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Michael Franzese Sr. (/frænˈziːs/)[1] (né Grillo; born May 27, 1951) is an American former mobster who was a caporegime in the Colombo crime family in New York City, and son of former underboss Sonny Franzese. Franzese was enrolled in a pre-med program at Hofstra University, but dropped out to make money for his family after his father was sentenced to 50 years in prison for bank robbery in 1967. He eventually helped implement a scheme to defraud the federal government out of gasoline taxes in the early 1980s.

Key Information

By the age of 35, in 1986, Fortune Magazine listed Franzese as number 18 on its list of the "Fifty Most Wealthy and Powerful Mafia Bosses".[2] Franzese claimed that at the height of his career, he generated up to $8 million per week. In 1986, he was sentenced to 10 years in prison on conspiracy charges, released in 1989, rearrested in 1991 for a parole violation, and ultimately released in 1994. During his time in prison, Franzese became a born-again Christian. Soon after being released, he walked away from the mob and retired to California, and became a motivational speaker, commentator, and writer.

Early life

[edit]

Franzese was born May 27, 1951, in Brooklyn, New York to John "Sonny" Franzese, a Colombo crime family underboss, and Cristina Capobianco-Franzese, although Michael had initially questioned who his actual biological father was.[3] Franzese had initially believed that he had been adopted by John after his mother divorced Frank Grillo, whom Franzese thought to be his biological father.[4] Michael says he had gone by the name "Michael Grillo" until he was 18 years old.[5]

However, it was later discovered that John, already married with three children, had gotten the 16-year-old Capobianco, a cigarette girl at the Stork Club in Manhattan, pregnant with Michael, so Capobianco married Grillo to avoid having a scandal surrounding having a child out of wedlock. After the mob allowed John to divorce his first wife, Grillo disappeared, and John married Capobianco.[4]

Franzese later moved to Long Island. His father originally did not want him to be involved in organized crime.[6] However, in 1971, Franzese decided to drop out of college to help his family earn money when his father was sentenced to 50 years in prison for bank robbery in 1967.[7]

Career in the mob

[edit]

Franzese became acquainted with his father's friends such as Joseph Colombo, and according to Franzese, later became inducted as a made man on Halloween night 1975 under acting boss Tommy DiBella.[8] As part of the ceremony Franzese took the blood oath and swore omerta.[9] He took the oath alongside friend Jimmy Angelino, Joseph Peraino Jr., Salvatore Miciotta, Vito Guzzo Sr., and John Minerva — all of whom except Miciotta died violently over the next 20 years.[10][11][12][13][14]

Franzese was briefly mentored by Colombo soldier Joseph "Joe-Joe" Vitacco (1927–1980).[5][15] During the late 1970s, Franzese met with future Gambino crime family boss John Gotti, who was then a soldier. Angelo Ruggiero was also present. Franzese was contacted by a flea market owner who complained that his partner was using and selling drugs at the market in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. Franzese agreed to frighten him and become the new partner. Franzese sent Colombo soldier-turned informant Anthony Sarivola and another member who remains unidentified.[16] Gotti however claimed that the scared-off partner was an associate of his. Franzese later expressed admiration for Gotti, citing his strict mobster lifestyle and his overwhelming ego.[17]

In 1980, Franzese had become a caporegime of a crew of 300.[18][19]

Gasoline bootlegging

[edit]

In 1981, Franzese was contacted by Lawrence Salvatore Iorizzo, who had developed a scheme to defraud the federal government out of gasoline taxes.[20] Iorizzo was being hassled by criminals in California and offered Franzese a percentage if he would defend and solve the issue. The pair set up 18 stock-bearer companies based in Panama. Under law at the time in Panama, gasoline could be sold tax-free from one wholesale company to the next.[21] Franzese partnered with the Russian Mafia in Brooklyn in the gas scheme.[22]

The wholesale gas was sold to one company, but shipped to another company, while a third company, a dummy company, sold the gasoline on paper, and would forge tax documents for the company that received the gasoline. Franzese's crew was then able to collect and pocket the nine cents per gallon of gasoline in federal tax. Once enforcement agents attempt to collect the tax from the dummy company, it declares bankruptcy and the daisy chain would continue.[22]

This gasoline supplied between one third and one half of all gasoline sold in the New York metropolitan area.[22] According to officials, Franzese kept 75 percent of the profits, making $1.26 million per month, while Iorizzo made $45,000 per month.[22] An associate later testified that Franzese personally made $1 million per week from the gas scheme.[23]

Franzese had claimed that at the height of his career, he generated up to $8 million per week.[24] Revenue officials estimated $250 million in gasoline tax was stolen in New York state per year, before moving on to Florida which was estimated to have lost $40 million to $250 million in stolen gasoline tax.[25] Authorities believe the money was laundered through Franzese's film production company, Miami Gold, to offshore bank accounts in Austria and Panama.[25] Franzese bought a home in Delray Beach, Florida.[8]

In 1986, Fortune Magazine listed Franzese as number 18 on its list of the "Fifty Most Wealthy and Powerful Mafia Bosses".[2] Vanity Fair cited him as one of the biggest money earners for the mafia since Al Capone.[26][27] He was referred to as the "Yuppie Don" in the 1980s,[27] and as "Prince of the Mafia".[28][29]

Entertainment, sports management and other businesses

[edit]

During the 1970s, he began to enter the world of legitimate business and by the mid-1980s Franzese had a stronghold on various businesses such as car dealerships, leasing companies, auto repair shops, restaurants, nightclubs, a contractor company, movie production and distribution companies, travel agencies and video stores.[30]

By 1980, Franzese was a partner with booking agent Norby Walters in his firm. Franzese's role was to intimidate existing and prospective clients. Franzese would later testify he provided the initial $50,000 to Walters to start his agency booking company with a 25% share of any profits. Additionally, Franzese would assist with any entertainers Walters had problems with by meeting their agents.[31] In 1981, Franzese successfully extorted a role for Walters in the US tour by singer Michael Jackson and his brothers. In 1982, the manager for singer Dionne Warwick wanted to drop Walters as an agent; Franzese met with the manager and persuaded him to keep Walters.[32]

In 1983, the FBI launched an investigation into boxing promoter Don King's organized crime connections and targeted Franzese to introduce an FBI undercover agent, using the alias Victor Quintana, to King. Franzese, who had never met King, says he was introduced to him by civil rights leader Al Sharpton. Franzese claimed he first met Sharpton through the Genovese crime family mobster Daniel Pagano.[33] Quintana was to give the impression that he was buying his way into the boxing world in order for King to reveal his criminal associations, however the investigation subsequently collapsed after Quintana failed to follow through with several hundred thousand dollars.[34]

In 1985, Walters set up a sports management agency with Franzese as a silent partner. At a meeting he agreed to hand over $50,000 in return for a 25 percent interest from the sports agency.[35]

Franzese was the president of Miami Gold, a film production company that produced the 1986 film Knights of the City.[23][25]

Indictment and prison (1985)

[edit]

In April 1985, Franzese was acquitted of racketeering charges.[36] In another case in December 1985, Franzese was charged in both Florida and New York in regards to counterfeiting and extortion from the gasoline bootlegging racket.[20][37] In New York, Franzese was one of nine people indicted on 14 counts.[20] In Florida, Franzese was one of 26 people indicted on 177 counts after a 16-month investigation in Florida called "Operation Tiger Tail".[37]

Iorizzo, who was already sentenced to five years and ordered to pay $1.7 million for his role in the theft of $1.1 million in gas taxes and placed in the witness protection program, began testifying against Franzese and others in their operation in March 1985.[25] On March 21, 1986, Franzese pleaded guilty to one count of racketeering conspiracy and one count of tax conspiracy.[38][20][32] Franzese was sentenced to 10 years in prison and ordered to pay $14.7 million in restitution on the federal charges, agreeing to sell his assets including a mansion in Old Brookville, New York, the Miami Gold production company, and use proceeds from the Knights of the City film.[23][38][32] He then reached a plea agreement and was sentenced to nine years in prison for state racketeering charges in Florida which would run concurrently with his previous conviction.[39][40] He also was ordered to pay an additional $3 million in restitution to the state of Florida.[39]

Franzese was subpoenaed to testify at Walters' trial in March 1989, as Walters had invoked his name to frighten college athletes into signing management contracts, including Maurice Douglass. In exchange for his testimony, he was given immunity from prosecution in the Walters case.[32][23][41] Walters was found guilty, fined $395,000 and given a sentence of 5 years with the judge in the case citing the importance of Franzese's testimony.[42] After Walters' conviction, Franzese was released from prison on parole after serving 43 months.[23][43] In September 1990, Walters' conviction was overturned by the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals citing a technicality.[44][45]

On December 27, 1991, Franzese was sentenced in New York to four years in federal prison for violating the probation requirements from his 1989 release.[23] Franzese had been arrested in Los Angeles on a tax fraud accusation and was sent back to New York for the probation hearing.[23] In court, prosecutors complained that Franzese had only started paying the balance of his court-ordered restitution payments earlier that year.[23] "Mr. Franzese has led the Government on a long, merry chase for a number of years," United States Attorney Andrew J. Maloney said after the court session. "We essentially view him as a con man." "[23] Prosecutors said that Franzese was no longer considered by the government to be a federal cooperating witness because of his parole violations.[23]

In 1990, Franzese was portrayed by Joseph Bono in the Martin Scorsese film Goodfellas (1990).[46][47] While imprisoned in 1991, Franzese became a born-again Christian after he was given a Bible by a prison guard.[48] He also spent three years in solitary confinement.[49]

In 1992, Franzese co-authored his first book, an autobiography, Quitting the Mob.[50] In the book, Franzese discusses his criminal activities, life with his father, and meeting his second wife, Camille Garcia.

After prison (1994–present)

[edit]

Franzese was released on November 7, 1994, retiring from the mob in 1995 by moving to California with his wife and children; the relocation was also a result of receiving multiple death threats and contracts on his life, including one approved by his father.[19][15][49]

Since his release in 1994, Franzese has publicly renounced and denounced the life of organized crime, stating "I never glamorize my mob life. It's an evil life",[51] and "I don't know one family that's part of that life [mob life] that hasn't been totally devastated".[52] He has since become a motivational speaker for youth, at schools, prisons, and other venues.[53][27] He also speaks at Christian conferences and churches, including Willow Creek Community Church, in 2016.[26]

On July 23, 2002, while appearing on the HBO television program Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel, Franzese stated that during the 1970s and 1980s, he persuaded New York Yankees players who owed money to Colombo loansharks to fix baseball games for betting purposes. The Yankees organization immediately denied Franzese's accusations.[15]

In April 2013, a documentary called The Definitive Guide to the Mob was released by Lionsgate, with Franzese as commentator.[54] Later in 2013, he appeared in Inside the American Mob, a National Geographic documentary.[47]

Franzese released an autobiographical biopic, God the Father, in 2014, which was released in theaters across 20 cities in the United States.[55][56] The film uses a combination of stock footage, animated recreations, as well as interviews to tell his life story.[55] It cites religion as the motivation for Franzese changing his life.[26]

In March 2015, he appeared in a two-part documentary on the American Mafia with television presenter and reporter Trevor McDonald. He spoke about his wealth, but also the impact that being a member of the Colombo crime family had on his family, and that was why he turned away from organized crime.[57][58][59]

In 2017, he played a reformed mobster in the Kevin Sorbo film Let There Be Light.[27]

Franzese hosted a stage musical, A Mob Story, at the Plaza Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. The show opened in October 2018 and was created and directed by Jeff Kutash.[60]

In 2019, Franzese became co-founder of a national franchise of pizza restaurants called "Slices Pizza".[61] Slices serves Sicilian-style square pizzas with ingredients sourced from Naples and Campania, with ovens from Venice. The franchise started in California, and included five branches across the country at its height.[62] In 2022, Franzese founded Franzese Wines, a line of Armenian wines.[63]

In July 2020, he appeared in the Netflix docuseries Fear City: New York vs The Mafia.[64]

In June 2020, Franzese started a YouTube channel.[65] On his channel he tells stories about his past life, makes interviews, and reviews mafia-related films, television shows and video games, and analyzes their accuracy.[61] His subscriber count exceeded 1.7 million in August 2025.[66]

Franzese appeared in the documentary series American Godfathers: The Five Families in 2024.[67]

Published works

[edit]

Franzese is the author of seven books:

  • Quitting the Mob (1992),
  • Blood Covenant (2003),[68]
  • The Good, the Bad and the Forgiven (2009),
  • I'll Make You an Offer You Can't Refuse (2011),[68]
  • From the Godfather to God the Father (2014),[26]
  • Blood Covenant: The Story of the "Mafia Prince" Who Publicly Quit the Mob and Lived (2018) and
  • Mafia Democracy (2022)

Personal life

[edit]

Franzese is a Christian. He has been married twice.[68] He lives in Newport Beach, California with his wife, Camille Garcia, and has seven children.[55] Franzese met his current wife in 1984, while shooting the film Knights of the City[8][49] in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. His wife, a Christian, also influenced him in his decision to leave the mob.[19]

In 2010, Franzese's brother John Franzese Jr. testified against their father Sonny Franzese in a racketeering case after wearing a wire during conversations with him. Michael described his brother as a "nobody in the mob life", and that his father "felt sick" that one of his sons had "betrayed him like this".[69] Sonny Franzese was sentenced to eight years in prison, and was released from prison in 2017 at the age of 100,[70] dying three years later.[71]

References

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Michael Franzese

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Michael Franzese (born May 27, 1951) is an American former organized crime figure who rose to the rank of caporegime in New York's Colombo crime family before disavowing the Mafia, serving federal prison sentences, and undergoing a religious conversion to evangelical Christianity that redirected his life toward authorship, public speaking, and anti-crime advocacy. As the son of Colombo underboss John "Sonny" Franzese, he orchestrated a prolific gasoline tax evasion racket spanning multiple states, which he claims generated revenues exceeding $10 million per week at its peak, establishing him as one of the wealthiest and most influential mob captains of his era. Indicted on racketeering and tax charges, Franzese pleaded guilty in 1986 and received a 10-year sentence, of which he served approximately eight years including time for parole violations; during incarceration, exposure to the Bible prompted his born-again experience, after which he authored memoirs like Blood Covenant detailing his exit from the underworld and has since produced films and delivered thousands of talks emphasizing moral redemption over criminal enterprise.

Early Life and Family Background

Birth and Upbringing

Michael Franzese was born on May 27, 1951, in the borough of , to Cristina Capobianco-Franzese and John "Sonny" Franzese, a longtime of the . His mother was married to at the time of his birth, leading Franzese to initially believe Grillo was his biological father and that Sonny had adopted him after the divorce; however, shortly before her death in 2012, Capobianco-Franzese informed him that Sonny was his biological father, resulting from an affair during her marriage to Grillo. Franzese used the surname Grillo until age 18. Raised in a household steeped in organized crime, Franzese grew up amid the Colombo family's operations in Brooklyn, where his father's reputation as a feared enforcer shaped family dynamics and social circles. Sonny Franzese fathered eight children in total, including Franzese and his brother John Franzese Jr., exposing the family to frequent legal scrutiny and internal mafia conflicts from an early age. The family later relocated to Long Island, New York, but the pervasive influence of criminal enterprises persisted, with Franzese later recalling a childhood normalized by his father's unapologetic involvement in extortion, loansharking, and violence. Despite this environment, young Franzese initially pursued education outside the family's illicit activities, enrolling in a pre-med program before dropping out in his twenties.

Influence of Father Sonny Franzese

John "Sonny" Franzese, a from 1963 to 1967 whose criminal career spanned over eight decades beginning in the 1930s, profoundly shaped his son Michael's attitudes toward through direct exposure and familial expectations. Michael, born May 27, 1951, in , New York, idolized his father as a heroic figure despite Sonny's frequent incarcerations, including a 50-year sentence imposed in 1967 for and conspiracy. This environment instilled in Michael an early admiration for the principles of , , and resilience that Sonny embodied in "the life," even as Sonny himself acknowledged the mafia's destructive nature but remained committed to it. Initially, Michael pursued a legitimate path, studying pre-med at and excelling as a athlete, with his parents encouraging a career away from crime, such as becoming a doctor. However, Sonny's prolonged imprisonment disrupted family finances, prompting Michael to drop out and assume oversight of his father's rackets, including loansharking and operations, to provide for his mother and siblings. This transition, driven by filial duty, marked Michael's indoctrination into the family, where Sonny's reputation afforded him immediate credibility and protection among associates. Sonny's tutelage extended to practical mob ethos, teaching Michael the importance of (), trust-building, and strategic delegation—lessons Michael later credited for his rapid ascent to . Even during periods of estrangement, such as after Michael's cooperation with authorities, which Sonny publicly disavowed, the foundational influence persisted in Michael's self-reported derived from his father's example. By the late , Sonny and boss actively groomed Michael for underboss or boss roles, leveraging his inherited position to position him as a potential successor amid power struggles.

Entry into Organized Crime

Initial Involvement with Colombo Family

Michael Franzese, born in 1951 as the son of Colombo crime family John "Sonny" Franzese, initially pursued pre-medical studies but abandoned them in his early twenties, opting instead to enter to support his father during his lengthy imprisonment for a 1967 conviction. Convinced of his father's innocence in prior charges, Franzese began associating with the family as a recruit, leveraging his familial ties to gain entry despite lacking prior street-level experience in rackets. On October 31, 1975—Halloween night—Franzese, then 24 years old, was formally inducted as a "made man" in the family during a ceremonial blood , where he pricked his finger, mixed his blood with others, and swore , the binding members to secrecy under penalty of death. This initiation marked his transition from associate to full soldier (), positioning him to operate legitimate fronts and emerging illegal schemes under the family's hierarchy, initially focused on low-level enforcement and networking rather than large-scale enterprises. Early in his tenure, Franzese contributed to family-aligned public efforts, such as supporting protests against the stigmatization of organized by boss prior to his 1971 shooting, which helped build his standing within the organization. His rapid elevation reflected the influence of his father's reputation as a prolific earner and enforcer, though Franzese himself started without a record of violence, relying on inherited connections to navigate internal dynamics amid the Colombo family's ongoing internal conflicts.

Rise to Caporegime

Franzese entered the Colombo crime family as a "made man" on Halloween night, October 31, 1975, at the age of 24, pledging loyalty through a traditional blood oath ceremony. Initially serving as a soldier under his father, underboss John "Sonny" Franzese, he handled low-level rackets such as loansharking and extortion, drawing on family connections while his father remained imprisoned until parole in March 1978 after serving over a decade for a 1967 bank robbery conviction. Despite Sonny Franzese's initial reluctance toward his son's involvement—preferring he pursue legitimate paths like medicine—Michael's persistence and demonstrated capability positioned him to assume operational control of the crew amid ongoing family turbulence, including internal Colombo wars and federal scrutiny. With Sonny's quickly revoked in the early 1980s due to associations with known criminals, Michael effectively managed the Franzese crew, expanding into high-profit ventures that underscored his entrepreneurial approach within . He orchestrated a scheme starting around 1980, involving shell companies to divert untaxed fuel across state lines, reportedly generating $5 to $8 million weekly in illicit revenue by the mid-1980s through partnerships with associates in New York and . This operation, which evaded millions in state taxes via fraudulent paperwork and bribes, elevated the crew's earnings far beyond traditional mob rackets, attracting attention from both family leadership and while minimizing direct violence in favor of white-collar tactics. The scale of these enterprises and Franzese's ability to deliver consistent profits led to his promotion to , or captain, in October 1980, granting him authority over a larger group of soldiers and independent rackets. By 1986, at age 35, he was recognized as one of the 's top earners, ranking 18th on Fortune magazine's list of the "Fifty Most Wealthy and Powerful Mafia Bosses" with estimated annual income exceeding $300 million, though such figures reflect self-reported or prosecutorial assessments amid biased institutional narratives on mob finances. His ascent highlighted a shift toward sophisticated over brute force, though it drew federal indictments that later dismantled the operations.

Criminal Enterprises

Gasoline Tax Evasion Scheme

Michael Franzese, serving as a in the , orchestrated a sophisticated operation in the early to mid-1980s, spanning New York, , , and . The scheme capitalized on interstate variations in fuel taxes and exemptions, with associates purchasing large volumes of untaxed or low-taxed and —often from New Jersey refineries—then reselling it in higher-tax jurisdictions without remitting the collected state levies. Shell companies, numbering up to 18, were rapidly formed and dissolved to handle wholesale transactions, generating fake invoices and layered "sales" that mimicked legitimate interstate commerce while pocketing taxes paid by end retailers. Known as a "daisy chain" fraud, the mechanism overwhelmed tax auditors with convoluted paperwork, delaying detection as fuel was stored at depots like the Oceanside and distributed without tax payments. Associates such as Michael Markowitz, linked directly to Franzese, imported millions of gallons from for untaxed sale in New York, evading state taxes through this . In , under the umbrella of wholesale firms, the group underreported or omitted sales to retailers, circumventing tax reporting requirements. The operation's speed—forming companies to collect taxes from buyers but dissolving before remittance deadlines—allowed evasion on a massive scale, with one associate testifying that Franzese personally netted $1 million weekly. The enterprise defrauded alone of $40 million in taxes, as uncovered in the December 1985 "Operation Tiger Tail" probe, which indicted Franzese and 25 others on 177 counts of and theft of state funds. He pleaded guilty to 65 counts in March 1986, agreeing to $3 million in restitution plus $10,000 for investigation costs. Overall, the scheme's illicit profits led to Franzese forfeiting $14.7 million in his federal plea, amid estimates of weekly hauls reaching $8–10 million for the Colombo family, though such figures derive largely from participant accounts and lack independent audit verification.

Entertainment and Sports Management Ventures

Franzese expanded his criminal operations into entertainment by producing the 1986 film , a low-budget action-drama centered on street gangs aspiring to success in and , featuring actors such as and . The production was financed through his company, Miami Gold, which served as a for channeling funds amid his gasoline activities. The movie, directed by Dominic Orlando, included musical performances and rival conflicts, reflecting urban of the era, though it received mixed reviews and limited commercial success. In sports management, Franzese associated with agents Norby Walters and Lloyd Bloom, providing them with $50,000 in startup capital in 1984 to launch World Sports and Entertainment, a firm that aggressively recruited college athletes, including those still eligible under NCAA rules. This partnership drew federal scrutiny, culminating in the agents' 1988 on and charges, with allegations of facilitating illegal payments and to secure clients for professional leagues like the . Franzese later testified that his involvement was not directly criminal but acknowledged the agents' operations bordered on through undisclosed payments to athletes. Franzese also explored boxing promotions, meeting with prominent promoter in 1983—arranged by —to discuss a potential , but he ultimately declined participation after detecting irregularities suggestive of an FBI involving undercover agents posing as investors. These sports-related endeavors, like his entertainment efforts, aligned with broader family interests in leveraging legitimate fronts for influence and revenue, often intertwined with and game-fixing schemes that generated significant illicit profits.

Reported Scale of Operations and Earnings

Franzese's gasoline tax evasion scheme, which formed the core of his criminal operations from the late 1970s through the mid-1980s, reportedly generated $5 million to $8 million per week at its peak. The operation spanned multiple states, including New York, , , and , utilizing a network of shell companies to exploit disparities in state fuel taxes by importing untaxed or low-tax and reselling it without paying destination taxes. A federal report from the era described Franzese's revenue generation for the as the highest achieved by any single organizer since . According to Franzese's accounts, the scheme involved up to 18 affiliated companies and produced profits through rapid turnover, with daily volumes allowing evasion of taxes on millions of gallons of fuel weekly. He claimed personal earnings reached tens of millions annually after allocating shares to associates like partner Benjamin "Lefty" Iorizzo and the , though officials estimated his monthly take at around $1.26 million in earlier phases of the partnership. Revenue authorities assessed the total facilitated by his network at approximately $250 million. Supplementary ventures, such as investments in entertainment production and sports-related enterprises, contributed additional income but were secondary to the fuel fraud, with Franzese reporting overall weekly hauls occasionally exceeding $8 million across activities. These figures, largely derived from Franzese's post-conviction testimonies and interviews, lack comprehensive independent audits due to the clandestine nature of the operations, though indictments in 1983 and 1985 corroborated the scheme's multimillion-dollar scale through evidence of structured corporate fronts and interstate shipments.

Key Indictments and Trials

In April 1985, Franzese was acquitted of federal racketeering and loansharking charges in New York stemming from alleged organized crime activities in the entertainment industry. On December 19, 1985, Franzese was indicted in federal court on racketeering conspiracy charges under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), accused of masterminding a scheme that defrauded banks, finance companies, and legitimate businesses by bankrupting two Long Island car dealerships through fraudulent loans and related tax evasion. This indictment was part of broader probes into Mafia-linked fraud, including gasoline tax evasion operations across multiple states, where Franzese was alleged to have orchestrated the diversion of untaxed fuel, generating millions in illicit profits for the Colombo crime family. Facing the charges, Franzese pleaded guilty on March 21, 1986, to one count of racketeering conspiracy and one count of tax conspiracy related to the gasoline bootlegging enterprise, which involved selling untaxed gas in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania, evading over $290,000 in state taxes weekly at its peak. On July 1, 1986, U.S. District Judge Eugene Nickerson sentenced him to 10 years in prison, a $25,000 fine, five years of probation, and restitution exceeding $14.7 million to the government, though Franzese remained free on bail pending appeal. Franzese's cooperation in related cases, including testifying against music promoter Norby Walters in a 1986-1987 trial involving athlete tampering and , contributed to his early release after serving approximately 3.5 years, paroled in 1989. In November 1991, he was rearrested in for violating parole terms from the 1986 conviction, including unauthorized travel and associations; on December 27, 1991, he received an additional four-year sentence for the violation.

Prison Term and Conditions

In March 1986, Franzese pleaded guilty to one count of and one count of stemming from his involvement in a multimillion-dollar scheme, resulting in a 10-year sentence. He began serving his term at the low-security Federal Prison Camp in , where he remained for approximately three years before being granted in 1989. Franzese's parole was revoked in 1991 following violations of terms, including associations prohibited under his release conditions, leading to an additional four-year sentence imposed on , 1991. He served this extended time, including periods at the Federal Correctional Institution at in , and was ultimately released in 1994 after approximately seven years total incarceration across both terms. Prison conditions for Franzese included 29 months in solitary confinement during his incarceration, a measure reportedly tied to security concerns given his organized crime background. He later attributed his ability to manage daily prison interactions to advice from his father, emphasizing basic courtesies such as "please," "thank you," and "excuse me" to maintain relations with guards and inmates. Federal facilities like Boron and Terminal Island, both in California, operated under Bureau of Prisons standards for medium- and low-security inmates, affording structured routines but with restrictions on movement and privileges for those under disciplinary review.

Reformation and Exit from the Mob

Decision to Quit

Franzese began contemplating departure from the in the mid-1980s amid escalating federal scrutiny of his gasoline tax evasion operations and personal life shifts. His relationship with Camille Garcia, a devout Christian whom he met during the production of the 1986 film in , played a pivotal role; Garcia's and emphasis on led Franzese to prioritize a legitimate future over continued mob loyalty, culminating in their marriage. Facing a 1985 RICO indictment alleging and fraud generating hundreds of millions in illicit profits, Franzese deviated from standard protocol by pleading guilty in 1986 to charges, accepting a 10-year sentence rather than contesting the case through denial or appeals funded by the family. This decision, which Franzese later described as a deliberate break from the "life," was influenced by his father's own 1986 imprisonment for —Sonny Franzese's demotion and incarceration highlighted the organization's unreliability and the personal toll of allegiance. By 1992, while still incarcerated, Franzese formalized his exit from La Cosa Nostra through an unprecedented agreement with authorities, renouncing all Mafia ties and consenting to government oversight of his future earnings to prevent reversion to crime, without entering or providing testimony against associates. This arrangement, which allowed him to retain some assets while forfeiting others, underscored his intent to disengage permanently, a rarity for high-ranking members who typically faced death or defection via cooperation. Franzese's exit represents one of the rare peaceful departures from the Mafia, as he walked away in the late 1980s and early 1990s following imprisonment, influenced by family and faith, and has since lived publicly for decades, speaking and writing about his past without apparent retaliation. Franzese attributed survival to timing—Colombo family internal wars in the early distracted potential enforcers—and his non-cooperative stance, preserving a that mitigated retaliation risks.

Religious Conversion in Prison

During his second federal prison term, which began after a parole violation in 1991 and included nearly three years in at the Metropolitan Detention Center in , Franzese experienced a profound religious transformation. Sentenced to an additional four years for the violation—following an initial 10-year term from which he had been d after about four years—Franzese faced isolation that prompted introspection amid ongoing legal pressures from RICO violations and mob obligations. The catalyst occurred shortly after his arrival, when a Christian correctional passed a through the cell's food slot on his first night. With limited distractions in solitary, Franzese immersed himself in the text, reading it "inside and out" and systematically challenging its claims, including God's existence, while his wife supplied additional religious books. This period of study, influenced by his wife's preexisting Christian faith and support from her church community—which had married them and sent materials during his incarceration—culminated in his acceptance of Jesus Christ as Savior, marking his identification as a born-again Christian. The conversion reshaped Franzese's worldview, leading him to reject the mafia's code of loyalty in favor of accountability to and family, a shift he credits with enabling his full exit from upon in 1994. He later described the experience as transformative, emphasizing internal change through over external circumstances, though he has faced from former associates who viewed it as a potential survival tactic amid threats.

Post-Prison Professional Activities

Motivational Speaking and Tours

Following his release from on November 7, 1994, Michael Franzese transitioned into motivational speaking, leveraging his background as a former caporegime to deliver keynotes on personal transformation, , and the consequences of criminal enterprise. His presentations typically recount his rise in , decision to exit the , and subsequent , framing these as cautionary tales for audiences on , resilience, and moral choices. Franzese has emphasized topics including the dangers of gambling addiction, business and prevention, and the mechanics of criminal operations, often tailored for corporate, educational, and faith-based groups. Franzese's speaking engagements have spanned over 350 college campuses across the , alongside corporate events, industry conferences, and international appearances. Booking agencies report his fee range as approximately $20,000 to $50,000 per event, depending on format, location, and audience size, with virtual options available at similar rates. These fees reflect demand for his firsthand narratives, though actual costs can vary based on negotiation and event specifics as listed by multiple talent agencies. In addition to private keynotes, Franzese conducts public tours featuring live stage presentations of his life story, marketed as "Out of the Mob and Alive" or similar formats, with ticketed events drawing audiences for extended storytelling sessions. These tours have included stops in U.S. cities like Columbus, Mississippi (August 7, with free admission for a men's event focused on his testimony), and international venues such as Melbourne, Australia, for multi-night stage shows, as well as UK cities including London, Manchester, and Glasgow. Ticket platforms list ongoing 2025 dates for such performances, often priced accessibly to maximize attendance for inspirational content. His tour activities underscore a focus on direct audience engagement, contrasting with his prior secretive criminal operations by promoting transparency and redemption publicly.

Authorship and Publications

Michael Franzese began his writing career with Quitting the Mob: How the "Yuppie Don" Left the and Lived to Tell His Story, co-authored with Dary Matera and published in 1991, which details his experiences in the and the process of exiting while evading retaliation. In 2003, he released Blood Covenant: The Michael Franzese Story, an autobiographical account emphasizing his rise as a , criminal operations, decision to defect, and subsequent Christian conversion in prison. Franzese's later works extend to advice and commentary on . I'll Make You an Offer You Can't Refuse: Insider Tips from a Former Mob Boss, published in 2009, applies lessons from his schemes and other rackets to legitimate entrepreneurial strategies, such as and . His 2014 book From to : The Michael Franzese Story focuses on his religious transformation and ministry, framing his post-mob life through a biblical lens. In 2022, Franzese published Mafia Democracy: How Our Republic Became a Mob Racket, arguing parallels between Mafia tactics and perceived systemic in American politics, including influence peddling and institutional decay. Several of his books, including Blood Covenant and Mafia Democracy, have been adapted into audiobooks narrated by Franzese himself, extending their reach through platforms like Audible.

Business Endeavors Including Wine Brand

Following his release from in 1994, Franzese pursued legitimate commercial activities, leveraging his public profile as a reformed former figure to build enterprises centered on and consumer products. His primary business venture has been Franzese Wine, established in 2022 in partnership with Armenian winery entrepreneur Samvel Hakobyan, whose family has produced wine for generations. The company imports and distributes premium wines sourced from vineyards in the foothills of in , a region claimed to host the world's oldest traditions dating back over 6,000 years. Franzese Wine operates as a and wholesale brand, emphasizing indigenous Armenian varietals such as Areni Noir for reds and Voskehat for whites, produced using modern techniques on volcanic soils. The portfolio includes dry reds like and Areni, dry whites, and pomegranate-infused options, with bottle prices ranging from $14.95 to $17.95 for 750ml sizes. In response to market demand, the company expanded in to include a line of non-alcoholic wines, available in select stores by mid-2025. Distribution has grown rapidly, securing a deal with Foods to cover 41 U.S. states, alongside online sales and retail partnerships. The brand positions itself as a enterprise intertwined with Franzese's narrative of redemption, wines as symbols of transformation from "darkness to light" while donating proceeds to charities like the Child Liberation Foundation. Franzese has sought external investment through platforms like Wefunder, framing the company as a mission-driven operation rather than a traditional , with ambitions for global expansion initiated via outreach in in 2022. Endorsements from figures such as chef highlight its appeal in premium markets, though the venture relies heavily on Franzese's notoriety for differentiation in a competitive industry. No other major commercial entities owned or operated by Franzese post-incarceration have been publicly detailed beyond this wine import business.

Media Presence and Public Engagements

YouTube Channel and Online Influence

Franzese launched his YouTube channel in June 2020, initially sharing personal anecdotes from his time as a caporegime in the Colombo crime family alongside motivational and faith-based content. By October 2025, the channel had amassed approximately 1.78 million subscribers, over 286 million total views, and more than 1,000 videos uploaded. Growth accelerated after reaching 1 million subscribers in 2023, qualifying for YouTube's Gold Creator Award, which recognizes channels surpassing that threshold. The channel's content emphasizes "The Mob Files" series, featuring in-depth analyses of historical gangsters, operational tactics, and media depictions of , drawn from Franzese's firsthand knowledge. Videos also include interviews with former associates, business strategy breakdowns adapted from principles, and discussions on personal redemption through , often garnering hundreds of thousands of views per upload. This format has positioned the channel as an educational resource on underworld mechanics while promoting Franzese's post-mob ventures, such as his wine brand and speaking engagements. Beyond , Franzese's online presence extends to , with over 311,000 followers where he posts reels on leadership lessons and family life, and X (formerly ), maintaining around 109,000 followers for real-time commentary on current events through a reformed lens. These platforms amplify his influence, driving traffic to merchandise, exclusive communities like Mob VIP for persuasion and entrepreneurship tips, and live events, effectively translating his criminal-era networking skills into digital audience building.

Documentaries and Interviews

(2014), directed by Simon Fellows, is a that details Franzese's tenure as a in the during the 1980s and 1990s, his father's influence as John "Sonny" Franzese, and his eventual spiritual conversion, utilizing personal interviews, news footage, and reenactments. The film emphasizes themes of loyalty, betrayal, and redemption, portraying Franzese's shift from to motivational speaking and faith-based advocacy. The Definitive Guide to the Mob (2013), a two-hour Lionsgate special, examines the history and operations of the , with Franzese providing commentary as a former family captain on induction rituals, revenue schemes like his gasoline bootlegging operation, and internal dynamics. Originally premiered on ReelzChannel, the production draws on Franzese's firsthand accounts to illustrate mob structure beyond cinematic depictions. Franzese has featured in extensive interviews across broadcast and digital platforms, often recounting his rise to generating $5–8 million weekly in untaxed sales, his prison-term religious awakening, and critiques of loyalty codes. On Club Random with on February 16, 2025, he discussed his role, decision to quit the mob, and comparisons between hierarchies and modern institutions. In an April 9, 2025, appearance with Pastor , Franzese elaborated on his Christian conversion during incarceration and its impact on family reconciliation. Additional 2025 interviews include sessions with Pastor Kendall Harness in June, focusing on his ranking among figures and post-mob , and guest spots on and The Benny Show, where he addressed gambling scandals and historical mob enforcement tactics. Earlier media engagements, such as on , highlighted his evasion of federal indictments and survival of a death sentence. These appearances consistently attribute his narrative to verifiable events, including multiple trials and eight years imprisoned.

Recent Tours and Events (2020s)

In the early , Franzese's live tours were constrained by the , leading to a emphasis on virtual speaking and online content rather than extensive in-person events. By summer 2022, he launched "The Real Goodfella" tour, featuring sessions and Q&A on his past and reformation, with stops in Birmingham, , and . In December 2023, Franzese hosted the Mob Experience, a specialized four-day trip from December 8 to 11, where participants explored Havana's mob history alongside him, including visits tied to figures like . The 2024 UK tour expanded on this format, drawing crowds for evenings of anecdotes from his family days; key dates included on March 15, on April 1 (nearly sold out), on April 2, Carlisle Racecourse on April 2, and another appearance on May 13 at Boisdale of . In 2025, Franzese conducted an Australian tour after visa approvals and rescheduling from April to July due to technical delays; events occurred in (July 6-7) and (July 9-10), marketed as intimate evenings recounting his rise to and exit from .

Controversies, Criticisms, and Reception

Skepticism Regarding Earnings and Role

Critics have questioned the veracity of Michael Franzese's claims about generating up to $8 million per week—or approximately $290 million annually—from his operations in the early , arguing that such figures appear inflated relative to documented evidence from legal proceedings. An associate later testified in court that Franzese personally received about $1 million per week at the peak of the scheme, a substantially lower amount than Franzese's self-reported totals. In his 1986 plea deal for , , and charges, Franzese agreed to a 10-year sentence and $14.7 million in restitution and forfeiture, including initial asset seizures valued at $4.8 million—sums that, while indicating significant illicit gains, fall far short of the hundreds of millions he later described in interviews and . Federal authorities and prosecutors emphasized the scheme's complexity, involving shell companies to evade taxes across multiple states, but did not corroborate the highest earnings levels Franzese cited, leading some analysts to view his accounts as promotional exaggerations tied to his post-prison speaking career. Skepticism extends to Franzese's depiction of his role within the , where he served as a (captain). Mafia historians and enthusiasts have argued that his influence derived more from his father Sonny Franzese's longstanding status than independent authority, positioning him as a white-collar operator focused on rather than traditional or . His operations, including partnerships with non-Italian figures like Russian associates in the gas scheme, deviated from core protocols, prompting doubts about his status as a "made" member wielding typical mob power. Reviews of his memoirs, such as Quitting the Mob (), have highlighted narrative inconsistencies and self-aggrandizement, with commentators adding layers of doubt to his insider portrayals absent broader corroboration from FBI files or cooperating witnesses. Online discussions among researchers further criticize his credibility, noting his departure from the coincided with his father's demotion, suggesting personal resentment over loyalty as a motivating factor in his public disclosures.

Debates on Credibility Among Mafia Historians

Mafia historians and analysts have expressed reservations about Michael Franzese's accounts of his criminal activities, particularly regarding the scale of his gasoline scheme and his status within the . While Franzese has claimed that his operations generated up to $8 million weekly in gross revenue by the mid-1980s, with the family netting $200–300 million overall, these figures rely primarily on his self-reported narratives in and interviews, lacking independent corroboration from federal records or contemporary investigations. In contrast, his 1986 conviction resulted in a court-ordered restitution of $14 million, reflecting documented losses rather than the hundreds of millions he describes. Critics, including reviewers of , point to inconsistencies in Franzese's retellings, such as omissions of key partners like and discrepancies in timelines that align more with his post-prison branding than prosecutorial evidence. probes into the scheme, which indicted around 60 individuals including associates like Sheldon , emphasized broader networks rather than Franzese as the singular architect, suggesting his portrayal of dominance may overstate his operational control. Selwyn Raab's (2005) acknowledges the scam's role in mafia finances but critiques timelines in related events, indirectly highlighting reliance on potentially unreliable insider testimonies like Franzese's over verified data. These debates underscore a broader caution among historians toward ex-mobsters who monetize their stories through speaking and media, where embellishment serves narrative appeal over empirical precision. Analysts note that while Franzese's involvement in tax fraud—spanning shell companies and daisy-chain evasions evading 20 cents per gallon—was real and profitable, claims positioning him as the mafia's top earner since invite scrutiny, as federal estimates of total skimmed taxes in connected operations hovered in the tens of millions rather than billions. Such prioritizes documents, cross-verifications, and economic analyses over uncorroborated personal anecdotes.

Comparisons to Politics and Moral Claims

Franzese has frequently compared the operational dynamics of the Mafia to those of contemporary politics and government, positing that both involve hierarchical power structures, loyalty enforcement, and coercive influence tactics. In a 2024 discussion, he described the U.S. government as functioning akin to a mafia organization, emphasizing unchecked expansion of control and profit motives masked as public service. He elaborated on these parallels during appearances on platforms like the Club Random podcast with Bill Maher in February 2025, where he contrasted the Mafia's internal code of conduct—such as omertà and selective violence—with what he views as the more pervasive, unaccountable corruption in political maneuvering. These assertions frame government entities as exhibiting "protection racket" behaviors similar to organized crime, where compliance is extracted under threat of penalty, though he acknowledges the Mafia's activities were explicitly illicit while political equivalents operate under legal veneer. In moral terms, Franzese has claimed that mobsters often adhere to a stricter than politicians, arguing in a November 2024 event alongside that the Mafia's prohibitions on unnecessary harm or of associates reflect greater than the duplicity he perceives in electoral . This perspective underpins his book Mafia Democracy: How Our Republic Became a Mob Racket (2022), in which he contends that American political institutions have devolved into racketeering enterprises, prioritizing self-enrichment over constituent welfare, drawing from his Colombo family experiences of gas-tax evasion schemes and . He supports these moral distinctions by citing personal observations of Mafia "honor" in limiting civilian involvement, contrasting it with political scandals involving public fund misuse, though he qualifies that neither system is virtuous absent redemption. Critics have challenged these comparisons as oversimplifications or self-serving narratives, with online discussions in August 2023 accusing Franzese of leveraging his background for political , portraying him as a propagandist who selectively invokes "honor" to critique opponents while downplaying organized crime's inherent immorality. His endorsement of , articulated in August 2024 interviews as rooted in perceived and stance, has fueled perceptions of partisan bias in his moral framework, where he praises Trump's outsider ethos as reminiscent of resilience against betrayal. Such views invite scrutiny, as Franzese's claims of superior ethics overlook documented intra-family and victim harms, suggesting his analogies serve motivational speaking themes of personal reform over rigorous political analysis.

Personal Life and Beliefs

Family and Relationships

Michael Franzese was born on May 28, 1951, as the son of John "Sonny" Franzese, a longtime and in the who was involved in numerous activities spanning decades. Although some accounts suggest Sonny Franzese adopted Michael from a prior relationship of his mother Tina, Franzese has maintained that Sonny was his biological father and raised him within the family's milieu. Franzese's upbringing was marked by his father's repeated incarcerations, including a 50-year sentence for in 1967, which influenced Michael's early immersion in criminal enterprises. Franzese has at least one brother, , who in 2010 wore a wire for federal authorities and testified against their father in a case, leading to Sonny's conviction on charges; this strained family ties, with Franzese later reconciling somewhat with his brother despite the betrayal. Other relatives, including extended family members like uncle Carmine "Tutti" Franzese, maintained connections, though details on additional siblings remain limited in . In 1985, shortly after his acquittal on federal RICO charges on May 8, Franzese married Camille "Cammy" Garcia on May 9 in a , followed by a church ; Garcia, the eldest of seven children from a middle-class family in , with a father described as politically radical, provided stability amid Franzese's legal battles and eventual exit from the mob. The couple, who co-authored a book detailing how their relationship and shared Christian faith endured mob-related threats including death contracts on Franzese, have four children together. Franzese is the father of seven children overall, including three from prior relationships—such as oldest son John and daughters and Maria—and has at least two grandchildren. The family has publicly confronted the impacts of his past, as seen in videos where his daughters discuss growing up with a former mobster father.

Faith, Philanthropy, and Worldview

Franzese experienced a profound during his incarceration in the late , transitioning from a life immersed in to embracing after encountering the , which he credited with providing unexpected joy and purpose amid isolation. This born-again experience, described by Franzese as recognizing as his risen Savior, prompted him to renounce the upon release and dedicate his life to sharing testimonies of transformation. Central to his post-mob endeavors is Michael Franzese Ministries, a nonprofit established exclusively for religious and charitable aims, focusing on to at-risk youth through motivational speaking, events, and resources aimed at deterring criminal paths via personal redemption narratives. Franzese travels extensively to churches, prisons, and youth programs, delivering talks on , family values, and resilience in hardships, often drawing from his Colombo family background to illustrate moral turning points. His philanthropic efforts extend to collaborations, such as partnering Franzese Wine proceeds with organizations combating exploitation, reflecting a commitment to practical aid beyond . Franzese's centers on unyielding Christian conviction, asserting that authentic enables escape from entrenched and societal decay, irrespective of one's past, while rejecting in favor of biblical absolutes on right and wrong. He has publicly warned that God will not be mocked, linking instances of mockery—such as at award shows—to potential divine judgment, while emphasizing God's justice and mercy. Franzese maintains that God's intervention is universally accessible, not imposed but shared through lived example, critiquing secular moral frameworks as insufficient against human depravity evidenced by his own history of and violence. This perspective informs his advocacy for personal accountability and skepticism toward institutional redemption absent spiritual renewal, positioning as the causal mechanism for ethical reform over mere legal or social interventions.

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  106. https://www.amazon.com/Definitive-Guide-Mob-Season/dp/B0B6Q2ZDVG
  107. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IL_SzDAUpWk
  108. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9I2z2ZYyMmI
  109. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hSPmXUSgL4
  110. https://www.facebook.com/thatchurchcabot/videos/michael-franzese-in-exclusive-interviews-with-pastor-kendall-harness/695586043446381/
  111. https://www.podchaser.com/creators/michael-franzese-107a9EP7dn/appearances
  112. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DAWFrSnv_A
  113. https://www.aaespeakers.com/keynote-speakers/michael-franzese
  114. https://www.facebook.com/OfficialMFTour/
  115. https://www.ecctrips.com/2023
  116. https://www.ecctrips.com/mob
  117. https://www.facebook.com/events/london-england-united-kingdom/ex-mafia-capo-michael-franzese-2024-uk-tour-tickets-on-eventbrite/889639522535352/
  118. https://www.instagram.com/shaunattwood/p/C3C13gwNbAZ/?hl=am-et
  119. https://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/23917040.former-mob-boss-michael-franzese-bringing-show-carlisle-racecourse/
  120. https://www.ents24.com/uk/tour-dates/michael-franzese
  121. https://prwire.com.au/pr/121721/new-dates-announced-for-former-mob-boss-michael-franzese-tour
  122. https://www.facebook.com/hollywoodevents/posts/we-regret-to-inform-you-that-michael-franzese-australian-tour-for-sydney-6th-7th/1090988316407003/
  123. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLoXjcLydUm/?hl=en
  124. https://www.celebritynetworth.com/richest-businessmen/richest-criminals/michael-franzese-net-worth/
  125. https://fortune.com/article/the-50-biggest-mafia-bosses/
  126. https://www.quora.com/How-seriously-is-Michael-Franzese-taken-by-historians-of-the-American-Mafia-Is-he-considered-a-trustworthy-primary-source
  127. https://www.reddit.com/r/Mafia/comments/1at7rxl/did_michael_franzese_have_to_give_up_all_the/
  128. https://mafiabookreviews.com/2022/01/08/mafiagastaxscheme/
  129. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQDrkOWnB9w
  130. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/michael-franzese-club-random/id1613459129?i=1000692840022
  131. https://www.facebook.com/clubrandompodcast/posts/michael-franzese-and-bill-maher-debate-wealth-in-politics/626999436738787/
  132. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pg-j1Z2ggn0
  133. https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2022/aug/8/book-review-mafia-democracy-how-our-republic-becam/
  134. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTFdGc6Of8s
  135. https://www.facebook.com/SteveBartlettShow/posts/former-mafia-boss-michael-franzese-reveals-why-he-supports-donald-trump/1056566735852202/
  136. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slj44hbN7ag
  137. https://www.facebook.com/groups/theamericanmafia/posts/3237147753254097/
  138. https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2022/06/john-franzese-jr-flipped-on-one-of-historys-most-notorious-mobsters
  139. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REmWgnSTbCA
  140. https://mafiabookreviews.com/2022/04/13/sonnyfranzesebookreview/
  141. https://www.instagram.com/p/CsCO_4HPrQ2/
  142. https://www.bookreporter.com/reviews/this-thing-of-ours-how-faith-saved-my-mafia-marriage
  143. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c48B2MYY8d0
  144. https://www.truthnetwork.com/show/a-new-beginning-greg-laurie/85129/
  145. https://raptinterviews.com/features/michael-franzese
  146. https://www.guidestar.org/profile/46-0654743
  147. https://catholicspeakers.com/profiles/michael-franzese
  148. http://outreach.com/events/christian-speakers/Michael-Franzese.aspx
  149. https://www.instagram.com/p/DO3yw56Cd4Y/
  150. https://x.com/MichaelFranzese/status/1877775967957246211
  151. https://chinachristiandaily.com/news/category/1970-01-01/michael-franzese--talks-about-former-mob-life--conversion-and-ministry-_1889
  152. https://cbn.com/news/us/ex-mob-boss-michael-franzese-gets-born-again-preaches-about-jesus-there-heaven-and-there
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