Prodigal Son of the Mafia
Producer David Permuth (Out of Conscience) talks about the scandal inside the Colombo crime family. The Oscar nominee is preparing a picture about the son of the legendary mafioso John "Sonny" Franchese, who leaked dirt on his father.The Columbo Syndicate is part of the so-called Five of Families of the New York Mafia. Franchese Sr. joined the Italian-American group in the late 30s. A quarter of a century later, he rose to the rank of Deputy Don and became the second person in the hierarchy of the criminal structure. John Franchese Jr. dreamed of following in his father's footsteps, but became addicted to alcohol and drugs. In the 90s, he caught AIDS and redefined his outlook on life. John gave up crime and made a deal with the authorities. He wore a wiretap several times for the FBI to record important mafia communications. When the truth came to light, John took advantage of the witness protection program. Thanks to his testimony, Franchese Sr. received an eight-year sentence and became the only prisoner in the United States at the age of over a hundred years.  The start of work on the film coincided with the news of Sonny's death. The offender was released in 2017 and managed to make peace with his son. Source: Variety The Topic of Article: Prodigal Son of the Mafia. |
