Michael franzese's sitdown with Gotti

[Lutty12]

I think Franzese over exaggerates his power and ranking in sitdowns. In Jerry capecis book MOB STAR he describes Gotti's ruthlessness towards capos of other families:


On another occasion, a problem arose when Michael Franzese-the son of a Colombo Family skipper-and another man sought to open a flea market near one run by a man who told them he was affiliated with Gotti.

"f.u.c.k John Gotti," replied Franzese.

Franzese was a modern mobster. Cool, educated, almost a yuppie. He would graduate from promoting flea markets to producing movies-credits include such teenage gang movies as Knights of the City Knights of the City and and Savage Streets Savage Streets-and to stealing millions in a sophisticated gas-tax ripoff that would later stir Gotti's interest. In hardball, however, he didn't play in the same league as Gotti.

"Watch this, I am goin' to take you to school," Gotti told Jamesy shortly before Franzese and his a.s.sociate arrived at the Our Friends Social Club for a sitdown.

Gotti informed Franzese that flea-market rights in the area were taken and he must abandon any claim. "I don't care if you tell your father. I don't care who you go to. You can take it to Yankee Stadium, you can't win this."

As Franzese rose to leave, Gotti told him: "There is a guy running around the city saying 'f.u.c.k John Gotti.' What do we do with a piece of s.h.i.t like that? Should we beat him up? Kill him? He's a dog, right?"

"Yes, anybody who said that wouldn't be a friend, they would be a dog," Franzese replied.

Tails between their legs, Franzese and his a.s.sociate left, two more recipients of Gotti's confident terrorism.

[johnny_scootch]

As Franzese rose to leave, Gotti told him: "There is a guy running around the city saying 'f.u.c.k John Gotti.' What do we do with a piece of s.h.i.t like that? Should we beat him up? Kill him? He's a dog, right?"

"Yes, anybody who said that wouldn't be a friend, they would be a dog," Franzese replied.

Awful Godfather 3 dialogue.


Is this even a real post?

Franzese had a lot of power because he made a lot of money, he was the Colombo's Golden Goose for a time.

[Wiseguy]

Depends on what account you want to go with.

[Lutty12]

guy had a lot of power because of his father just like junior.

[Angelo Santino]

As Franzese rose to leave, Gotti told him: "There is a guy running around the city saying 'f.u.c.k John Gotti.' What do we do with a piece of s.h.i.t like that? Should we beat him up? Kill him? He's a dog, right?"

"Yes, anybody who said that wouldn't be a friend, they would be a dog," Franzese replied.

Awful Godfather 3 dialogue.


Is this even a real post?

Franzese had a lot of power because he made a lot of money, he was the Colombo's Golden Goose for a time.

I remember reading that passage in Mob Star many many years ago, it's clear Godfather 3 either drew inspiration from it or it was a lucky coincidence.

[Wiseguy]

As Franzese rose to leave, Gotti told him: "There is a guy running around the city saying 'f.u.c.k John Gotti.' What do we do with a piece of s.h.i.t like that? Should we beat him up? Kill him? He's a dog, right?"

"Yes, anybody who said that wouldn't be a friend, they would be a dog," Franzese replied.

Awful Godfather 3 dialogue.


Is this even a real post?

Franzese had a lot of power because he made a lot of money, he was the Colombo's Golden Goose for a time.

I remember reading that passage in Mob Star many many years ago, it's clear Godfather 3 either drew inspiration from it or it was a lucky coincidence.

The part in the Godfather 3 script definitely came from that. Zasa seemed to be sort of a Gotti charactiture.

[johnny_scootch]

As Franzese rose to leave, Gotti told him: "There is a guy running around the city saying 'f.u.c.k John Gotti.' What do we do with a piece of s.h.i.t like that? Should we beat him up? Kill him? He's a dog, right?"

"Yes, anybody who said that wouldn't be a friend, they would be a dog," Franzese replied.

Awful Godfather 3 dialogue.


Is this even a real post?

Franzese had a lot of power because he made a lot of money, he was the Colombo's Golden Goose for a time.

I remember reading that passage in Mob Star many many years ago, it's clear Godfather 3 either drew inspiration from it or it was a lucky coincidence.

That's funny I had no idea.

[Angelo Santino]

3 mins in...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGjOuHhwMFY

[Super]

I'm sure John and Willie done some dirt for Sonny beating up some people in a car dealership? Maybe in a Capeci book.

[MightyDR]

Franzese shoots down the story about Gotti’s “confident terrorism” in his book:
“Contrary to previously published reports – including the version that was used as the basis of a scene in The Godfather Part III – there were no heated arguments, cursing, or trading of insults in the meeting. We all spoke calmly and treated each other with respect, as decreed by family policy. It was the subtlety of verbal sparring that provided the fascination.”

Franzese’s side of the story is more than a bit different. He says a part owner of a flea market in Brooklyn was having trouble with his drug addict partner. He went to Franzese for help and Franzese kicked the drug addict out and became the new partner. Gotti claimed the drug addict was with him and wasn’t a drug addict. Franzese politely called BS, saying the guy must have ran to Gotti after being kicked out and now Gotti is claiming he’s been with him all along. They didn’t reach a resolution.

Later on it turns out there is a third partner in the flea market who is with Collie DiPietro, a Genovese soldier (any more info on him?). Collie backs up Gotti’s claim that the drug addict partner has been with Gotti the whole time. They decide to share the flea market but it all becomes a mess and eventually Collie and Gotti buy Franzese out.

I’m sure I remember Franzese telling a slightly different version in a documentary too. He said his father advised him to use Gotti’s ego against Gotti. He offered to buy Gotti out, causing Gotti to say something like “No, I’ll buy you out!”

[CabriniGreen]

guy had a lot of power because of his father just like junior.

I actually dont agree. He had power because he was a massive earner. And not like, he inherited his Dads sportsbook, or loan action. I'm open to being wrong, but this to me is the biggest misconception about the guy, that he wasnt a legit earner.

In his book, Franzese said all his Dads rackets and operations got reassigned to other mobsters when he got the 50 years. So I've never understood that narrative, really. He got his start with used car dealerships, ( like a actually working the business) then new car dealerships, that flea market thing, and then some company he formed doing phantom work on shipping containers, overbilling them for work never completed. Like bill em for fixing 50 containers when it might have been like 5 or 10. He said that was a 40- 50k a month operation. This was before the gas thing.

He talked about doing construction jobs with sweetheart Union deals, Security guard unions, movies, talent/ booking agencies for entertainers, ( now, THIS probably came from his Pops, as its what he was doing in the 60s..) , agencies for representing athletes, gambling, I mean..... There are mobsters who wernt a quarter active, who really DID live off the family reputation. Like, lol, MOST of the Persicos. And they caught one of those Luke's I think on tape, he said the Colombos make all their sons, nepotism is, or was a thing in that borgata.



Was Tore Locasio respected JUST for his Dad? Or was his crew actually legit? Some guys are just legacy cases, but some sons actually have criminal acumen.


The fact that we havent seen this racket attempted again to me, speaks volumes that it had a lot to do with the players involved. I mean, I've seen this racket all over Europe with the Italians over there, Calabrians, Sicilians and Naples guys. Shit, it even popped up in Gommorah. Why did it ever stop really? Its white collar shit..... Maybe not at the same scale, but it seems maybe it could be continued on a smaller scale.


In his book, he says he ordered Norby Walters to take the fall for the family. On the athlete thing. The guy refused. He probably should have wacked the guy. But he just saw more time. I think THAT was the one that made him flip, not sure, I havent read that book in years.....


Any thought? It's only interesting to me because people seem to really hate Franzese, I dont get it really.

[johnny_scootch]

He had power because he was a massive earner.

Early on he used his dads rep to help him get straightened out but once the mega bucks started to roll in his own rep was solidified.

[joeycigars]

He had power because he was a massive earner.

Early on he used his dads rep to help him get straightened out but once the mega bucks started to roll in his own rep was solidified.

The Sons saw a dead end coming ..Both of Sonnys sons ratted,

Why John Franzese Jr. Testified Against His Father
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y38kEaZNGi4

[Wiseguy]

Any thought? It's only interesting to me because people seem to really hate Franzese, I dont get it really.

It's the people who hate any rat, no matter who it is. And in Franzese's case, they think his born again angle is a scam.

[MightyDR]

Any thought? It's only interesting to me because people seem to really hate Franzese, I dont get it really.

Like Wiseguy said, there are people who hate any rat, plus I think a lot of people are sick of him at this point. We've been hearing his story for years now. I get it, but I still think he provides some really good insight into the mob and would rather hear from him again than a lot of other rats.

I agree with you about him being a legit earner who didn't just inherit his wealth and power from his father. I will say for the record though, that he only got involved in the gas tax scam because Lawrence Iorizzo went to Sonny Franzese for help about being shaken down and Sonny referred him to Michael. Iorizzo then made Michael his partner to pay him back. So the big thing he is known for was pretty much handed to him because of his father's connections, not through any cunning of his own.