Ralph Natale the former Philadelphia mafia boss turned government witness is set to tell his life story in his upcoming book “Lost Lives and Forgotten Vows” to be published in 2016.
Natale will become only the second mafia boss ever to write a book telling his own life story following in the footsteps of fellow mob boss Joseph Bonanno. Dan Pearson producer of (I Married a Mobster) and New York Daily News investigator Larry McShane will help Natale tell his story and the book will be published by Thomas Dunne Books.
“Ralph Natale“
After being released from prison in 1994 he became the boss of the Philly mafia from then imprisoned boss John Stanfa with the help of young mob power Joey Merlino. Natale held the title of boss from 1995 until 1999 when he was jailed on a parole violation and Merlino took over control of the family cutting ties with the former boss. While in prison Ralph would be indicted on drug charges and decide to turn rat and become the first American mafia boss to turn government witness.
Natale is believed by many to have been nothing more than a front boss for Philly mob power Joseph Merlino although it’s not quite the way Natale sees things. Concerned about heat from law enforcement Merlino took the position of underboss and allowed Natale to hold the title of boss in hopes he would be the lightning rod. He would go on to testify against Merlino in a 2001 racketeering trial and as part of his deal with the government was sentenced to 13 years in prison in 2005 but was released into witness protection in 2011.
The upcoming books claim to be a behind-the-scenes master’s class on organized crime and a glimpse into not only mafia but American history. Producer Dan Pearson said “Ralph out killed and outsmarted his adversaries” and now he gets to tell his story giving readers a look into the mob.
Even though i think like many that Natale was nothing more then a Merlino yes man this could be an interesting read.
I agree, can’t wait to read wht he has to say as well.
There will likely be some real “stretch” to this one with i think a few tid bits of interesting info. So it may in the end be a worth reading mix.
no way i am getting this i find natale sickening he was not even a made guy till 1994 close with bruno what aload of rubbish philip leonetti says the guy was a nobody. Joey had no right to make the guy joey was a soldier and he made ralph an associate the boss ralph was just a figure head surrounded by meth dealers i despise the guy to be honest he trys to make him self sound more important but he has always been a joke when he cooperated and testfied against joey and his guys all the murders he accused them of they were found not guilty ralph had no idea what was going on joey was the real boss ralph was a boss in his own mind he was nothing more than a drug dealer everyone in the east coast knows it if he had been on the streets during the early 90s he would of never been boss he only got made boss because he became friendly with joey while in prison if he had been out of prison in the early 90s not only would he have no crew behind him he would of not got involved in the war no way his best friend was the peter whos top guy was a pedophile who ralph wanted to make i have no interest in reading his bullshit on the mob he was always a bullshiter claiming he was going to set up all these rackets he never did or he never says how he bitch slapped an associate for now calling his girlfriend by her right name or how he got attacked in front of restaurent full of bikers and merlinos guys by his girlfirend DONT buy the book
I agree on most of that but i do find it amusing that he actually thinks he was the real boss and power behind the Philly mob during his tenure as a figurehead. I think we all know Merlino was always calling the shots and needed Natale to be the face and lightning rod as he could see the feds coming sooner rather then later. I am actually curious as to how vast the “facts” Natale pens as being true will be in this one. Looking at it more for entertainment then for historical mob history accuracy.
No matter if everything in the book are lies,the Govt will say it’s the truth. Many guys were sent to prison,on his testimony,so to “save face” & convictions, Natale was the Boss and a great one at that. Wow,i wrote that w/o cracking up
Know one believed him know in court he was one of the worst witnesses ever he was just a drug dealer who was a boss in his own mind
He really wasn’t very convincing on the stand and i doubt the book will be all that convincing in a lot of area’s but as delusional as he is it may have some interesting angles i think.
Well the feds def back whatever fits their agenda no doubt about that , they don’t really care about being totally accurate as we have seen in a few cases.