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| Body-snatching ring boss 'guilty' | Body-snatching ring boss 'guilty' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The head of a US body-snatching ring accused of stealing the parts of around 1,000 people has pleaded guilty, after striking a deal with prosecutors. | The head of a US body-snatching ring accused of stealing the parts of around 1,000 people has pleaded guilty, after striking a deal with prosecutors. |
| Medical supplies boss Michael Mastromarino made millions from removing body parts from corpses and selling them for transplant illegally. | Medical supplies boss Michael Mastromarino made millions from removing body parts from corpses and selling them for transplant illegally. |
| One of the bodies plundered was that of famous BBC broadcaster Alistair Cooke. | One of the bodies plundered was that of famous BBC broadcaster Alistair Cooke. |
| Thousands of people received body part transplants supplied by Mastromarino's Biomedical Tissue Services. | Thousands of people received body part transplants supplied by Mastromarino's Biomedical Tissue Services. |
| The 44-year-old former oral surgeon pleaded guilty to one count of enterprise corruption, nine counts of reckless endangerment in the first degree, and four counts of body stealing. | The 44-year-old former oral surgeon pleaded guilty to one count of enterprise corruption, nine counts of reckless endangerment in the first degree, and four counts of body stealing. |
| He said he forged documents, did not obtain consent from relatives, did not check for infectious diseases and forged documents to cover up his operations. | He said he forged documents, did not obtain consent from relatives, did not check for infectious diseases and forged documents to cover up his operations. |
| He will be sentenced to between 18 and 54 years in jail in May. | He will be sentenced to between 18 and 54 years in jail in May. |
| Mastromarino reached the plea deal earlier this year, although it nearly fell apart after prosecutors discovered the extent of his crimes. | Mastromarino reached the plea deal earlier this year, although it nearly fell apart after prosecutors discovered the extent of his crimes. |