21 Facts About Ralph Natale

Ralph Natale 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.

Ralph Natale was released in May 2011 and entered the witness protection program.

Ralph Natale was born on March 6,1935, in South Philadelphia to Italian American parents; he had one younger brother.

Ralph Natale's grandparents were Italian immigrants, and his paternal grandparents died in the 1918 flu pandemic in Philadelphia.

Michael, Ralph Natale's father, was an associate of the Philadelphia crime family and operated a numbers operation for them.

Ralph 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 Ralph Natale be removed as the union leader; McGreal was murdered in 1973, with Andrew Thomas DelGiorno believed to be the killer.

In 1970, Ralph Natale murdered conman George Feeney after he insulted Ralph Natale and Bruno.

Ralph Natale was known for assisting the Philadelphia mob in taking over casinos in Atlantic City during the late 1970s.

In 1979, Ralph Natale was convicted of arson for firebombing a furniture store in an insurance fraud scheme; he was sentenced to 12 years in prison.

Ralph Natale's 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.

In June 1998, Ralph Natale was jailed for a parole violation; Merlino subsequently took control of the family and cut off support to the imprisoned boss.

In doing so, Ralph Natale became the first sitting boss in the history of the American Mafia to become government informant.

Ralph Natale testified against Merlino during his 2001 racketeering trial, but was unable to secure a conviction for the murders he alleged Merlino committed.

Ralph Natale had admitted to committing eight murders and four attempted murders.

In January 2005, Ralph Natale was sentenced to 13 years in prison for drug dealing, racketeering and bribery.

Ralph Natale was released in May 2011, and placed in witness protection.

Ralph Natale had five children with his wife Lucy Ralph Natale: three daughters and two sons.

Ralph Natale had another daughter with a previous girlfriend; she disowned her father.

Ralph Natale had a brother who was a music conductor as of 2001 at a casino based in Atlantic City.

On January 22,2022, Ralph Natale died at the age of 86.