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.
