Michael Franzese, a former captain in the Colombo crime family, shared an intriguing story involving his late father, John ‘Sonny’ Franzese, and Marilyn Monroe. According to Michael, during a podcast appearance on ‘Hang Out with Sean Hannity’, his father became a target of the federal government after Monroe allegedly mentioned his name in an encounter with Robert F. Kennedy.
Michael Franzese claimed that his father revealed this information after Michael’s mother passed away in 2012. John Franzese, who held an influential position in the Mafia, reportedly told his son that Monroe called out his name during an intimate evening with Kennedy. In response, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy allegedly instructed FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover to surveil and target John Franzese.
“One night they were having fun together, and she screamed out my name,” Michael quoted his father saying about Monroe and Kennedy.
Michael also inquired why other notorious figures like Joseph Colombo and Vito Genovese were not subjected to same intense surveillance. His father explained that he withheld this story until after his wife’s death out of respect. Michael noted that in hindsight, the story appeared credible, especially considering Hoover’s notorious denial of the Mafia’s existence.
John ‘Sonny’ Franzese was arrested in 1967 and convicted for coordinating numerous bank robberies, leading to a 50-year prison sentence. He was later paroled but served another term in 2011 for racketeering conspiracy. He passed away in 2020 at 103 years old.
Besides this claim, Michael discussed his involvement in a gas tax scheme. He reported generating millions weekly by collecting gas taxes without government payment, personally earning $3 to $4 million each week.
The intriguing narrative highlights the turbulent intersection of crime, celebrity, and government power, shedding light on the complexities within organized crime and its interactions with famous personalities.