Michael Franzese

You know, and I've told people, Dan, if you control the unions, you basically control a good part of the country. Because even with politicians, what are two things that they want? They want votes and they want money. And through the unions, you can provide both. And that gave us a lot of leverage. And, you know, we had a lot of strength.

Yeah, that's okay. I was with the Columbus. Yes.

Yeah, that's okay. I was with the Columbus. Yes.

Yeah, that's okay. I was with the Columbus. Yes.

No, actually, it happened before that, Dan, because, you know, during my I hate to say career, but I guess that's the word, you know, my time in that life. I had 18 arrests. I had three undercover investigations on me. I had seven indictments, two federal racketeering cases, one brought on by Giuliani that unfortunately I was acquitted in.

No, actually, it happened before that, Dan, because, you know, during my I hate to say career, but I guess that's the word, you know, my time in that life. I had 18 arrests. I had three undercover investigations on me. I had seven indictments, two federal racketeering cases, one brought on by Giuliani that unfortunately I was acquitted in.

No, actually, it happened before that, Dan, because, you know, during my I hate to say career, but I guess that's the word, you know, my time in that life. I had 18 arrests. I had three undercover investigations on me. I had seven indictments, two federal racketeering cases, one brought on by Giuliani that unfortunately I was acquitted in.

Well, he said he was going to give me 100 years if he convicted me. And then I had a state RICO in Florida. So I said to myself, how many times am I going to beat these people and walk away free? And I knew they were really tightening the noose, and I would never get away with it. I mean, I was too high profile at that point. They weren't going to leave me alone.

Well, he said he was going to give me 100 years if he convicted me. And then I had a state RICO in Florida. So I said to myself, how many times am I going to beat these people and walk away free? And I knew they were really tightening the noose, and I would never get away with it. I mean, I was too high profile at that point. They weren't going to leave me alone.

Well, he said he was going to give me 100 years if he convicted me. And then I had a state RICO in Florida. So I said to myself, how many times am I going to beat these people and walk away free? And I knew they were really tightening the noose, and I would never get away with it. I mean, I was too high profile at that point. They weren't going to leave me alone.

And then, you know, with the RICO law, I said, man, you know, Dan, it was always – People ask, you know, what kept you guys in line? And if you remember the movie The Bronx Tale with Chaz Palmateri and he was the mob guy, they said to him, is it better to be loved or feared? And he said, well, in my line of work, it's better to be feared. And Chaz was a good friend.

And then, you know, with the RICO law, I said, man, you know, Dan, it was always – People ask, you know, what kept you guys in line? And if you remember the movie The Bronx Tale with Chaz Palmateri and he was the mob guy, they said to him, is it better to be loved or feared? And he said, well, in my line of work, it's better to be feared. And Chaz was a good friend.

And then, you know, with the RICO law, I said, man, you know, Dan, it was always – People ask, you know, what kept you guys in line? And if you remember the movie The Bronx Tale with Chaz Palmateri and he was the mob guy, they said to him, is it better to be loved or feared? And he said, well, in my line of work, it's better to be feared. And Chaz was a good friend.

I spoke to him and I said, Chaz, did you really believe that? And he said, yeah, Michael, I believe that. I said, well, Chaz, you're wrong. He said, what do you mean? I said, well, yeah, fear did keep us in line because we knew if we violated the rules, we could pay for it, serious consequences.

I spoke to him and I said, Chaz, did you really believe that? And he said, yeah, Michael, I believe that. I said, well, Chaz, you're wrong. He said, what do you mean? I said, well, yeah, fear did keep us in line because we knew if we violated the rules, we could pay for it, serious consequences.

I spoke to him and I said, Chaz, did you really believe that? And he said, yeah, Michael, I believe that. I said, well, Chaz, you're wrong. He said, what do you mean? I said, well, yeah, fear did keep us in line because we knew if we violated the rules, we could pay for it, serious consequences.

I said, but what happened with the RICO Act, the RICO statute, is the fear of the mob was transferred to the fear of the government. Because when you tell guys, hey, you're going to go away for the rest of your life unless you cooperate with us. And, you know, guys don't want to spend the rest of their life in prison. And they tell you, look, we'll put you in the program.

I said, but what happened with the RICO Act, the RICO statute, is the fear of the mob was transferred to the fear of the government. Because when you tell guys, hey, you're going to go away for the rest of your life unless you cooperate with us. And, you know, guys don't want to spend the rest of their life in prison. And they tell you, look, we'll put you in the program.

I said, but what happened with the RICO Act, the RICO statute, is the fear of the mob was transferred to the fear of the government. Because when you tell guys, hey, you're going to go away for the rest of your life unless you cooperate with us. And, you know, guys don't want to spend the rest of their life in prison. And they tell you, look, we'll put you in the program.

We'll change your identity. The guy you testified against is going to go away forever, so don't worry about it. Well, that's what caused the collapse of my life. There's no question about it. It wasn't John Gotti. It wasn't my profile guys. It was the RICO law. But, you know, it required me doing eight years in prison.