WASHINGTON, July 16 (UPI) -- A New Jersey man was sentenced Tuesday to 137 months in prison in a racketeering conspiracy involving gambling and loan sharking, federal prosecutors said.
Damion Canalichio, 43, or Turnersville also was ordered to serve three years supervised released when he gets out of prison, the U.S. Department of Justice said in a release.
Canalichio was convicted Feb. 5 of racketeering as part of a conspiracy to conduct and take part in activity by the Philadelphia La Cosa Nostra.
"The evidence at trial proved that, in furtherance of the racketeering conspiracy, Canalichio, as a 'made' member, engaged in loan sharking and illegal sports bookmaking activities on behalf of the mob," the Justice Department release said. "Canalichio exploited the violent reputation of the Philadelphia LCN family in extending usurious loans and collecting payments on the loans, leaving the borrowers in fear of physical harm if they did not pay promptly. Canalichio also directed and supervised the participation of associates in his crew to carry out these racketeering crimes."
Prosecutors said 12 leaders, members and associates of the Philadelphia Mafia family have been convicted or pleaded guilty in the case. Canalichio is the seventh to be sentenced.
