Michael Franzese: podcast appearances and interviews

Michael Franzese is an American former mobster who was a caporegime in the Colombo crime family in New York City. He is the son of former underboss Sonny Franzese. Franzese initially enrolled in a pre-med program at Hofstra University but discontinued his studies to support his family following his father's sentencing to 50 years in prison for bank robbery in 1967. During the early 1980s, he was involved in orchestrating a scheme to defraud the federal government of gasoline taxes. By 1986, Fortune Magazine listed him as number 18 on its list of the Fifty Most Wealthy and Powerful Mafia Bosses, noting that at his peak, he purportedly generated up to eight million dollars weekly. He was sentenced to ten years in prison in 1986 on conspiracy charges, served time, and was released in 1989. After being rearrested in 1991 for a parole violation, he was ultimately released in 1994. Following his release, Franzese left the mob, retired to California, and transitioned into roles as a motivational speaker, commentator, and writer. He is known for his insights into organized crime and his experiences within the Colombo family.