to pay a jailhouse visit to his mafia boss father in an effort to save his soul from hell. and that would be no small feat. because sonny franzese is a living legend of the cosa nostra. fbi wiretaps have captured this underboss of the colombos bragging about the dozens of men he s killed and describing his favorite way to dispose of bodies, using knives, a kiddie pool, and a trash compactor. in 1970 sonny franzese got a 50-year sentence for masterminding a string of bank robberies, a crime michael insists he didn t commit. it was then, on another prison visit, that michael offered to take up the family business. it s no coincidence there s a character named after him in the movie goodfellas. because by the early 80s he and his crew had established a
because sonny franzese is a living legend of the cosa nostra. fbi wiretaps have captured this underboss of the colombos bragging about the dozens of men he s killed and describing his favorite way to dispose of bodies, using knives, a kiddie pool, and a trash compactor. in 1970 sonny franzese got a 50-year sentence for masterminding a string of bank robberies, a crime michael insists he didn t commit. it was then, on another prison visit, that michael offered to take up the family business. it s no coincidence there s a character named after him in the movie goodfellas. because by the early 80s he and his crew had established a mythical reputation among new york s five families. i m not going to lie to you. when i was in that life you know, people ask me all the time, michael, what do you miss? the money? the power? look, i had a jet plane, i had a helicopter, a lot of things at my disposal. but i miss the camaraderie i had with the guys back then. i mean, we were a tight-knit
him $50,000, john franzese secretly recorded their 93-year-old father. no 25,000. and if he don t give it to you, leave him on the floor. reporter: it was decisive evidence as sonny was convicted of shaking down two manhattan strip clubs. my dad s brokenhearted. even until half an hour ago when i was with him. he said, mike, i just can t believe it. he s so hurt over what happened. he just that s the part that he can t live with. i believe with all my heart, 1,000%, that god had a different plan and purpose. i don t know where it s going to end. hey, i could walk out the door tomorrow and somebody shoot me in the head. especially in brooklyn. who knows? but and if it happens, so be it. then i ve fulfilled my purpose and i go to heaven. that s where i believe i m going anyway. i hope so. michael s out on the road right now promoting this latest book in churches and prisons around the country. some habits may die hard,