Mobster’s Involvement with Marilyn Monroe Sparks Federal Targeting

A notorious New York mobster’s run-in with the federal government began after Marilyn Monroe allegedly invoked his name during an interaction with Robert F. Kennedy, according to the mobster’s son. Michael Franzese, former Colombo crime family captain, shared this account during his appearance on the ‘Hang Out with Sean Hannity’ podcast. This story was passed down from his late father, John ‘Sonny’ Franzese, who was a former underboss in the crime family.

Michael Franzese claimed that Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy instructed FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover to focus on his father after Monroe reportedly mentioned Franzese’s name in an intimate setting with Kennedy. Franzese professed that his father had an affair with Monroe after they met at Manhattan’s famous Stork Club.

“This is what my father told me. Monroe was with Bobby Kennedy, and he said, ‘One night while they were together, she suddenly mentioned my name,'” Franzese recounted.

John ‘Sonny’ Franzese was photographed in police custody in New York City on April 12, 1966. According to Franzese, Monroe’s remark prompted Kennedy to make a call to Hoover, underlining, ‘I don’t know who this Sonny guy is, but make sure he’s behind bars.’

Franzese also conveyed that his father shared this story after the death of Franzese’s mother in 2012. Curious about the continuous surveillance by federal agents, he questioned his father about their intense focus on Franzese compared to other significant Mafia figures.

“I asked him why they focused on him out of all the notable names, like Colombo and Genovese. He responded that he kept this information to himself out of respect for my mother,” Franzese added.

The targeting explanation resonated with Franzese, reflecting on Hoover’s history of denying the Mafia’s existence due to compromising information they had on him.

Michael Franzese further shared insights about his lucrative gas tax scheme, claiming it brought in millions weekly. The operation involved collecting gas taxes without any payments to the government. Franzese stated his weekly earnings were around $3 million to $4 million.

Sonny Franzese faced multiple arrests through his lifetime. Convicted in 1967 for orchestrating several bank robberies, he was given a 50-year prison sentence but later paroled. He faced racketeering conspiracy charges once more in 2011. Franzese passed away in 2020 at the age of 103.