Michael Franzese, a former captain of the Colombo crime family, claimed that his father, John “Sonny” Franzese, drew the attention of the federal government after being linked to a claim involving Marilyn Monroe and Robert F. Kennedy. Speaking on the “Hang Out with Sean Hannity” podcast, Franzese shared details passed down by his late father.

According to Franzese, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy instructed FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover to focus on his father after Monroe allegedly mentioned Sonny Franzese during a private moment with Kennedy. The elder Franzese reportedly had an affair with Monroe after meeting her at New York’s Stork Club. “Now this is my father telling me this,” Franzese recounted. “She’s with Bobby Kennedy, and he said ‘One night they were having fun together, and she screamed out my name.'”

I don’t know who this Sonny guy is, but put him in jail.

John “Sonny” Franzese was photographed in police custody in 1966. His son explained this conversation emerged after the death of his mother in 2012. When Michael Franzese asked his father why federal agents monitored their home extensively despite other Mafia figures like Colombo and Genovese existing, his father revealed this connection to Monroe’s alleged mention.

Franzese reasoned that his father’s alleged targeting made sense. “You know what, Dad, I know you embellish things a little bit, but that kind of makes sense,” he reflected. Franzese recalled Hoover refusing to acknowledge the Mafia’s existence, suggesting they had dirt on Hoover at the time.

John “Sonny” Franzese was eventually arrested in 1967, convicted of planning several bank heists, and sentenced to 50 years in federal prison, later being paroled. He was re-sentenced on racketeering charges in 2011 before dying in 2020 at age 103.

Michael Franzese also spoke about a lucrative gas tax scheme that generated millions weekly. He described how the family collected gas taxes while avoiding payments to the government, personally profiting $3 million to $4 million each week.

Sean Hannity joined Franzese on the podcast to explore Franzese’s operations involving a $10 billion gas tax scam. Franzese emphasized this story’s importance in understanding the historical context of his family’s involvement with organized crime and government attention.