Described by himself as a friend of former Philadelphia boss Angelo Bruno, Natale's mob association began when he became boss of the bartenders union Local 170, allegedly running it on Bruno's behalf. In 1979, Natale was convicted of firebombing a furniture store in an insurance fraud scheme and sentenced to 12 years imprisonment. The following year he was convicted of selling cocaine and received a 15 year sentence. He was released on parole in 1994. In 2005 Ralph Natale was sentenced to 13 years imprisonment. He was released in May 2011 and is in witness protection.