2010-06-01 02:08

CHONGQING - Eighteen people on Monday were given jail terms ranging from one to 20 years in a sweeping crackdown on organized crime in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, a local court said.

The Rongchang County People's Court sentenced ringleader Xia Ping to 20 years in prison after convicting her of leading a mafia-style ring, gambling, false imprisonment, extortion, robbery and illegal gun possession.

Xia was also fined 2.1 million yuan ($307,520) and deprived of political rights for two years in the first-instance trial.

Other 17 ring members were sentenced to one to 18 years in prison.

Xia and Leng Mingquan, who is on the run, opened a casino in 2004 and recruited more than 30 ring members.