John Franzese Jr. (born 1960/61), now living as Mat Pazzarelli, is an American former mobster and associate of the Colombo crime family, and son of former underboss John "Sonny" Franzese.[1] He is the first son of a New York mobster to turn state's evidence and testify against his father.[2][3][4]
John Franzese Jr. | |
|---|---|
 FBI surveillance photo of Franzese and his father Sonny in 2005 | |
| Born | April 22, 1960 |
| Other names | Mat Pazzarelli |
| Occupation | Mobster |
| Spouse | Denyce Franzese |
| Father | John "Sonny" Franzese |
| Relatives | Michael Franzese (brother) |
| Allegiance | Colombo crime family |
Organized crime
editFranzese Jr. was born into the family of Colombo underboss John Franzese. His father was charged with a series of bank robberies in the late 1960s for a total term of 50 years. His brother Michael Franzese, who eventually rose to the rank of capo, was the first person that explained the Mafia life to him two years prior to his father's first release on parole in 1978. Franzese Jr. was never a made man but he did perform shakedowns which were made possible by his father's reputation and direct encouragement. The 1980s was the period that Franzese Jr. was most active in organized crime and he was sinking into addiction, describing moving from alcohol, to cocaine to crack. In the 1990s he described himself as a junkie. It was from his drug use he acquired HIV and eventually AIDS.[1]
Informant
editFranzese Jr. wanted a way out of his life and was approached by the FBI with a proposition that he become an informant and he accepted. One part of the agreement he made with the FBI prior to testifying was that he would not profit from his story as a mafia figure.[5] He was allegedly also responsible for his father's fourth parole violation, but was accepted back into his confidence after denying the allegations in tears, saying, "I would never do that, no matter what kind of trouble I had."[6] In 2005, he wore a wire around his father.[7] Franzese Jr. testified twice against his father, the last time his father attempted to have him killed; he later lived under witness protection.[8] In 2010, he admitted that he received $50,000 from the FBI as a cooperating witness.[9]
With the help of Franzese Jr.'s testimony, his father was sentenced on January 14, 2011, to eight years in prison for extorting two Manhattan strip clubs, running a loanshark operation and extorting a pizzeria on Long Island.[10] He is the first son of a New York mobster to turn state's evidence and testify against his father.[11]
In 2017, he was recognized by someone attending a recovery meeting and was exposed via a post on Facebook.[citation needed] The FBI urged him to immediately relocate but he declined and exited the Witness Protection Program in Indianapolis. In 2019, Franzese met with his father at the nursing home where he resided and reconciled with him.[1] His father died of natural causes in New York, on February 24, 2020, aged 103.[12]
Personal life
editHis wife Denyce was featured on I Married a Mobster TV show episode "Rat Trap".[13] He is a recovering addict living in Indianapolis encouraging others with the affliction of addiction, offering an example of what rehabilitation can look like at a special housing unit.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c d Keefer, Zac. "The mobster in our midst". Indianapolis Star. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
- ^ Daly, M. "It's the ultimate in Mafia betrayals as John (Sonny) Franzese is ratted out by son". Daily News. Retrieved February 14, 2019.
- ^ "Turncoat Son, Death Behind Bars, Haunt Sonny Franzese". Huffpost New York. Retrieved January 17, 2013.
- ^ Fisher, Janon (June 10, 2010). "Boss: Rat's my boy". New York Post. Retrieved January 17, 2013.
- ^ Riley, John (July 15, 2010). "Franzese Jr. told feds he wouldn't write tell-all". News Day. Retrieved January 17, 2013.
- ^ "A Godfather Betrayed by His Namesake, Part II". The Sun. May 17, 2007. Archived from the original on June 14, 2010. Retrieved January 17, 2013.
- ^ "John Franzese Jr. testified against his dad, Sonny — and then quit Witness Protection". newsday.com. March 27, 2019.
- ^ Capeci, Jerry. "Feds: Sonny Asked a Mob Pal to Help Whack His Turncaot Son". Huffington Post. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
- ^ "Colombo underboss John (Sonny) Franzese's son admits he sold his dad out for $50,000". nydailynews.com. June 10, 2019. Archived from the original on June 13, 2010.
- ^ "93-Year-Old Crime Boss Gets 12-Year Sentence". cbsnew.com. January 14, 2011.
- ^ "Colombo underboss John (Sonny) Franzese betrayed by son, who'll testify against legendary mobster". nydailynews.com. June 9, 2010. Archived from the original on June 12, 2010.
- ^ "John Franzese, Mafioso Who Consorted With Celebrities, Dies at 103". The New York Times. February 24, 2020. Archived from the original on February 24, 2020.
- ^ Rabinowitz, Dorothy. "War, Sex and Counterterrorism". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on June 22, 2015. Retrieved May 19, 2020.