Ralph Natale (March 6, 1935 – January 22, 2022) was an American mobster. He was the boss of the Philadelphia crime family from 1995 until 1999, when he became the first American Mafia boss to turn state's evidence.[1][2] 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 witness protection program.
Ralph Natale | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 6, 1935 South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | January 22, 2022 (aged 86) |
| Occupation | Crime boss |
| Spouse | Lucy Natale |
| Children | 6 |
| Allegiance | Philadelphia crime family |
| Conviction(s) | Arson (1979) Drug trafficking (1980) Racketeering (2005) |
| Criminal penalty | 12 years' imprisonment 15 years' imprisonment 13 years' imprisonment |
Early life
Natale was born on March 6, 1935, in South Philadelphia to Italian American parents; he had one younger brother.[3] Natale's grandparents were Italian immigrants, and his paternal grandparents died in the 1918 flu pandemic in Philadelphia.[3] Michael, Natale's father, was an associate of the Philadelphia crime family and operated a numbers operation for them.[4] His relationship with his father was very poor; he had once repeatedly kicked him because Natale missed his curfew.[4] Natale was mentored by hitman Felix "Skinny Razor" DiTullio.[4] 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.[5][6] According to Natale, he became a made man in a secret ceremony with Bruno and Carlo Gambino in Manhattan.[3] In 1970, Natale murdered conman George Feeney after he insulted Natale and Bruno.[7] He was also known for assisting the Philadelphia mob in taking over casinos in Atlantic City during the late 1970s.[7]
Criminal career
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.[6][8] The following year, he was convicted of participating in a drug deal involving 500,000 quaaludes and 10 kilos of cocaine; he was sentenced to 15 years in prison.[4] 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.[9][10] In 1990, he conspired and ordered the murder of bookmaker Louis "Louie Irish" DeLuca.[11] 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.[12]
Stanfa was arrested for Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act violations in March 1994, was convicted in 1995,[13] and sentenced to life in 1996.[14] 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.[8][15][16]
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.[17] A year later, Natale had North Jersey capo Joseph Sodano murdered because he refused to attend two separate meetings.[18] 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.[19]
Informant
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.[20] Angered by this, Natale offered to secretly record conversations with Merlino,[21] but it was not until September 1999, when he was indicted for financing drug deals, that he formally struck a deal to cooperate.[2][22] In doing so, Natale became the first sitting boss in the history of the American Mafia to become government informant.[23]
Natale testified against Merlino during his 2001 racketeering trial, but was unable to secure a conviction for the murders he alleged Merlino committed.[24] On December 3, 2001, Merlino was however convicted of racketeering charges and given a 14-year prison sentence.[25] Natale had admitted to committing eight murders and four attempted murders.[26] In January 2005, Natale was sentenced to 13 years in prison for drug dealing, racketeering and bribery.[23] He was released in May 2011, and placed in witness protection.[27][28]
Later life and death
Natale had five children with his wife Lucy Natale: three daughters and two sons. He had another daughter with a previous girlfriend; she disowned her father. Natale had a brother who was a music conductor as of 2001 at a casino based in Atlantic City.
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.[29][30] On January 22, 2022, Ralph Natale died at the age of 86.[31]
References
- ^ Anastasia, George (May 23, 2011). "Ligambi was 6th boss to follow Bruno". Philly.com. Retrieved September 13, 2011.
- ^ a b Braun, Stephen (May 4, 2001). "This Mob Shot Its Brains Out". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 13, 2011.
- ^ a b c Larry McShane; Dan Pearson (2017). Last Don Standing: The Secret Life of Mob Boss Ralph Natale. St. Martin's Press. ISBN 9781250095886.
- ^ a b c d "The Story of the First Mob Boss to Turn Rat". Vice. Retrieved October 3, 2017.
- ^ "THE SKINNY ON JOEY". The Trentonian. Retrieved October 3, 2017.
- ^ a b Jim Barry; Howard Altman (March 29, 2001). "Mr. Bigmouth". Philadelphia City Paper. Retrieved February 26, 2012.
- ^ a b "Ralph Natale and the Decline of the Philly Mob". phillymag.com. March 4, 2017.
- ^ a b Kummer, Frank (December 22, 2000). "After years as mob boss, trial turns the spotlight on Natale". Courier-Post. Retrieved February 26, 2012.
- ^ Caparella, Kitty. "Recalling A Bloody Hit". Philadelphia Daily News. April 24, 2001.
- ^ Anastasia, George. "Mob Boss Natale Tells of 'Descent Into Hell'". Philadelphia Inquirer. March 31, 2001.
- ^ "Ralph's Mouth Silenced". My City Paper. Retrieved October 3, 2017.
- ^ "Philadelphia Braces for Increase in Mob Violence". The New York Times. September 5, 1993. Retrieved October 3, 2017.
- ^ "Jury Convicts Philadelphia's Mob Leader". The New York Times. November 22, 1995. Archived from the original on April 13, 2009.
- ^ "Stanfa given life term". upi.com. July 9, 1996.
- ^ Anastasia, George (2004). The Last Gangster. New York: HarperCollins. pp. 70–72. ISBN 978-0-06-054423-2.
- ^ Jim Barry; Howard Altman. "Who's the Boss?". Philadelphia City Paper. Archived from the original on February 21, 2013. Retrieved September 13, 2011.
- ^ Raab, Selwyn (October 6, 1995). "Brother of Mob Turncoat Is Gunned Down". New York Times. Philadelphia (Pa). Retrieved October 30, 2013.
- ^ "Alleged mobster arrested, faces murder charges". Cherry Hills Media Group. Retrieved October 3, 2017.
- ^ "Charged With Planning Mob Hit, Reputed Gangster Slain On Street". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved October 3, 2017.
- ^ Jim Barry; Howard Altman (April 5, 2001). "Hit Recordings". Philadelphia City Paper. Retrieved November 23, 2011.
- ^ Anastasia (2004), p. 337
- ^ Anastasia (2004), p. 263
- ^ a b "NATION IN BRIEF". The Washington Post. January 22, 2005. Retrieved November 23, 2011.
- ^ "7 Reputed Mafia Figures Are Acquitted of Murder". The New York Times. July 21, 2001. Retrieved September 14, 2011.
- ^ "Mid-Atlantic: Pennsylvania: Mobster Gets 14 Years". The New York Times. December 4, 2001. Retrieved May 7, 2010.
- ^ "A 'Made' Man Turns Into Star Witness". washingtonpost.com. April 6, 2001.
- ^ "About Ralph Natale". Philly.com. September 2, 2011. Retrieved January 27, 2012.
- ^ Gross, Dan (July 28, 2011). "Mob boss turned rat Ralph Natale working on a memoir". Philadelphia Daily News. Retrieved January 27, 2012.
- ^ "Frank Grillo to Play Ralph Natale in Last Don Standing". Variety. November 12, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2017.
- ^ "Frank Grillo Takes On Made Man In 'Last Don Standing': Philly Mob Boss Biopic". Deadline. November 11, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2017.
- ^ Burnstein, Scott (January 24, 2022). "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." The Gangster Report. Retrieved January 25, 2022.