Lynnfield man gets 22 years in mob case

LYNNFIELD – A 51-year-old Lynnfield man and reputed New England Mafia underboss has been sentenced to more than 22 years in prison.Prosecutors say Arthur Gianelli was sentenced in federal court in Boston on Wednesday to 22 years and seven months following his conviction in April of involvement in crimes, including arson, racketeering, extortion, gambling and money laundering.A jury found Gianelli, brother-in-law of convicted former FBI agent and Whitey Bulger accomplice John J. Connolly Jr., and three others guilty after a 31-day trial.Federal prosecutors said Gianelli plotted to burn down a Lynnfield sports bar, the Big Dog Sports Grille, in an attempt to intimidate the owner into selling them another bar.The federal prosecution asserted that the syndicate loaned large amounts of money and in turn made millions of dollars in profit between 1999 and 2005. Interest rates allegedly exceeded 150 percent.The illicit business was conducted with the approval of Carmen “The Big Cheese” DiNunzio, the reputed head of organized crime in New England who himself was sentenced to six years in federal prison late last month.Gianelli’s wife, Mary Anne, pleaded guilty in March to racketeering, money laundering and other charges.A spokeswoman for the U.S. attorney’s office in Boston says Gianelli will get credit for almost four years served. He received the maximum sentence.Associated Press material was used in this report.