Michael Franzese
Former Mob Captain, Author, and Corporate Fraud Expert
Michael Franzese was alternately referred to by the media and members of law enforcement alike, as the New York Mob's "Long Island Don" and "The Prince of the Mafia." He was once the primary target of a massive, fourteen agency government task force that "had one assignment - to bring down the Mafia's youngest and most financially powerful new superstar, Michael Franzese." At the height of his mob activity, Franzese was "one of the biggest money earners the mob had seen since Al Capone, and the youngest individual on Fortune magazine's survey of "The Fifty Biggest Mafia Bosses." (Vanity Fair Magazine).
A brief look into Franzese's background provides insight as to why he is sought after to speak about many topics related to organized crime. The son of a kingpin in New York's Colombo crime family, the smart, sophisticated Franzese was long considered an heir apparent to the family's vast power. Becoming a sworn, made member at the age of 24, he avoided the traditional Mafia domains in favor of the enormously lucrative edges of the legitimate business world.
He masterminded brilliant scams, from auto dealerships to union kickbacks, from financial services to the worlds of sports and entertainment, to a multi-billion dollar gasoline tax scheme, all with the help of ambitious tycoons and his own remarkable acumen. His operations in gambling, loan sharking and corporate crime became a target of Manhattan's famed federal prosecutor, Rudy Giuliani, who indicted Franzese on racketeering charges only to come up empty handed in court. More indictments would follow, however, and in a dramatic turn of events for the onetime Mob caporegime, Franzese decided to plead guilty to yet another racketeering indictment, accept a 10 year prison sentence, and then vowed to do the unthinkable - quit the mob.
"He earned millions a week at his apex and used his wits and charm to keep the likes of John Gotti from encroaching on his operations. Though frequently indicted, he was never convicted of any crime until he met Camille Garcia, a beautiful dancer in one of his films. He fell in love with her, doggedly pursued her and eventually they married. How she convinced him to take the rap on a racketeering charge and how he managed to become the only high ranking official of the Mafia to ever quit the mob, refuse government protection and live to tell about it makes Michael Franzese a truly absorbing and fascinating addition to the speaker's circuit." (Quitting The Mob, Harper/Collins Publishing.)
Franzese's first book, Quitting The Mob, (Harper/Collins Publishing ), was released in 1992, providing a glimpse at the life he left behind.
His most recent book, Blood Covenant (Whitaker House, March 2003 - now in the third printing), looks at that story from 10 years of changed life, providing insight only time allows. It captures Franzese's life from beginning through today, offering a powerful look at the why and how he left his past, and how he is still alive today. In the words of Paul Harvey, it is "the rest of the story."
Franzese candidly describes for audiences how he survived dozens of grand jury appearances, three major racketeering indictments, five criminal trials, seven years in prison and a Mafia death sentence. He tells how he engaged bankers, corporate executives, union officials and professional and student athletes in a wide variety of financial scams. His open and honest presentations are fresh and unique. Audiences are captivated by stories of his personal experiences in organized crime and genuinely affected by his powerful anti-crime messages and eye opening revelations.
Franzese has been a featured annual guest at the NBA and MLB rookie camps, featured on several ESPN shows, Fox Sports, HBO Real Sports, as well as NPR's All Things Considered, Armed Forces Radio, CNN and Fox News. He was recently a guest for the third time on the Jim Rome Show (radio and TV), and returned to ESPN for The Pulse, Quite Frankly, and Outside the Lines. He was featured in the March 10, 2006 USA Today cover story about the Mafia today and The Sopranos. He was interviewed on the Abrams Report on MSNBC about the season premiere of The Sopranos and the state of the Mafia today.
Franzese has spoken about the dangers of gambling to professional athletes at the MLB and NBA rookie camps for the last 10 years, and was featured at the MLB spring training speaking to all teams coaches, staff, and players. He has spoken to the Miami Dolphins and San Diego Chargers. Franzese has also spoken to student athletes at more than 175 Div. 1 colleges on behalf of NCAA, and has been featured at several sports associated conferences for organizations such as the American Football Coaches Association, Men’s Basketball Coaches Association, Women’s Basketball Coaches Association, Division 1A Athletic Directors Association, Coalition of Sports Information Directors, the National Federation of High School Assemblies, and NCAA Life Skills conferences.
All of the scheming, scams, and strategies Franzese employed to become the biggest money earner since Capone, according to the FBI, prepared him for a future he never expected. Today, he lectures at leading universities on business fraud and ethics at venues like Vanderbilt, Baylor and Washington State, and spoke to law students at Baylor about legal strategies. He has been featured at FBI Citizen’s Academies and various similar events.
In the corporate world, Franzese has been the conference keynote speaker for Digitech software resellers, Hamilton Safe Company, Society of Industrial and Office Realtors, National society of Professional Insurance Investigator, and Security Products Company.