years later. George also said that the person she was really in love with at that moment was Sam Giancana.. Dionne Warwick? The granddaughter had arranged for a gospel group headed by a singer/piano player known on Instagram as The Black Franz Liszt to perform at the funeral. During a break in the proceedings, the elder Franzese rolled into the mens room in a wheelchair. business We had Joe Valachi, and if you would have opened up, it would have destroyed the Mafia. Credit: Newsday / James O'Rourke, Never happened, Franzese said. And he gloated over his own Oceans 11-style celebrity. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. She reported, You better believe I started drinking white wine spritzers at work functions. Yet he was tried for murder only once, and he was acquitted. John Sonny Franzese is escorted by police in 1967. He vowed to do the whole bid.. He chuckled. All are sealed, according to the court. By turns avuncular and crude, he answered questions about his extraordinary life. He is believed to have been elevated to caporegime or captain in the Colombo family in the mid 1950s by Profaci. Now you may not believe this, but, so help me God, she told it to meshe says to me, I made a lot of pictures. John (Sonny)Franzese walks into the federal courthouse in Uniondale on June 18, 1982, as he surrenders to authorities. Anything you need, you call me, Cassato said. Daniel Bates In New York, Isabel Oakeshott receives 'menacing' message from Matt Hancock, Beaming Harry and Meghan enjoy date night at private members' club, Ken Bruce finishes his 30-year tenure as host of BBC Radio 2, Pavement where disabled woman gestured at cyclist before fatal crash, Pro-Ukrainian drone lands on Russian spy planes exposing location, 'Buster is next!' The home of John (Sonny) Franzese on Shrub Hollow Road in Roslyn in 1970. Credit: Newsday / Bill Senft, I started buying businesses, you know, he said. It was a free-for-all, Sonny recalled. Born in 1917 and raised in New York City, John Franzese grew up during a boom era for organized crime and it didnt take long for him to get involved himself. Celebrities, socialites, and sports stars all jockeyed for a coveted table amid the faux palm trees. [34] Due to this, Michael had initially believed that he had been adopted by John after the disappearance of Grillo, who Michael thought to be his biological father. One F.B.I. She has won more than 50 journalism awards and was a finalist for the Public Service Pulitzer Prize in 2014. I was ashamed. /r/Mafia features stories, interviews, documentary and news articles about organized crime around the world. All this from a man who was 91 at the time. . It was May 19, 1962, when Monroe sashayed onto the stage of Madison Square Garden in a skintight, rhinestone-studded dress and sang a breathy Happy Birthday to President John F. Kennedy during a Democratic fundraiser. report from 1965 described Franzese, then underboss of the Colombo family, as the fastest growing and most prominent shylock in the Greater New York area.. He chuckled as he perused old photos of himself in the tabloids, looking both fierce and dapper in his cashmere overcoat. Act like a dumb son of a gun and cater to you people?. [22] Franzese Jr. was allegedly also responsible for his father's fourth parole violation, but was accepted back into his confidence after denying the allegations in tears, saying, "I would never do that, no matter what kind of trouble I had. John "Sonny" Franzese Sr. (Italian:[frantseze; -ese]; February 6, 1917 February 24, 2020) was an Italian-born American mobster who was a longtime member and former underboss of the Colombo crime family. By 1935, when he was 18, he said, he was running the largest craps game in New York. In 1963, Genovese gangster Joseph Valachi appeared before a televised and explosive U.S. Senate hearing on organized crime, revealing for the first time the secrets of La Cosa Nostra. Now what do you want him to do? Netflix's controversial Marilyn Monroe drama (now streaming) stars Ana de Armas as the tragic Hollywood starlet, who died of an overdose in 1962 at 36. Sinatra might have been high-handed, but Sonny felt a certain affinity for the singer. FBI director J. Edgar Hoover listed Franzese's prison term among the bureau's major achievements for 1967, along with sentences for extortion given to hoodlums Charles Battaglia of Tucson, Arizona, and Sam Battaglia of .