Michael Franzese

And my dad was a very powerful figure in the Colombo family. He was the underboss, which is the second in command.

And my dad was a very powerful figure in the Colombo family. He was the underboss, which is the second in command.

I mean, there were five families throughout New York and we were based mostly in Brooklyn and then Long Island. And my dad was very, very high profile. He was throughout my childhood, always under investigation, major target of law enforcement. I always say he was kind of like the John Gotti of his day. And in and out of prison, constantly getting indicted.

I mean, there were five families throughout New York and we were based mostly in Brooklyn and then Long Island. And my dad was very, very high profile. He was throughout my childhood, always under investigation, major target of law enforcement. I always say he was kind of like the John Gotti of his day. And in and out of prison, constantly getting indicted.

He went on trial three times while I was younger, twice for grand larceny, once for murder. Very serious cases. And fortunately, he was acquitted each time on that. This was happening throughout my childhood. And then in 1966, my dad was indicted in federal court for masterminding a nationwide string of bank robberies. Convicted and sentenced to 50 years in prison.

He went on trial three times while I was younger, twice for grand larceny, once for murder. Very serious cases. And fortunately, he was acquitted each time on that. This was happening throughout my childhood. And then in 1966, my dad was indicted in federal court for masterminding a nationwide string of bank robberies. Convicted and sentenced to 50 years in prison.

He goes off to prison in 1970 to start that sentence. I was a pre-med student, Hofstra University. My dad wanted me to be a doctor, and that's where I was headed. And at the same time, Joe Colombo, who was the boss of the family, I knew him well. He kind of took me under his wing. I started meeting a lot of my dad's friends. They said, Mike, why are you going to school?

He goes off to prison in 1970 to start that sentence. I was a pre-med student, Hofstra University. My dad wanted me to be a doctor, and that's where I was headed. And at the same time, Joe Colombo, who was the boss of the family, I knew him well. He kind of took me under his wing. I started meeting a lot of my dad's friends. They said, Mike, why are you going to school?

If you don't help your father out, he's going to die in prison.

If you don't help your father out, he's going to die in prison.

You know, initially he wanted me to stay in school. He didn't want that life for me. But, you know, and I will say this, you know, later on we'll get into it. I went to prison for a crime that I was guilty of. And my dad had obviously, you know, he spent a lot of time in that life. He did bad things. But that particular crime that he was convicted of, my dad was innocent of.

You know, initially he wanted me to stay in school. He didn't want that life for me. But, you know, and I will say this, you know, later on we'll get into it. I went to prison for a crime that I was guilty of. And my dad had obviously, you know, he spent a lot of time in that life. He did bad things. But that particular crime that he was convicted of, my dad was innocent of.

And believe me, Dr. Drew, I'll take that to my grave. I investigated the case thoroughly. Every witness recanted their testimony. So I believed he was framed. And I wanted to help him out. And I knew I couldn't do that in school. So I met him in Leavenworth Penitentiary. I was in the visiting room with him and said, Dad, I'm not going to school. If I don't help you out, you're going to die in here.

And believe me, Dr. Drew, I'll take that to my grave. I investigated the case thoroughly. Every witness recanted their testimony. So I believed he was framed. And I wanted to help him out. And I knew I couldn't do that in school. So I met him in Leavenworth Penitentiary. I was in the visiting room with him and said, Dad, I'm not going to school. If I don't help you out, you're going to die in here.

And we had a discussion and that's when he kind of said, okay, but if you're going to be on the street, I want you to do it the right way. And he proposed me at that time for membership into the family.

And we had a discussion and that's when he kind of said, okay, but if you're going to be on the street, I want you to do it the right way. And he proposed me at that time for membership into the family.

Yeah, you know, you go through a period when you have to prove yourself. And for me, I was a recruit for about two and a half years. And I was 21 when he first promoted me. And then in 1975, I actually took an oath with five other gentlemen. And that's when I became a term as a made man.

Yeah, you know, you go through a period when you have to prove yourself. And for me, I was a recruit for about two and a half years. And I was 21 when he first promoted me. And then in 1975, I actually took an oath with five other gentlemen. And that's when I became a term as a made man.

Yeah, I had some success in that life. You know, I knew how to use the life to benefit me in business and went on to make a considerable amount of money at that time, both legally and illegally. I had, you know, a lot of things going. And in 1980, they made me a captain. Capital regime is the term.

Yeah, I had some success in that life. You know, I knew how to use the life to benefit me in business and went on to make a considerable amount of money at that time, both legally and illegally. I had, you know, a lot of things going. And in 1980, they made me a captain. Capital regime is the term.