(FILE)

A court in central China's Hubei Province announced the verdicts for the first wave of convictions of the alleged organized crime ring led by former mining tycoon Liu Han. Thirty-six members, including Liu Han stood trial, with Liu receiving a death sentence on May 23.

Liu Wei, Liu Han's brother, also received a death sentence. The two brothers were convicted of organizing and leading a criminal organization as well as of murder. The court will confiscate all of their personal property.

Liu Han, 48, was the board chairman of Hanlong Group, the biggest private enterprise in Sichuan Province. He ranked No. 142 on the 2012 Forbes China Richest List with an estimated fortune of $855 million, though the total assets of his crime ring was calculated by the investigation to be worth 40 billion yuan ($6.39 billion).