(ANSA) - Palermo, December 1 - Members of a mafia gang who
sold drugs on the set of a reality television program about cops
and extorted money from producers, were sentenced to a total of
148 years in prison.
The 16 mobsters, all members of the Porta Nuova clan of the
Cosa Nostra in Palermo, were handed sentences ranging from three
and a half years in prison up to 20 years on charges of drug
trafficking and extortion.
Court heard the some of the mafiosi were involved in
selling drugs on the set of a tv police thriller 'Palermo
Anti-Mafia Squad Today'.
The court heard that the clan carried out dozens of
extortions including even the producers of the realistic film
about police fighting organised crime.
Cosa Nostra controlled the restaurant services for the tv
production, its transport services and its actors, according to
the prosecutor in the trial.
court sentences 16 mobster to 148 years
Porta Nuova clan sold drugs to crew of reality television