2 Alleged Boston Mafia Members In 70s Indicted

Two men in their 70s federal prosecutors say are high-ranking members of the New England Mafia have been placed under house arrest after pleading not guilty to extortion charges.

Prosecutors say 72-year-old Anthony Spagnolo and 74-year-old Pryce Quintina, both of Revere, participated in a scheme to extort $50,000 in protection payments from a video poker machine company and a city social club.

Spagnolo is the alleged don of the New England Mafia.

The men were arraigned Thursday in U.S. District Court in Boston.

Prosecutors allege that Spagnolo ordered Quintina to collect the payments from the owners of Constitution Vending Co. for roughly seven years, ending in October 2012.

Neither man commented outside of court.

A lawyer for Quintina said that he and his client "deny the allegations."