Geriatric Mob Boss Headed to Prison

John "Sonny" Franzese, 93, on trial for criminal charges, was given an eight-year prison sentence by a federal judge, as reported by the Associated Press in Yahoo News in New York.

Franzese was convicted for extorting money from Manhattan strip clubs and a Long Island pizza restaurant.

His son helped the proceedings by testifying against him while Franzese sat opposite him, in his wheelchair.  When Franzese was given the opportunity to speak on his own behalf he never finished his sentence that began, "I never got a fair…"

Federal prosecutors sought 12 years of jail time for Franzese.  In their efforts they had an FBI agent testify about Franzese's claims of being responsible for the murder of approximately 60 people during his long criminal career.

When his own son became a police informant, Franzese bragged that he thought about putting out a hit on him.

U.S.  District Attorney Christina Posa said, "For him to die in prison is not an inappropriate response to the life he's led."

Richard Lund, Franzese's attorney, stated that the FBI agent's testimony about his client was "pathetic boasting".  He also argued that Franzese, plagued with chronic illnesses, and advanced age, should not be given a lengthy sentence.

U.S. District Judge Brian Cogan said that handing down a sentence on the older man wasn't easy, but that he felt it necessary as "you can never escape the consequences of a lifetime of organized crime."

Franzese's criminal career began during the Great Depression.  His first arrest was in 1938 for assault, in 1942 he was discharged from the Army for "homicidal tendencies", by 1947 he was in court for rape, in 1966 he beat a murder charge, and in 1967 a bank  robbery finally landed him in prison until his parole in the late 70s.

Though not convicted of other crimes for several years, Franzese was credited for being a member of the Italian Colombo crime family - one of five crime families in New York.  

In fact, at that time Franzese was considered second in command for Colombo.

Court papers compare Franzese to a "Goodfella" because he was adept at making bodies disappear.  He was quoted for saying, "Today, you can't have a body no more. It's better to take that half an hour, an hour, to get rid of the body than it is just to leave the body in the street."

In 2008 the FBI was successful in arresting Franzese in a mob shakedown.  He was found guilty of racketeering, and other charges, in 2009. 

John Franzese Jr., Franzese's son, was formerly affiliated with the Colombo family but has since become a paid informant.  The prosecution used him at his father's trial to convince jurors to look beyond his father's frail appearance. 

Franzese Jr. said, "I'm not talking about my father as a man; I'm talking about the life he chose. ... This life absorbs you. You only see one way."

Franzese Sr. napped while his son spoke.

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