LEGEND SONNY FRANZESE DEAD AT 103

John "Sonny" Franzese was a legend.   He was a man's man.  In his span of 80 years in the mafia, he  lived through some of the most infamous mob moments.    Late last night John passed away in upstate New York, with his daughter by his side.   He died peacefully, from what I was told first thing this morning.

Sonny was a lot of things in his life, but perhaps the best way to describe Sonny was dedicated.  He was dedicated to the cause, albeit a life of crime.   He was smart, he was crafty, and he was treacherous.   Not many men live to say that they slept with Marilyn Monroe, or live to say they accomplished a feat in the mob that likely no other man has ever accomplished.

Born in 1917 in Naples, Italy, he would move with his family to New York city as a young man.  The the last of 19 children to Carmine and Maria Franzese.  From an early age John would join the mafia, and go to work for Joe Profaci in the 1930's.   His first arrest would come in 1938 as a result of an assault to someone who owed the family money.   He would then join the Army right around the time of the second world war but would be thrown out of the military for having what the Army called "homicidal tendencies."  He would head back to New York and his life of crime would begin.

In 1949 he would be inducted into the Colombo crime family, under Buster Aloi,  By the mid 50''s he would be elevated to a Capo.   By 1963 he'd become the official Underboss by then head Joe Colombo.   Franzese was a hitman, a loanshark, a gambler, and businessman.  He called Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr, and Dean Martin his friends.  He was often seen with them at the infamous Copacobana.

He would take over Buddah records.  While music was not his soul gain, he needed a shell company to filter money through.  In other words, laundering.   Some of the musical acts Buddah controlled at the time was Bill Withers, Curtis Mayfield, and the Isley Brothers.  Franzese would also use this company to bribe disc jockeys with payola.   He would then push his way into Calla records, and in 1980 the president of Calla records, Nate Mcalla would be whacked in a brazen hit on orders of Franzese.

In 1964, Vito Genovese had a serious problem.  The problem was that Ernest Rupolo.   Rupulo was a Genovese hitman, who had gone bad and become an informant for the FBI.   Vito asked Franzese to handle it for him, and Franzese rather than farm it out, did it himself which he didn't have to do.  Rupulo was found stabbed and shot, with cement blocks on his feet in the water.  Franzese would be arrested for the hit, and during the trial the government claimed that Franzese was responsible for 40-50 murders.  He would be acquitted of that particular murder.

In 1967 Franzese would be arrested for bank robbery, and would get sentenced to 50 years.  Franzese long asserted he didn't commit that crime, and it was the only way the FBI could ever get him on anything was to frame him.  Even a year ago, Franzese admitted to murder, by saying "I never killed a good person, they always deserved it."   Franzese who at 101, wasn't afraid to acknowledge that murder very much was a part of his life, lamented that the bank robbery was a joke, and the FBI knew he didn't do it.   Franzese would eventually be released from prison then would violate his parole six more times.

In 2006 Franzese was caught on a wiretap discussing murder saying that he murdered a lot of people, "we aren't talking 4, 5, 6, 10, 15."    He would admit to putting nail polish on his finger tips to avoid fingerprints, and would acknowledge using a hairnet to keep his hair from falling so the authorities couldn't get DNA.   He would further explain about murder by saying "you gotta deal with a body right, you dismember them in a kids pool,  dry the limbs and parts in a microwave, then shove them into a garbage disposal. "

Franzese was also the major money guy behind the infamous porn film "DEEP THROAT," which grossed $50 million dollars, he also financed The Texas Chainsaw Massacre which made over $30 million dollars.   Not just a hitman, but a movie producer as well.

I can tell you two stories about Franzese which have never been published.   How I know this doesn't matter.  Let's just say, I know people who know people who know people.

When Sonny was released back in 2017.  He was 100 then.  He was walking down the street with a walker, very very slow.  He realized the FBI was watching him.  He slowly made his way down a Brooklyn street, then slowly entered a social club.   He took his time getting in.  As he walked in, and closed the door slowly behind him, he waited.  He stood silently with a smirk on his face.  After a few seconds he paused, tossed the walker across the room and yelled "FUCK THE FBI."

The second story is pretty funny.  I'm assuming this was just after his arrest in 2008.   There was a pizza shop which was having problems with two punks from the neighborhood, who were trying to shake the owner down.  They demanded protection money, and or some sort of buyout.  The owner wasn't going to let them take his business so he reached out to Sonny Franzese for help.  Keep in mind the guy was ancient at this point.   He discussed the matter with Sonny who agreed to help him out.   The owner set up a meeting with the two punks.   As they entered the pizza place, they immediately see Sonny Franzese sitting at a table with the owner.   They "became nervous" immediately.

Sonny asked them to sit down.  He asked them to explain the reason why they were trying to create problems for this owner.  The two didn't have much to say other than mumble a few words.  They were completely out of their element.   By the end of the meeting, Sonny explained to them the facts of life.  "This is my friend, this is his place, and therefore if he's my friend, and this is his place, then it's mine too.  So you two are gonna give us $20,000 or I'm gonna have you killed."

Within two days the money was given to the owner, and while meeting with Sonny, he asked Sonny if he could do anything for him in return.  Sonny grinned and said, I wouldn't mind a helpers fee.   The owner peeled off 10 grand, and asked if that was enough.  Sonny smirked and said "Yeah it will do.'

This is how Sonny Franzese operated.  He still scared the life out of people in his 80's, 90's and 100's.  In the end, they don't make men like Sonny anymore, he was a legend, and stuck true to the code, even when his own sons didn't.   They don't make men like that anymore.