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The Mafia boss who flipped Ralph Natale, who led the Philadelphia crime family in the 1990s, became the highest-level Mob turncoat in history Published: February 18th, 2021 - By Scott M. Burnstein Last Updated On: February 18th, 2021 Former Philadelphia Mafia boss Ralph Natale, who cut his teeth as a hitman, became a government witness and entered the Witness Protection Program. PHOTO BY KYLE CASSIDY Behind bars and abandoned by his men, Ralph Natale of Philadelphia became the first official American Mafia boss to flip when he cut a deal with the feds in September 1999. Natale, a polished and gregarious gangland chief known for keeping physically fit and being friendly with the press, copped a plea in a narcotics trafficking case and agreed to testify against his underboss, Joseph “Skinny Joey” Merlino, as well as corrupt Camden, New Jersey, Mayor Milton Milan. ....