Ralph Natale

Ralph Natale (born March 6, 1935) is a former American mobster. He was the leader 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 (1935-03-06) March 6, 1935
South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
OccupationCrime boss
Spouse(s)Lucy Natale
Children6
AllegiancePhiladelphia crime family
Conviction(s)Arson (1979)
Drug trafficking (1980)
Racketeering (2005)
Criminal penalty12 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 6 times and murdered whilst he was talking on the phone 4 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 arrive 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 claimed 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

Natale has five children with his wife Lucy Natale; 3 daughters and 2 sons. He has another daughter with a previous girlfriend, she has disowned her father. Natale has a brother who was a music conductor as of 2001 at a casino based in Atlantic City. In March 2017, Natale published a book named 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]

References
  1. Anastasia, George (2011-05-23). "Ligambi was 6th boss to follow Bruno". Philly.com. Retrieved 2011-09-13.
  2. Braun, Stephen (2001-05-04). "This Mob Shot Its Brains Out". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2011-09-13.
  3. Larry McShane; Dan Pearson (2017). Last Don Standing: The Secret Life of Mob Boss Ralph Natale. St. Martin's Press.
  4. "The Story of the First Mob Boss to Turn Rat". Vice. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  5. "THE SKINNY ON JOEY". The Trentonian. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  6. Jim Barry; Howard Altman (2001-03-29). "Mr. Bigmouth". Philadelphia City Paper. Retrieved 2012-02-26.
  7. "Ralph Natale and the Decline of the Philly Mob". phillymag.com. March 4, 2017.
  8. Kummer, Frank (2000-12-22). "After years as mob boss, trial turns the spotlight on Natale". Courier-Post. Retrieved 2012-02-26.
  9. Caparella, Kitty. "Recalling A Bloody Hit." Philadelphia Daily News. April 24, 2001.
  10. Anastasia, George. "Mob Boss Natale Tells of 'Descent Into Hell'." Philadelphia Inquirer. March 31, 2001.
  11. "Ralph's Mouth Silenced". My City Paper. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  12. "Philadelphia Braces for Increase in Mob Violence". The New York Times. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  13. "Jury Convicts Philadelphia's Mob Leader". nytimes.com. November 22, 1995.
  14. "Stanfa given life term". upi.com. July 9, 1996.
  15. Anastasia, George (2004). The Last Gangster. New York: HarperCollins. pp. 70–72. ISBN 978-0-06-054423-2.
  16. Jim Barry; Howard Altman. "Who's the Boss?". Philadelphia City Paper. Archived from the original on 2013-02-21. Retrieved 2011-09-13.
  17. Raab, Selwyn (1995-10-06). "Brother of Mob Turncoat Is Gunned Down - NYTimes.com". New York Times. Philadelphia (Pa). Retrieved 2013-10-30.
  18. "Alleged mobster arrested, faces murder charges". Cherry Hills Media Group. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  19. "Charged With Planning Mob Hit, Reputed Gangster Slain On Street". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  20. Jim Barry; Howard Altman (2001-04-05). "Hit Recordings". Philadelphia City Paper. Retrieved 2011-11-23.
  21. Anastasia (2004), p. 337
  22. Anastasia (2004), p. 263
  23. "NATION IN BRIEF". Washington Post. 2005-01-22. Retrieved 2011-11-23.
  24. "7 Reputed Mafia Figures Are Acquitted of Murder". New York Times. 2001-07-21. Retrieved 2011-09-14.
  25. "Mid-Atlantic: Pennsylvania: Mobster Gets 14 Years". The New York Times. December 4, 2001. Retrieved May 7, 2010.
  26. "A 'Made' Man Turns Into Star Witness". washingtonpost.com. April 6, 2001.
  27. "About Ralph Natale". Philly.com. 2011-09-02. Retrieved 2012-01-27.
  28. Gross, Dan (2011-07-28). "Mob boss turned rat Ralph Natale working on a memoir". Philadelphia Daily News. Retrieved 2012-01-27.
  29. "Frank Grillo to Play Ralph Natale in Last Don Standing". Variety. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  30. "Frank Grillo Takes On Made Man In 'Last Don Standing': Philly Mob Boss Biopic". Deadline. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.