Ralph Natale: Difference between revisions

{{shortShort description|American mobster (1935–2022)}}

| birth_place = [[South Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]], U.S.

'''Ralph Samuel Natale'''<ref name="Hearings">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4oxMIUskYbEC&dq=Ralph+Samuel+Natale&pg=PA189 |title=Organized Crime in America: Hearings Before the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary, January 27, February 16, March 2 and 3, 1983 |publisher=[[United States Government Publishing Office]] |year=1983 |location=United States |pages=189 |language=English}}</ref> (March 6, 1935 – January 22, 2022) was an American mobster. He was the [[Crime Bossboss|Bossboss]] of the [[Philadelphia crime family]] from 1995 until 1999, when he became the first [[American Mafia]] boss to [[turn state's evidence]].<ref name="boss rollcall">{{cite web|last=Anastasia|first=George|title=Ligambi was 6th boss to follow Bruno|url=http://articles.philly.com/2011-05-23/news/29574555_1_mob-boss-ralph-natale-antonio-tony-bananas-caponigro|work=Philly.com|accessdate=2011-09-September 13, 2011|date=2011-05-May 23, 2011}}</ref><ref name=brains>{{cite news|last=Braun|first=Stephen|title=This Mob Shot Its Brains Out|url=https://articleswww.latimes.com/2001archives/la-xpm-2001-may/-04/news/-mn-59280-story.html|accessdate=2011-09access-date=September 13, 2011|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=May 4, 2001-05-04}}</ref> Natale helped sentence [[Joey Merlino]] to a 14-year sentence in 2001, but in January 2005, was also sentenced for racketeering, receiving a 13-year sentence. He was released in May 2011 and entered the [[United States Federal Witness Protection Program|witness protection program]].

Natale was born on March 6, 1935, in [[South Philadelphia]] to [[Italian American]] parents; he had one younger brother.<ref name=last/> Natale's grandparents were Italian immigrants, and his paternal grandparents died in the [[1918 flu pandemic]] in Philadelphia.<ref name=last/> Michael, Natale's father, was an associate of the [[Philadelphia crime family]] and operated a [[Numbers game|numbers]] operation for them.<ref name=father/> His relationship with his father was very poor; he had once repeatedly kicked him because Natale missed his curfew.<ref name=father/> Natale was mentored by hitman Felix "Skinny Razor" DiTullio.<ref name=father>{{cite web|title=The Story of the First Mob Boss to Turn Rat|url=https://www.vice.com/en_uk/article/d7e4vz/the-story-of-the-first-mob-boss-to-turn-rat|website=Vice|accessdatedate=3March 14, 2017 |accessdate=October 3, 2017}}</ref> Natale ran the Bartenders Union Local 170, running it on behalf of [[Angelo Bruno]]. One of the three former 170 union leaders, Joseph McGreal, demanded that Natale be removed as the union leader; McGreal was subsequently murdered in 1973, with [[Andrew Thomas DelGiorno]] believed to be the killer.<ref>{{cite web|title=THE SKINNY ON JOEY|url=http://www.trentonian.com/article/20010331/TMP02/303319996|website=The Trentonian|accessdate=October 3, 2017|archive-date=October 3, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171003225615/http://www.trentonian.com/article/20010331/TMP02/303319996|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=bigmouth>{{cite web|title=Mr. Bigmouth|url=http://archives.citypaper.net/articles/032901/cb.citybeat.mob.shtml|publisher=Philadelphia City Paper|accessdate=2012-02-February 26, 2012|author=Jim Barry|author2=Howard Altman |date=March 29, 2001|archive-03date=February 21, 2013|archive-29url=https://archive.today/20130221232037/http://archives.citypaper.net/articles/032901/cb.citybeat.mob.shtml|url-status=dead}}</ref> According to Natale, he became a [[made man]] in a secret [[Initiation ritual (mafia)|ceremony]] with Bruno and [[Carlo Gambino]] in [[Manhattan]].<ref name=last>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=r9PrDAAAQBAJ&q=made|title=Last Don Standing: The Secret Life of Mob Boss Ralph Natale|author1=Larry McShane|author2=Dan Pearson|publisher=St. Martin's Press|year=2017|isbn=9781250095886}}</ref> In 1970, Natale murdered conman George Feeney after he insulted Natale and Bruno.<ref name=mag/> He was also known for assisting the Philadelphia mob in taking over casinos in [[Atlantic City]] during the late 1970s.<ref name=mag>{{cite web|url=https://www.phillymag.com/news/2017/03/04/ralph-natale-last-don-standing/|title=Ralph Natale and the Decline of the Philly Mob|publisher=phillymag.com|date=March 4, 2017}}</ref>

In 1979, Natale was convicted of arson for firebombing a furniture store in an [[insurance fraud]] scheme; he was sentenced to 12 years in prison.<ref name=bigmouth/><ref name=toughguy>{{cite news|last=Kummer|first=Frank|title=After years as mob boss, trial turns the spotlight on Natale|url=http://www.southjerseynews.com/camden/m122200f.htm|accessdate=2012-02-February 26, 2012|newspaper=Courier-Post|date=December 22, 2000|archive-12date=January 5, 2009|archive-22url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090105205327/http://www.southjerseynews.com/camden/m122200f.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> The following year, he was convicted of participating in a drug deal involving 500,000 [[quaalude]]s and 10 kilos of cocaine; he was sentenced to 15 years in prison.<ref name=father/> It was during his prison sentence that he met [[Joey Merlino]] and the two allegedly conspired to take over the Philadelphia crime family from [[John Stanfa]].<ref name="Recalling">Caparella, Kitty. "Recalling A Bloody Hit.". ''Philadelphia Daily News.''. April 24, 2001.</ref><ref name="Descent">Anastasia, George. "Mob Boss Natale Tells of 'Descent Into Hell'"." ''Philadelphia Inquirer.''. March 31, 2001.</ref> In 1990, he conspired and ordered the murder of bookmaker Louis "Louie Irish" DeLuca.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ralph's Mouth Silenced|url=https://mycitypaper.com/articles/2005-01-27/cb2.shtml|website=My City Paper|accessdate=3 October 3, 2017}}</ref> James "Jimmy Brooms" DiAddorio was shot 6six times and murdered whilst he was talking on the phone 4four months later; his murder also directly ordered by Natale.<ref>{{cite news|title=Philadelphia Braces for Increase in Mob Violence|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/09/05/us/philadelphia-braces-for-increase-in-mob-violence.html|website=The New York Times|date=5 September 5, 1993|accessdate=3 October 3, 2017}}</ref>

Stanfa was arrested for [[Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act]] violations in March 1994, was convicted in 1995,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/11/22/us/jury-convicts-philadelphia-s-mob-leader.html|title=Jury Convicts Philadelphia's Mob Leader|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=November 22, 1995|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090413231924/https://www.nytimes.com/1995/11/22/us/jury-convicts-philadelphia-s-mob-leader.html|archive-date=2009-04-April 13, 2009}}</ref> and sentenced to life in 1996.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1996/07/09/Stanfa-given-life-term/5473836884800/|title=Stanfa given life term|publisher=upi.com|date=July 9, 1996}}</ref> With most of Stanfa's supporters also arrested and convicted, Merlino, released from prison in November 1994, named Natale, who was released from prison on parole, as the new boss while positioning himself as his [[underboss]]. During Natale's reign, Merlino was the real power in the family, allowing Natale to become boss to direct law enforcement attention away from himself.<ref name=toughguy/><ref>{{cite book|last=Anastasia|first=George|title=The Last Gangster|year=2004|publisher=HarperCollins|location=New York|isbn=978-0-06-054423-2|pages=[https://archive.org/details/lastgangsterfrom00anas_0/page/70 70–72]|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/lastgangsterfrom00anas_0/page/70}}</ref><ref name="CP front">{{cite web|title=Who's the Boss?|url=http://archives.citypaper.net/articles/032201/cb.citybeat.mob.shtml|publisher=Philadelphia City Paper|accessdate=2011-09-September 13, 2011|author=Jim Barry|author2=Howard Altman|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130221085240/http://archives.citypaper.net/articles/032201/cb.citybeat.mob.shtml|archivedate=2013-02-February 21, 2013}}</ref>

On October 5, 1995, when John Veasey, Philly mafia hitman-turned government witness, was set to testify against [[John Stanfa]] and his men, his brother William Veasey was murdered.<ref name=veasey>{{cite web|last=Raab |first=Selwyn |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=990CE5DB123AF935A35753C1A963958260 |title=Brother of Mob Turncoat Is Gunned Down - NYTimes.com |location=Philadelphia (Pa) |work=New York Times |date=October 6, 1995-10-06 |accessdate=2013-10-October 30, 2013}}</ref> A year later, Natale had North Jersey capo Joseph Sodano murdered because he refused to attend two separate meetings.<ref>{{cite web|title=Alleged mobster arrested, faces murder charges|url=http://www.newjerseyhills.com/alleged-mobster-arrested-faces-murder-charges/article_96b3b68a-903a-598b-80d2-a1d8ba2f166a.html|website=Cherry Hills Media Group|accessdatedate=3April 5, 2001 |accessdate=October 3, 2017}}</ref> His last confirmed involvement in murder was with 61-year old Anthony Turra in March 1998, who was found shot to death in front of his home before he could arrivecome to trial for plotting to murder Merlino.<ref>{{cite web|title=Charged With Planning Mob Hit, Reputed Gangster Slain On Street|url=httphttps://articleswww.chicagotribune.com/1998-/03-/19/news/9803190139_1_josephcharged-skinnywith-joeyplanning-merlinomob-hit-reputed-mobgangster-slain-on-street/|website=Chicago Tribune|accessdatedate=3March 19, 1998 |access-date=October 3, 2017}}</ref>

In June 1998, Natale was jailed for a parole violation; Merlino subsequently took control of the family and cut off support to the imprisoned boss.<ref>{{cite web|title=Hit Recordings|url=http://archives.citypaper.net/articles/040501/cb.citybeat.mob.shtml|publisher=Philadelphia City Paper|accessdate=2011-11-November 23, 2011|author=Jim Barry|author2=Howard Altman |date=April 5, 2001|archive-04date=December 9, 2012|archive-05url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121209053858/http://archives.citypaper.net/articles/040501/cb.citybeat.mob.shtml|url-status=dead}}</ref> Angered by this, Natale offered to secretly record conversations with Merlino,<ref>Anastasia (2004), p. 337</ref> but it was not until September 1999, when he was indicted for financing drug deals, that he formally struck a deal to cooperate.<ref name=brains/><ref>Anastasia (2004), p. 263</ref> In doing so, Natale became the first sitting boss in the history of the American Mafia to become government informant.<ref name=informant/>

Natale testified against Merlino during his 2001 racketeering trial, but was unable to secure a conviction for the murders he claimedalleged Merlino committed.<ref>{{cite news|title=7 Reputed Mafia Figures Are Acquitted of Murder|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/07/21/us/7-reputed-mafia-figures-are-acquitted-of-murder.html?scp=4&sq=ralph%20natale&st=cse|accessdate=2011-09-September 14, 2011|newspaper=The New York Times|date=2001-07-July 21, 2001}}</ref> On December 3, 2001, Merlino was however convicted of racketeering charges and given a 14-year prison sentence.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E06EFDE163CF937A35751C1A9679C8B63 | work=The New York Times | title= Mid-Atlantic: Pennsylvania: Mobster Gets 14 Years | date=December 4, 2001 | accessdate=May 7, 2010}}</ref> Natale had admitted to committing eight murders and four attempted murders.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2001/04/06/a-made-man-turns-into-star-witness/93c52103-ecdb-423e-a2c5-ac801939c536/|title=A 'Made' Man Turns Into Star Witness|work=washingtonpost.com|date=April 6, 2001}}</ref> In January 2005, Natale was sentenced to 13 years in prison for drug dealing, racketeering and bribery.<ref name=informant>{{cite news|title=NATION IN BRIEF|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A27826-2005Jan21.html|accessdate=2011-11-November 23, 2011|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=2005-01-January 22, 2005}}</ref> He was released in May 2011, and placed in [[United States Federal Witness Protection Program|witness protection]].<ref>{{cite web|title=About Ralph Natale|url=http://articles.philly.com/2011-09-02/news/30106310_1_ralph-natale-joseph-skinny-joey-merlino-philadelphia-mob|work=Philly.com|accessdate=2012-01-January 27, 2012|date=September 2, 2011-09-02}}</ref><ref name="memoir july">{{cite news|last=Gross|first=Dan|title=Mob boss turned rat Ralph Natale working on a memoir|url=http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/phillygossip/Mob-boss-turned-rat-Ralph-Natale-working-on-a-memoir.html|accessdate=2012-01-January 27, 2012|newspaper=Philadelphia Daily News|date=2011-07-July 28, 2011}}</ref>

In March 2017, Natale published a book called ''Last Don Standing: The Secret Life of Mob Boss Ralph Natale'', alongside Larry McShane and Dan Pearson. In late 2016, it was announced that actor [[Frank Grillo]] would play as Natale in an upcoming feature film.<ref>{{cite web|title=Frank Grillo to Play Ralph Natale in Last Don Standing|url=https://variety.com/2016/film/news/frank-grillo-ralph-natale-last-don-standing-1201916361/|website=Variety|date=12 November 12, 2016|accessdate=3 October 3, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Frank Grillo Takes On Made Man In 'Last Don Standing': Philly Mob Boss Biopic|url=https://deadline.com/2016/11/frank-grillo-ralph-natale-last-don-standing-movie-philadelphia-mob-boss-1201852887/|website=Deadline|date=11 November 11, 2016|accessdate=3 October 3, 2017}}</ref> On January 22, 2022, Ralph Natale died at the age of 86.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Burnstein |first1=Scott |title=Last Don Standing No More: One-Time Philly Mob Boss Ralph Natale Dies At 86, Was First Sitting Godfather To Join Team U.S.A. |url=https://gangsterreport.com/last-don-standing-no-more-one-time-philly-mob-boss-ralph-natale-dies-at-86-was-first-sitting-godfather-to-join-team-u-s-a/ |access-date=25 January 25, 2022 |publisher=The Gangster Report |date=24 January 24, 2022}}</ref>

[[Category:PhiladelphiaAmerican crimeMafia familycooperating witnesses]]