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Former mob boss gives motivational speech
Photo
Franzese
WARREN
Faith is what currently drives a former mob boss.
Michael Franzese spoke for the second-consecutive night to a packed house at the W.D. Packard Music Hall, 1703 Mahoning Ave. NW, on Thursday night. He spoke about his time growing up in the Colombo crime family in New York, but the focus of his speech was on his Christian faith.
“It’s an important part of why I’m standing here [on stage],” he said to the audience.
Before he went on stage, Franzese said his speech is a “message of hope and encouragement” for those in need. He visited a church in Warren about two years ago.
“I’ve been in Ohio quite a bit,” he said.
During his childhood, Franzese’s father was a top mob boss who was constantly targeted by law enforcement, who were less subtle about it at the time. Franzese said he remembered how officials from several enforcement agencies would make their presence known.
“I grew up hating the police,” he said. “I don’t feel that way anymore.”
Originally, he intended to become a doctor, but ended up becoming involved with the family’s criminal operations.
In his prime as mob boss, he generated $5 million to $8 million per week from legal and illegal businesses, including auto dealerships, union kickbacks, financial services and the entertainment industry.
His world changed when he met Camille Garcia, a dancer from California, when filming a break-dance movie in Florida. Garcia and her mother were devoted to their faith, which influenced Franzese to become a born-again Christian.
He pleaded guilty to racketeering charges that put him in prison for seven years. It led Franzese to leave the mob. He currently speaks to thousands of people on a weekly basis to tell his story.
“Faith is a part of your everyday life,” he said.
The former mob boss also spoke at the juvenile-detention center on Main Avenue in Warren on Thursday afternoon.
“It’s been a very wonderful experience to have someone like Michael to speak,” said Fred Keener, a pastor of the Bristol Area Ministerial Association, which organized the event with other local churches.
The event Thursday night opened up with the audience singing Christian songs. They also had the opportunity to ask Franzese after his speech more questions about mobs and faith.
Some of the questioners expressed their appreciation for his appearance, and others mentioned that they attended his speech Wednesday night as well.