A Reggio Emilia court on
Wednday handed down 118 prison terms totalling over 1,200 years
in a major trial into the Calabrian 'Ndrangheta mafia's
infiltration of the Emilian economy.
The longest term was 21 years and eight months, for Carmine
Belfiore.
Others convicted included Gaetano Blasco (21 years),
Michele Bolognino (20 years and 7 months) and Giuseppe Iaquinta
(19 year), a businessman and father of former Italy striker
Vincenzo Iaquinta.
In ethe fast-track trial, judges gave 16 years and 4 months
to Gianluigi Sarcone, and 16 years to both Palmo and Giuseppe
Vertinelli.
There were another 24 terms amounting to some 325 years, for
crimes committed from jail during the trial.
The sentences corresponded largely to prosecutors' requests.
The trial established there was a large and well-established
'Ndrangheta cell in northern Italy and particularly in the
Emilia region around Bologna.
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