John (Sonny) Franzese a long time Colombo crime family mobster had been set for an early release from prison a present from the federal jailers since December 27th but was derailed by pneumonia.
The legendary wiseguy was too sick to be released to a halfway house according to the Bureau of prisons. His official release date was June 25, 2017, but is now expected to be released sometime in February as he continues to recover. But the Cosa Nostra elder will likely be behind bars for his 100th birthday on February 6th. Franzese once served as the underboss of the Colombo family and was still active in the mafia well into his 90s.
“John Sonny Franzese”
He was sentenced to eight years behind bar’s back in 2011 for extorting a Long Island pizzeria and strip clubs in Manhattan. He was 93 years old and still involved in New York mafia rackets and although some sources still officially rank him as the families underboss it certainly would be in name only as Benjamin Castellazzo now holds that high ranking position according to latest About the Mafia reports. His son Micheal Franzese a former Colombo family captain said his dad was eligible for release to a halfway house back in June of 2016 but the BOP did not deem him worthy and decided to wait until he was six months closer to his mandatory release date. Sonny is believed to be the oldest or at least one of the oldest inmates currently in the federal prison system and one of the oldest living mobsters.
A stand up guy for 100 years when they say “they don’t make em like him any,more” that def applies to Sonny Franzese and his mob pedigree.
True. One of a kind. I wonder how much money Michael kept from the 80’s. I heard his dad forgave him later on. Two sons who defected, but he stood strong.
the son who testified in the recent trial is a real scumbag junkie wore a wire on his own father
Didnt know him and Gotti had beef? For what reason?
it was around 2006 during the gotti junior trials the feds subpoenaed aload of mobsters like danny marino saying you can thank junior for this during the gotti trials feds were playing dirty according to junior danny through Charles carnsei gave him a pass. Now junior claims he had left the life by that time I don’t believe that junior was trying to get a whitey bulger type deal and when the news came out if you remember it was in the news around that trial aswell that junior was ratting I think danny and those guys decided to shelve him instead not worth the heat killing someone like him guys were getting indicted around that time all over the place especially in that family. Put it like this everyone knew about that proffer session long before alites book remember joey scoops nicky skins truccherio those guys talking about it on tape few years back
The howard beach crew and gambinos decided to leave him but when sonny found out he was he was apparently furious and believed he had to be killed to send a message according to the feds gambinos said they would not stop him if he wanted to. He never went through with it probably couldent find anyone to do the murder for him I mean he was hardly killing anyone himself in his 90s
Junior gotti stated in his book that he was angry because the feds never told him about the plot till 2 years after he is a rat but the feds did play dirty
I know Michael and Gotti Sr had a beef over a market. Michael sold his share to Gotti and the place went bankrupt within a couple months. Needless to say, Michael walked away richer and gotti, well he kept losing money.
as for beef with Jr and sonny, I would imagine it was because all the bosses and leaders hated him. He was handed everything for nothing, which was exact reason people (gotti included) hated big paul. He was only boss because of wife.
the junkie son wore the wire for 50k, and sonny turned on his other son at a sit down.. Michael nearly got whacked because of the gasoline deals. whatever people may think about that it just shows he was a true cosa nostra man.
I know him personally and I can tell you before he went into jail in 2011 he didn’t have a pot to Piss in but he is a hell of a nice guy
that’s cool. Always thought it would be interesting to know a mobster personally.
His nephew owns a restaurant and he would pop up in a shit box car and was doing the things wannabes would do to make money sadly I guess
real gangster last of a dying breed he saw and was a major part of when the mafia really did dominate
A lot of hero worship in the comments for a cold blooded murderer. No wonder we elected a con man President.