Megyn Kelly speaks to Michael Franzese about his life as a former mobster and how he found God in prison
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Megyn Kelly invited a former mobster and a member of the mafia, Michael Franzese, who was tied to the Colombo crime family, to discuss his extraordinary life from studying to becoming a doctor to joining a life of crime.
The 52-year-old journalist told her viewers that Michael has left the mafia life behind and now is a bestselling author, motivational speaker, and host of the YouTube program 'Sit Down with Michael Franzese'.
Moreover, Michael got to share the most transformative bit of his life when he went to prison, found God, and decided to leave the criminal ways forever.
Megyn Kelly learns about how Michael Franzese found God in prison
Megyn Kelly was surprised to learn from Michael Franzese that he wasn’t always involved in a life of crime. He explained that he was actually on the path to becoming a doctor when his father, Sonny Franzese, was sentenced to 50 years in prison for bank robbery in 1967.
Michael revealed that he had legitimate businesses in the form of car dealerships, film production and distribution, and more.
He also recalled the night when he was booked at Metropolitan Detention Center in Los Angeles. Michael told Kelly that he thought he would spend the rest of his life in prison and leave his wife, Camille, and their two young children alone.
"I was struggling and I wished I could just close my eyes and not wake up. That’s how I felt," said Michael.
He told Kelly about how a guard slid a Bible into his cell after he "chased him away" because he didn’t wish to talk to anyone. But when he got the Bible, he decided to give it a go.
Michael noted, "I spent the next 29 months and seven days in solitary in a six-by-eight cell 24/7 meeting God."
In addition to studying the Bible, he also had his wife bring him books on other faiths.
"I said, ‘If I’m going to spend the rest of my life in this cell, I want to know where I’m going at the end of it all'," explained Michael, adding, "And I just came out of this strongly believing in Christianity."
He now finds himself with a completely "different outlook" that revolves around the life he and his family have created. "I think I’m probably the most fortunate, most blessed person around because I should either be dead or in prison for the rest of my life — that’s what I earned," concluded the former mobster.
Megyn Kelly learns which Hollywood movies depict mafia life closely
During her interaction with Michael Franseze, Megyn Kelly learned that 'Donnie Brasco', 'Goodfellas' and 'The Godfather' were some Hollywood films that depicted the mafia closely.
Joseph Pistone played by Johnny Depp in the film, 'Donnie Brasco', was an FBI agent who infiltrated the Bonanno crime family in New York City during the 1970s and happened to be friends with Michael.
Speaking about his friendship with Pistone, Michael recalled, "He was an undercover agent, he was doing his job, and he did his job better than we did ours."
The former mobster also claimed that there was a "relationship" between Hollywood and the mob. "A lot of guys had relationships but, again, we were all over the place," noted Michael, adding, "So, we met with a lot of people and we had a lot of relationships – no doubt."