Charges dismissed against reformed-mob-boss-turned-minister

A self-proclaimed reformed mob boss--later arrested on bad check accusations in East Tennessee on his way to a ministry event--has had the charges against him dropped, after he paid court costs.

Michael Franzese was arrested back in January by the Airport Authority at McGhee Tyson Airport. Franzese's ministry focuses on leaving the Colombo crime family after becoming a born-again Christian.

At the time of his arrest, he was on his way be the keynote speaker at a Sevier Heights Baptist Church men's conference, called "The Good, The Bad, and The Forgiven." That shares the name of his book.

But an outstanding warrant from Williamson County--accusing him of passing worthless checks--resulted in his arrest.

Now, that matter has been resolved.

In a release from Franzese's publicist, the episode is characterized as a dispute between Franzese and a former manager over a small amount of money. In that release, Franzese says he did nothing wrong, he did not pass bad checks, and he didn't take any merchandise.

The two charges against Franzese were dismissed after he paid court costs.

In a statement, Franzese said he bore no ill will toward his former manager and said, "God's purpose is never served when disagreements among his people are brought to the courts for resolution."

via wbir.com

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