Prisoner who was once a mob boss finds solace in religion and vows to uphold a righteous lifestyle: "My faith is unwavering."

As a child, Michael Franzese suspected his father was in the mafia.

"The Brooklyn native recounted to Planet Chronicle Digital how his dad took him and his mom to his grandmother's house on Long Island one day when he was probably four or five years old. They hadn't seen him for a couple of days, and when they arrived, his dad was unshaven. He had a very heavy beard. His right-hand guy, whom he called Uncle Joey, was out on the porch, sitting on the steps, watching like a guard."

"The 73-year-old shared that her dad came in and hugged her mom, then hugged her before leaving. She found it strange as nobody explained anything to her. It turned out that the family was at war, and her dad couldn't stay home due to his high-profile status. He was always getting arrested and indicted, and they had law enforcement around them all the time. It was a part of her whole life."

The History Channel is premiering a new docuseries, "American Godfathers: The Five Families," which features Franzese, who will discuss his journey to becoming a mob boss like his father. The special, produced and narrated by Michael Imperioli, examines the rise and fall of New York City's five mafia families.

Franzese is the author of several books, including "Blood Covenant."

"Franzese stated, "My own family was destroyed, and I believe it's an evil lifestyle that leads to the destruction of families. In my opinion, it's not a romantic life, but rather a bad one.""

John "Sonny" Franzese, the father of Franzese, was once the underboss of the Colombo Crime Family. He was known for his toughness and spent lavishly, mingling with Frank Sinatra and Marilyn Monroe. However, a bank robbery conviction made him the country's oldest federal prisoner.

At Hofstra University, Franzese was a pre-med student with grand aspirations of becoming a doctor. However, the allure of a life in crime proved irresistible and he eventually made an offer that the patriarch couldn't refuse.

"My dad received a 50-year prison sentence for allegedly orchestrating a nationwide string of bank robberies," Franzese stated. "This was a pivotal moment for me. My dad is 50 years old. If he doesn't get released, he will die in prison. I felt a responsibility to assist him."

"I finally said, ‘Dad, I’m not going to school. I’m going to help you. You’re going to die in prison,’" Franzese remembered. "That’s when he said to me, ‘If you’re going to be on the street, I want you on the street the right way.’"

In 1975, on Halloween night, Franzese turned 21 and was inducted into "the life."

During his initiation ceremony, Franzese had his finger cut with a knife. He held his hands up and placed a photo of a saint on his palms. The photo was then set on fire. As it burned, he was told, "Tonight, you are reborn into a new life. Betray your brothers, and you’ll die and burn in hell like the saint is burning in your hands."

Franzese was immediately appointed to lead 300 soldiers, according to Esquire. The outlet reported that he primarily focused on tax scams. As the "Yuppie Don," Franzese boasted of generating $5 million to $8 million a week at the peak of his mafia career.

"Franzese revealed that he earned his first million within two years of becoming a made man. He amassed a substantial amount of wealth in his late 20s and early 30s. He was quick, fortunate, and knew how to use his success to his advantage. He wanted to prove himself and provide for his family."

"He boasted about owning a jet plane, a helicopter, houses in Florida, New York, and California, having a racquetball court, and commanding 300 men."

Franzese was a highly successful Mafia boss who made millions through a gasoline tax scam, earning him the nickname "Mafia Prince." He was also recognized as one of the most wealthy and powerful Mafia bosses by Fortune Magazine.

"Franzese confessed that he was deeply entrenched in the lifestyle he had been raised in. He never considered leaving it behind. However, he became a prime target and was arrested 18 times, indicted seven times, and went to trial five times. He was constantly pursued by law enforcement."

In 1984, he became infatuated with Camille Garcia, a dancer from California, which caused him to doubt his future with the mob.

"He stated that he knew life was difficult because his mother spent 33 years without a husband and had an ugly relationship with his dad, whom she blamed for everything that went wrong in her life. Additionally, his sister died of an overdose at 27, his older brother was a drug addict for 25 years, and his other sister wasn't mentally stable, passing away at 40."

"I'm falling in love with this girl, but I'm scared of what it could mean for both of us. I'm a target, and I don't want to put her through the same thing. My family is a warring family, and I don't want to cause any more pain. I need to think carefully before making any decisions."

In 1985, Franzese married Garcia, but he was also charged with gasoline tax swindle in both Florida and New York. He pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. However, he was released on parole after nearly four years. Later, he was sent back to federal prison for four more years for violating his probation.

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A Bible was given to Franzese by a prison guard while he was incarcerated, and it had a significant impact on him.

Between 1991 and 1994, Franzese turned to a different kind of life.

"He stated that his wife is a strong Christian, his mother-in-law was a very strong Christian, he thoroughly read the Bible, and he concluded that Christianity is true and real. The church that married him and his wife, the pastor, and all the people there supported his wife and babies during a difficult time. They sent him books to prison, and they were very kind to his family. This new belief gave him hope."

In 1995, Franzese left the mob for good. Now, he is a devoted Christian.

""My faith in Christianity is unwavering at 100%, even though I may not always practice it perfectly," he stated."

"He shared that it was difficult for him to walk away from his former life without hurting anyone. He had taken an oath to his dad and didn't want to disappoint him, but he chose his wife. He put together a plan to leave without causing any harm, but it was a difficult path to walk. He didn't want to join the government or enter a witness-protection program. He had to convince the government that he was out of the life, and people got mad at him and put a contract on his life. His father practically disowned him, and the feds were all over him. They wanted to make him a major witness. However, they got through it."

During his reign, Franzese emphasized that he did not imprison anyone. He also had few enemies. However, for a decade, he and his father were estranged.

"Franzese stated, "I repeatedly messaged him, asserting, 'Dad, I won't harm anyone. Disregard the federal authorities' claims,'" but it is commonly said that " . . . and they eventually testify in court. It took him approximately 10 years to comprehend, 'He isn't causing any harm.'""

Esquire reported that Franzese and his family moved to California to avoid death threats. He never visited the same restaurant twice, kept his home and utilities under different names, and avoided nightclubs. Eventually, he outlived everyone.

"All the people I'm familiar with are either deceased or incarcerated," Franzese stated. "The majority of them are now deceased."

Although Franzese has many regrets, not carving a new path for himself is not one of them.

"I regret the falling out I had with my dad, which resulted in the loss of a close friendship," he said.

"Although there were many regrets, we believed in what we were doing at the time. It doesn't mean that all men are bad. There were plenty of good men. We felt we were doing the right thing and took an oath. We thought it was honorable and respectable, but our minds were not fully developed."

The History Channel's "American Godfathers: The Five Families" will air on August 11th at 8 p.m.