When Natale flipped contracts were put out on his family. In December 1999 at a bail hearing the prosecution alleged that Merlino had approved hits on Ralph Natale, Ronald Previte and their families. In March 2001 the FBI sent a memo to local police saying that Mike Lancellotti, Joseph Curro and Michael Virgilio were involved in plots to murder Natale's son Frank (a teacher and football coach) and his daughter Vanessa (a clerk). Obviously nothing came of the plots.