Michael Franzese

Michael Franzese was born in Brooklyn, New York. He publicly celebrated his 75th birthday on May 27, 2026, and identified 1951 as his birth year in an earlier program description.⁠[1][2][3]

He studied biology at Hofstra University but left without graduating.⁠[4]

He testified that he formally joined the Colombo crime family in 1975.⁠[1]

He said he became a caporegime, or captain, in 1980.⁠[1]

Justice Department records connect his criminal operations with car dealerships, construction, film production and fuel distribution. Gasoline tax fraud deprived states including New York, New Jersey and Florida of revenue.⁠[5]

He was indicted in the Eastern District of New York in a case involving racketeering, union funds and taxes. The indictment contained 28 counts, distinct from the offenses to which he ultimately pleaded guilty.⁠[6]

On March 21, he pleaded guilty to one count of racketeering and one count of income tax fraud. On July 1, he received a ten-year prison sentence, together with forfeiture and restitution obligations.⁠[6][5]

He told the Senate that he decided to leave organized crime around 1987, while imprisoned.⁠[1]

He testified for the prosecution at the trial of sports agents Norby Walters and Lloyd Bloom, describing his involvement with their agency and client relationships.⁠[7]

Vanity Fair reported that he signed a federal cooperation agreement and left prison that month.⁠[4]

Probation violations led to renewed imprisonment.⁠[8]

He co-authored the memoir Quitting the Mob with Dary Matera, published by HarperCollins.⁠[9]

He testified that he was released from prison in 1994.⁠[1]

At a Senate hearing, he described contacts with Russian criminals through the fuel business.⁠[1]

Whitaker House published his memoir Blood Covenant: The Michael Franzese Story, recounting his criminal past and religious conversion.⁠[10][11]

His verified YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is Google’s video-sharing and creator platform, founded in 2005 by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim and acquired by Google in 2006. Built around video uploading, viewing, and creator earnings, the platform has developed Shorts, YouTube Music, Premium, YouTube TV, and products for children, and is headquartered in San Bruno, California, United States.Open the full entry channel lists June 26, 2007 as its joining date. Its later programming includes crime-history commentary, interviews and cooking. The joining date does not establish when its first video appeared.⁠[12]

Thomas Nelson published I’ll Make You an Offer You Can’t Refuse, drawing on his experiences to discuss negotiation, teams and lawful business practices.⁠[13]

Simon Fellows directed God the Father, a documentary about his life. Franzese appears in interviews and shares a writing credit. It combines archives, animation and reenactments to present his account of crime and faith.⁠[14]

Whitaker House issued an expanded edition of Blood Covenant, continuing its account of his departure from criminal life and Christian faith.⁠[11]

Scribe Media published Mafia Democracy. The book draws analogies between Mafia practices and power, money and corruption in American politics; these are the author’s political arguments.⁠[15][16]

In a Decanter interview, he discussed Franzese Wine, a brand produced with Armenian partners and expanding into Britain. He said he connected the business with distributors and restaurants, while his wife, Camille Garcia, also participated in tastings.⁠[17]

School of Hard Knocks released his interview, describing topics including organized crime, prison, leaving criminal life and personal change. The income claim in its title does not establish an audited personal net worth.⁠[18]

He appeared on FOX News Radio’s Planet Tyrus to discuss his past, American politics and prison reform, advocating practical skills for incarcerated young men.⁠[19]

He works as an author, speaker and mentor. His publisher identifies audiences including students, professional athletes, executives and at-risk youth; his talks draw on his experiences, choices and faith.⁠[15][11]

His wife, Camille Garcia, is also known as Cammy. On his website, he recalls meeting her during film production in Florida and credits her and his Christian faith with influencing his change of life.⁠[20]

His personal X account is @MichaelFranzese and his YouTube channel is @michaelfranzese. His website links to both, and the YouTube channel is verified.⁠[20][12][3]