Ralph Natale: Difference between revisions

'''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 boss|boss]] 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=September 13, 2011|date=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|accessdateaccess-date=September 13, 2011|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=May 4, 2001}}</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|date=March 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=February 26, 2012|author=Jim Barry|author2=Howard Altman |date=March 29, 2001|archive-date=February 21, 2013|archive-url=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=February 26, 2012|newspaper=Courier-Post|date=December 22, 2000|archive-date=January 5, 2009|archive-url=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=October 3, 2017}}</ref> James "Jimmy Brooms" DiAddorio was shot six times and murdered whilst he was talking on the phone four 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=September 5, 1993|accessdate=October 3, 2017}}</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 |location=Philadelphia (Pa) |work=New York Times |date=October 6, 1995 |accessdate=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|date=April 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 come 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=March 19, 1998 |access-date=October 3, 2017}}</ref>

[[Category:PhiladelphiaAmerican crimeMafia familycooperating witnesses]]