Michael Franzese
👤 PersonAppearances Over Time
Podcast Appearances
You were in the Catholic Church. I grew up a Catholic. I was even an altar boy. But for some reason, for me, Catholicism was like a subject in school. I didn't get into it. Yeah, it was just procedure. And when I watched her and observed her, she was serious about her faith. Normal, you know, 19, 20-year-old, but different. And she was serious.
You were in the Catholic Church. I grew up a Catholic. I was even an altar boy. But for some reason, for me, Catholicism was like a subject in school. I didn't get into it. Yeah, it was just procedure. And when I watched her and observed her, she was serious about her faith. Normal, you know, 19, 20-year-old, but different. And she was serious.
So I respected that, and I respected her mom, who was very outspoken. But I wasn't buying into it. Did mom have concerns about this? to the point where she said, I'm praying for you every single day. She actually put my name in her prayer book, and she prayed for me every single day. But still, I said, I got to protect this girl. But it really didn't happen to me until I went into prison.
So I respected that, and I respected her mom, who was very outspoken. But I wasn't buying into it. Did mom have concerns about this? to the point where she said, I'm praying for you every single day. She actually put my name in her prayer book, and she prayed for me every single day. But still, I said, I got to protect this girl. But it really didn't happen to me until I went into prison.
And I took a 10-year prison sentence, and I had a big rest, $15 million restitution. I had a plane and a helicopter. I gave it all up to the government at that point to settle a case with them. And this was this whole gasoline tax case. It was a RICO case. And I did five years. Now, let me tell you this to give her a little bit more credit. We got married. She was 21. We got married in July of 85.
And I took a 10-year prison sentence, and I had a big rest, $15 million restitution. I had a plane and a helicopter. I gave it all up to the government at that point to settle a case with them. And this was this whole gasoline tax case. It was a RICO case. And I did five years. Now, let me tell you this to give her a little bit more credit. We got married. She was 21. We got married in July of 85.
I went off to prison in December.
I went off to prison in December.
No.
No.
It was under investigation.
It was under investigation.
Yes. And then they indicted me in December and never gave me bail. So for the time of my indictment, I stayed in prison. And she, you know, so I go off to prison in December and I did five years on the 10. I made parole after five years. I was home 13 months. Very difficult time. It became public that I walked away, and I had a lot of people upset with me back in New York.
Yes. And then they indicted me in December and never gave me bail. So for the time of my indictment, I stayed in prison. And she, you know, so I go off to prison in December and I did five years on the 10. I made parole after five years. I was home 13 months. Very difficult time. It became public that I walked away, and I had a lot of people upset with me back in New York.
Yeah. Life Magazine wrote a news story and Vanity Fair.
Yeah. Life Magazine wrote a news story and Vanity Fair.
I had a contract on my life, and the feds had come into prison and says, your boss at that time put a contract to you. It's all over the street. Our informants are telling us, and your father went along with it. Now, I want to be clear on that, too, because... Would my dad have ever pulled the trigger on me? No, I don't believe so.
I had a contract on my life, and the feds had come into prison and says, your boss at that time put a contract to you. It's all over the street. Our informants are telling us, and your father went along with it. Now, I want to be clear on that, too, because... Would my dad have ever pulled the trigger on me? No, I don't believe so.
But he had to go along because people thought I was going to become this major witness and start testifying against people. That was never my game plan. But everybody thought that because people just don't walk away. So I had a lot of trouble. I'm home for 13 months. It was a very hectic time in our life. And then I violate my parole. Yeah.
But he had to go along because people thought I was going to become this major witness and start testifying against people. That was never my game plan. But everybody thought that because people just don't walk away. So I had a lot of trouble. I'm home for 13 months. It was a very hectic time in our life. And then I violate my parole. Yeah.