Changsha gang leader sentenced to life imprisonment

A gangster in Changsha, Central China's Hunan province, was sentenced to life imprisonment and had all his property confiscated on Tuesday for 15 crimes including organizing and leading a mafia-style criminal gang, a court in the province announced in its verdict.

The gang leader, Wen Liehong, had gradually accumulated huge wealth since 2002, when he set up casinos in major hotels in Changsha, the provincial capital, Changde Intermediate People's Court said. He organized others to participate in gambling, lent money at excessive rates and made profits from it.

Between 2005 and 2009, Wen hired several people to help him collect debts through violent means. In 2010, he set up a pawnshop that lent money at high interest rates. The next year, his gang was enlarged by the recruitment of more jobless people, the verdict said.

The criminal organization had a strict structure and clear hierarchy, with one leader, three key members, five active participants and 16 other members. When police detained the gang members in February they seized cash and property valued at up to 1.2 billion yuan ($180 million), the court said.

The illegally acquired wealth was used to buy weapons for criminal purposes, provide housing and vacation benefits for gang members, and support the operation and development of the criminal organization.

The organization and its members committed 84 criminal and illegal acts, including intentional injury, illegal detention, engaging in gang fights, and forcing people to trade with them on unfair terms. They also bribed government personnel to avoid investigation, the court said.

Their criminal actions resulted in the closure of several private companies and the suicide of a bank chief, which seriously damaged economic and social order, it said.

Wen's 15 crimes included fraud, bribery, and obstruction of justice. The three key gang members were sentenced to prison terms of 25 years, 13 years and 11 years respectively. The other 21 defendants will be sentenced later, the court said.