What do you think of Michael Franzese these days?

What do you think of Michael Franzese these days?

He is a polished public speaker, I'll give him that.

He was a massive earner for the mob, earning an alleged $8-10 million per week. I heard he had 300 guys under him, so maybe those guys did most of the work?

He's a rat, though he'll never admit it. Seems like a decent guy tbf, getting a bit bored of seeing him in every Mob documentary though

I have heard that he left the "life" because he was in love with a girl that show him the religion; I think that after a discussion with some of colombo capos where his father Sonny has not defended him but rather was ready to kill him, he understood that it's not the case of risk his life for those people.

8-10 mil a week ? c'mon only with the drugs you can make so much money,with the gasoline you maybe can make 8-10 mil a month,and also the fact of having 300 men under him is not plausible, maybe ten but no more.

You just mean made men? Because shit load of associates are under these skippers.

I mean made men and with the associated I doubt they get to a few hundred.

still scamming..in the name of the lord

He strikes me as skeevy and smarmy.

I know that's not an intellectually based judgment, but that's the the first thing that comes to mind whenever I see him on video.

How the heck did he have 300 guys under him? Maybe if we're playing the six degrees of Michael Franzese, he would have that many.

I believe the $8-10 million a week is possible because it was over a billion dollars stolen in the scam according to some investigations. Franzese didn't get all of it. It was split among 4 families and who knows how many associates and middlemen. Everyone involved became rich.

That may have come from a ridiculous part of the Quitting the Mob book where it talks about his crew (including it's Russian affiliates) was eventually bigger, wealthier and stronger than all 5 NY families.

He really claims that? Lol, and I thought Michael was an upfront guy at least when he talked about the life, unlike some morons who exaggerate every single thing they have been involved in. Micheal sounds pretty genuine most of the time, that's the feeling I get from him. His story of faith, redemption etc, well I never found it THAT impressive, but I guess to each his own. Even his time in the life was basically pretty white-collar all-around. Not exactly the life full of action, hits, etc like some other guys.

I always got the impression that was more Dary Matera's creation and Franseze just let him run with it.

That's honestly fucking hysterical. I may have to track down that book on Amazon just for a few laughs .

Franzese is one of the more likable guy's in these shows, books etc...He doesn't pretend to claim how tough he was or still is..Doesn't lie about banging penthouse pets etc...Just basically talks about family and making money...One of the few likable ones in my opinion !!

From memory, the "300 guys" and the "$8-10 million a week" came from his gas station scam. He said he had hundreds of those, as well.

Its possible the gas scam was bringing in $10 mill a week, but there were many hands in that pot, it wasn't just him, the Colombo's and Russians !!

im with you, hes ridiculous. I really think hes a big rat phoney, he couldn't do any time so he flipped.

Franzese's schtick is to downplay his strength at times, while at other times making almost unbelievable claims of power and money.......while he appears to be more mature and intelligent than most other mobsters, he is definitely not a sociopath (as most are), but a bullshitter nonetheless, stuck on making himself look as good as possible at all times....just like the rest of the rats that preceded him (yes I know he's not really a rat....whatever).

On that one show Henry Hill said Franzese saved him in jail because he was an informant who told the guards who Hill really was...That's probably why Franzese doesn't speak highly of Hill, but did admit saving his life !!

I wonder if he has any bodies under his belt?...I doubt it, doesn't seem like the type. The only reason i ask, he was made in the 70's, when it was the Wild Wild West.

word was he whacked out "champagne"Larry corozza,who was a close friend of his.I don't think it ever really came to light.

I agree, he blames others for killing his best friend, nobody kills a captain guy who is bringing in tens of millions without getting an o.k from him..larry started the gas scam..

It's actually a decent book. It's just many of these authors can't seem to check themselves when it comes to over-hyping their subject matter.

Seems like every pensionado/witness/rat/who gives a fuck out there happens to be the toughest gangster to ever walk the earth, in the know on everything from the Masseria hit up too every sportsbook in Costa Rica

True, some of these rats/ex-wiseguys like to give history lessons even when it comes to topics that are WAY out of their depth or knowledge. Things that are public record, that they have read in books/newspapers just like anybody else.

Check your pm.