Colombo underboss John (Sonny) Franzese could be out prison for his 100th birthday - with time off for good behavior.
The 93-year-old gangster was sentenced Friday to eight years for shaking down the Hustler and Penthouse strip joints and a Long Island pizzeria.
Federal Judge Brian Cogan said he was troubled by handing the mobster what could amount to a life sentence, but assistant U.S. Attorney Cristina Posa said that's exactly what the murderous mobster deserves.
"He has never held an honest job for a day in his life," Posa told the judge. "He's essentially lived as a parasite off the hard work of others by shaking them down."
The prosecutor said it was disturbing that Franzese is constantly referred to as a "legend" in films and newspaper articles.
"He is largely responsible for the glamorization of the Mafia over the past century. For him to die now as a criminal in jail is not an inappropriate response to the lifestyle he lived."
More than a half-century ago, Franzese cut a charismatic figure. sitting in the front row when Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr. or Jimmy Roselli were in town.
He was a fearsome figure, too, having been kicked out of the Army during World War II due to homicidal tendencies.
Although he was never convicted of murder, Franzese told an informant he had participated in at least 60 gangland killings.
The informant taped Franzese instructing him on how to get rid of corpses: dismember the victim in a kiddie pool, then cook the bones in a microwave oven.
Three years ago when Franzese found out his son, John Jr., was an FBI informant, he thought about whacking his own flesh and blood, FBI agent Vincent D'Agostino said yesterday.
"He told \[the informant\] that there would come a time to call his son and \[Franzese\] gestured with his forefinger and thumb…indicating that they would kill him," D'Agostino said.
The son wasn't killed and went on to testify against Franzese last year, helping to convict him of racketeering and extortion charges.
Defense lawyer Richard Lind said his client's hearing aid wasn't working so it wasn't clear how much he took in.
When it was his turn to speak, Franzese grumbled: "What am I gonna say? I didn't get a fair...I never got a ruling in my favor."
Lind quickly covered the microphone mouthpiece with his hand and told the judge that Franzese had nothing to say.
Franzese's estranged wife Cristina, 75, who is feuding with his daughters and grandchildren, did not attend the sentencing.
"I'm going to die soon and Sonny's going to die soon so however he comes out of jail, he comes out," she said Friday.
"I'd fight for him till the day I die," she said. "I'm not happy with the sentence but I think Judge Cogan is a fair man because he tried to reduce the sentence."
Franzese, who looks 20 years younger than his age, is confined to a wheelchair and had several illnesses.
He could have gotten up to 15 years in prison.
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