The Chongqing Higher People's court on Monday upheld the convictions of 54 members of two mafia-like gangs, amid a massive crackdown on organized crime in the southwestern Chinese city.

In the second trial at the court, Wang Tianlun, leader of a 23-member gang, was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve for organizing and instigating gang-related crimes, forcing others to trade and assault.

Wang had controlled a local market since 1995, using violence and other criminal means to force vendors to sell meat injected with water, the court said.

Tang Youbin, a gang member, was also sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve on similar charges. Another 21 members received life imprisonment and jail terms ranging from one to 20 years.

In a separate case, Li Qiang, a former municipal lawmaker, was sentenced to 20 years in jail for seven crimes including organizing a 31-member criminal gang, disturbing public order, disturbing traffic order, illegal business, bribery and hiding accounting documents.

Li Qiang based his gang around the company he founded in 1996, Chongqing Yuqiang Group Co. Ltd. To boost his company's share of the Chongqing transportation market, Li organized gang members to disturb the traffic order and cause traffic jams. More than 55 buses were illegally put into use in the city, with the illegal business generating an estimated 18.4 million yuan (2.7 million U.S. dollars).

Of the other 30 members of the gang, 25 received sentences ranging from one to 18 years.

The members of the two gangs were put on trial in December last year at the Chongqing No. 5 Intermediate People's Court.