'Ferrari Swede' mobster sentenced to prison

Published: 11 Jul 09 09:46 CET | Double click on a word to get a translation
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/20598/20090711/

Stefan Eriksson, the former leader of the Uppsala Maffia who infamously crashed a rare Ferrari in California in 2006, was sentenced on Friday by the Uppsala District Court to 1.5 years in prison on Friday for making illegal threats, attempted blackmail, and robbery.

Man unscathed after high-speed Ferrari crash (17 May 10)
'Ferrari Swede' arrested in Stockholm (31 Mar 09)
Liquidators seek interview with Ferrari crash Swede (25 Apr 08)

“My immediate reaction is that this is unacceptable, but we must sit down and discuss how we should proceed,” Eriksson's lawyer, Björn Sandin, told TT.

Eriksson was arrested in Stockholm in March and faced a number of charges, including blackmail and aggravated assault.

But the court dismissed the majority of those brought against the former leader of the Uppsala Maffia, a criminal network active in Sweden in the early 1990s.

Eriksson had been released from custody by late June when the trial against him and the other suspects concluded.

A co-defendant in the case was sentenced to eight months in prison while another man received probation. Five other co-defendants were also acquitted of all charges.

Back in 2006, Eriksson, referred to in Sweden as "Tjock Steffe" or "Fat Steffe", made headlines around the world when he slammed an exclusive Ferrari Enzo in near Malibu in California.

The crash had a number of mysterious circumstances, with Eriksson claiming to have been a passenger and authorities never locating the supposed driver.

Eriksson was later arrested on suspicions of embezzlement, auto theft, drunken driving, and cocaine and weapons possession.

TT/The Local (news@thelocal.se/08 656 6518)

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20:43 July 12, 2009 by jimmyjames

I have to laugh out loud....you Swedes better hope the word doesn't get out, I mean really get out to the worlds criminals that Sweden is " Chump Paradise"....had this guy done what he did in the USA and with his criminal background and acknowledged ties to organized crime he would have recieved approx. 12 - 20 years...without parole/pardon. The USA Federal Courts abolished parole decades ago and the vast majority of the individual states have done away with parole/pardon also. The next time this guy walked the streets he would be in need of Swedens special transportation service. 1.5 years ? Why even bother with all the expense? 18 months is just rest and recuperation time.....get freshened up and healthy for the streets again. Unbelievable.

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