Mafia Boss: I Was Making $1.4 Million A Day! - Michael Franzese

Michael Franzese's Background and Entry into the Mafia

• Franzese earned $9–$10 million weekly at the peak of his criminal career through 18 shell companies.
• He defrauded the U.S. government of gasoline tax by operating 18 Panamanian shell companies that collected taxes legally before shutting them down.
• His initial entry into the life was motivated by a desire to help his father, Sonny Franzese, who was wrongly imprisoned on a 50-year sentence for bank robberies he did not commit.
• Franzese abandoned his pre-med studies to return to the street to generate funds for his father's legal defense and overturn the conviction.
• His father tested his resolve by asking, "If you ever had to kill anybody, could you do it?" Franzese answered affirmatively, which led to his induction.
• He spent 2.5 years in a probationary period ("pledge") before being formally "made" on Halloween 1975, during a blood oath ceremony involving cutting a finger and burning a saint's picture.

Mafia Structure, Rules, and Operations

• The hierarchy consists of the Boss, Underboss, Consigliere, Capos (street bosses), Soldiers (made men), and Associates (unmade members).
• Franzese distinguished between "racketeers" (business-minded members who elevate the family financially) and "gangsters" (those who rely solely on violence).
• The "Commission" was established in the 1940s by Lucky Luciano to regulate the nine New York families and prevent all-out war, though individual families retained autonomy.
• The Colombo family, where Franzese rose to Captain, experienced three internal power wars during his lifetime.
• Disputes were resolved through structured "sit-downs" where the final ruling was made by the Boss, requiring participants to maintain respect even if lying.
• Violating specific codes, such as dealing drugs or disrespecting another man's family, carried immediate death sentences regardless of friendship.
• Franzese witnessed extreme enforcement of rules, including a man who killed his own father and has not entered his house alone for 20 years due to guilt.

Business Schemes and Financial Scale

• The gasoline tax fraud involved buying gas from barges in the Middle East, using shell companies to collect the tax, and undercutting competitors by $0.02–$0.10 per gallon to monopolize local stations.
• At one point, the operation sold 500 million gallons of gas monthly, generating $2 million weekly.
• Franzese accumulated $40–$50 million in physical cash at a time, often stored in refrigerators with baking soda to mask the smell of gasoline.
• He owned legitimate businesses including Mazda and Chevrolet dealerships, a film production company (making ~30 horror films), and video rental shops.
• He kept his partners unaware of the full extent of his accounts to prevent leaks, using a split-number system for a $33 million account in Austria.
• The scheme collapsed after his business partner became a government informant to avoid a lifetime sentence.

Legal Consequences and Imprisonment

• Franzese was arrested 18 times and indicted in 14 different cases, facing a 14-agency task force specifically targeting him.
• In 1986, he pleaded guilty to racketeering and tax fraud, resulting in a 10-year prison sentence, $15 million in restitution, and $5 million in forfeitures.
• He spent 29 months and 7 days in solitary confinement after refusing to testify against a friend and violating parole conditions.
• His prison strategy included refusing to be intimidated, using music and religious texts (including listening to Pastor Greg Laurie) to maintain mental stability.
• He negotiated his plea deal to ensure his wife and children would remain financially supported while he was incarcerated.
• The FBI and Italian investigators have long believed he has billions stashed globally, a claim Franzese dismisses as speculation.

Personal Conflicts, Betrayals, and Family Impact

• Franzese describes his family life as devastated by the mob, noting his sister died of a drug overdose at 27 and his brother struggled with addiction for 25 years.
• He experienced a defining moment of betrayal when his father remained silent during a meeting where Franzese was potentially targeted by the Boss, leaving him isolated to face a possible contract on his life.
• This betrayal, combined with the realization that the life could separate a father and son, catalyzed his decision to leave the organization.
• His wife, whom he met in 1983, was the primary reason for his exit; he feared she would become a widow if he continued his criminal life.
• Following his release, his father disowned him for years until they reconciled after Franzese refused to cooperate with the government as a witness.
• Franzese forgave his father for the betrayal but notes their relationship was permanently altered, with a 10-year silence between them post-prison.

Philosophy on Violence, Leadership, and Redemption

• Franzese asserts that the capacity for murder is inherent in humans, triggered by different circumstances, citing military service and mob life as examples.
• He rejects the idea that the mafia oath is to "lie, steal, cheat, and kill," arguing it is actually a contract to follow strict rules to maintain control and survival.
• He views the mafia as an "evil life" that destroys families, citing his mother's 33 years of widowhood and the emotional trauma of witnessing his best friend's murder.
• His motivational speaking career focuses on leadership, negotiation, and resilience, adapting mob principles like the "sit-down" and punctuality for legitimate business.
• He teaches that personal success is a reflection of personal order, advising entrepreneurs to resolve personal issues before scaling business operations.
• Franzese credits a conversation with Pastor Myron Taylor prior to his wedding as a pivotal spiritual turning point that offered him hope for redemption.
• His core message is that individuals are not defined by their past; one can evolve, seek forgiveness, and choose a new path regardless of previous actions.