Associated Press
PHILADELPHIA-- Confessed mob boss Ralph Natale testified yesterday that when he had a job to do, he could count on his underling Joseph "Skinny Joey'' Merlino.
"Whenever I wanted something done on the street, whether it was an extortion, a beating, or a murder, I would pass the order on to Joey Merlino, and then he would have to go find the men within our family to go ahead and do it,'' said Natale, the highest-level Mafia figure to turn government witness.
Natale's comments came during the first day of testimony in the federal racketeering trial of Merlino and his six co-defendants, all of whom Natale identified as members of La Cosa Nostra. Merlino, who prosecutors allege succeeded Natale as mob boss, faces life imprisonment if convicted in the gangland slayings of William Veasey, Joseph Sodano and Anthony Turra.
Natale testified that he ordered the killings of Veasey, Sodano and Turra "to tighten our grip on the Philadelphia family.''
Other charges against Merlino and six co-defendants in a 36-count racketeering indictment include attempted murder, extortion, illegal gambling, drug trafficking and theft.
Natale, who turned government witness after being arrested on drug charges in 1999, said it was Merlino who inducted him into the Mafia in 1994.
"I took the position of boss. He was the underboss,'' he said.
Natale testified that he and Merlino conspired to take over the Philadelphia-South Jersey mob while they were cell mates in the federal prison in McKean, Pa., in the early 1990s. Natale, Merlino and other defendants whom they summoned to the prison plotted against a rival faction led by then-boss John Stanfa, Natale said.
Natale also claimed that Merlino confessed to being the shooter in the notorious ambush on Nicky Scarfo Jr. in Dante & Luigi's Restaurant on Halloween night, 1989. Scarfo, the son of a jailed crime boss, survived the attack. Nobody was ever charged in the shooting.
Merlino, apparently disappointed that Scarfo survived the shooting, "told me that he'd never use one of those guns again,'' said Natale, who's scheduled to return to the stand Monday.
At one point, Natale said he was bitter because Merlino and the other defendants sent little money to support him and his wife after he was jailed for parole violations in 1998.
"I thought Joey Merlino and the fellows would take care of my wife and send some money to the (prison) commissary,'' Natale said. "I imagine it was their greed that kept them from sending money to my wife.''
Under questioning by Assistant U.S. Attorney Barry Gross, Natale calmly began detailing a three-decade criminal career that included seven murders, four attempted murders, extortion, gambling and drug trafficking.
He described how he shot George Feeney in 1970 to seize control of the Bartenders, Hotel, Motel and Restaurant Workers Union, Local 170.
He also admitted to killing Philadelphia union leader Joey McGreal in 1973. Natale had long been suspected of being a part of a mob hit squad that killed McGreal because he was trying to get involved in organized crime's control of the bartenders' union.
Mob life, Natale said at the beginning of his testimony, "is a descent into hell.''
During a break, reputed mob consigliere George Borgesi turned to family members sitting in the courtroom and said, "I never thought I'd say it: This guy's a bigger lowlife than Sammy the Bull!,'' a reference to mob figure Sammy "The Bull'' Gravano, who testified against New York mob boss John Gotti.
Besides Merlino and Borgesi, the other defendants are reputed underboss Steve Mazzone and reputed Mafia soldiers Martin Angelina, John Ciancaglini and Frank Gambino. Angelo Lutz, an alleged mob associate, is also charged.
On Thursday, an attorney for Merlino suggested that Merlino and his associates may be guilty of theft and illegal gambling, but did not commit murder and attempted murder. Defense attorneys also portrayed Natale as a murderer and liar whose testimony is not to be believed.
But Gross tried to persuade the jury that Natale has a powerful motivation to tell the truth.
"Do you understand what happens to you if you get caught in a lie?'' Gross asked Natale.
"Then I will get life,'' Natale replied.