Russian court gives alleged underworld kingpin to 10 years in jail for racketeering, gambling

Russian court gives crime kingpin 10 years

MOSCOW — A Moscow court has sentenced an alleged kingpin of Russia’s criminal underworld to 10 years in jail.

The Khamovniki District Court in Moscow said in a statement Monday it convicted Tariel Oniani on extortion and abduction charges. The 58-year old native of Georgia had been convicted seven times and is wanted in Spain since 2005 on money laundering charges.

Experts on organized crime say that Oniani headed a gang of ethnic Georgians involved in racketeering and gambling in Russia and Western Europe.

Oniani is also considered a powerful “crowned thief” — an elite criminal caste that emerged in the Soviet Gulags and retains influence in former Soviet nations.

Russian media claim a rival criminal clan has issued a death sentence for Oniani amid brutal turf battles.