Ailing South Florida mob boss, 73, sentenced to 14 years in prison

An aging heart patient who acknowledged being the head of the Genovese crime family in South Florida was sentenced Monday to 14 years in prison on a federal racketeering charge.

Renaldi "Ray" Ruggiero, 73, was also ordered to serve two years of supervised release, pay a $25,000 fine and forfeit $10,000 previously seized by the government, according to a statement from the U.S. attorney's office.

Ruggiero pleaded guilty in February to racketeering conspiracy and in a plea agreement acknowledged being a boss for the New York-based Mafia family.

It was recommended that Ruggiero serve his sentence in a facility where he can get special medical treatment, court papers said. Documents Ruggiero submitted to the court showed he has had heart attacks and has high blood pressure and diabetes.

A telephone message left by The Associated Press for Ruggiero's attorney, Michael Salnick, was not immediately returned.

Ruggiero was arrested with six others in June 2006. In a plea agreement, he admitted that as a "capo," or captain, he supervised a Florida crew that committed crimes including extortion, robbery, money laundering and possession of stolen property. The group sometimes met at a restaurant Ruggiero owned in Palm Beach County called Soprano's.

Ruggiero is the sixth defendant to be sentenced and received the longest term. His co-defendants received sentences ranging from about 3 1/2 years to 8 years after pleading guilty to one count of racketeering conspiracy.

The remaining defendant awaiting sentencing in the case is 97-year-old Albert "The Old Man" Facchiano. He pleaded guilty in February to racketeering conspiracy and tampering with a witness. Facchiano had been scheduled for sentencing May 25, but attorneys have said he is likely to face house arrest because of health problems.