3 'Vinnie Gorgeous' Basciano sons face marijuana charges

Three sons of imprisoned one-time Bonanno family boss Vincent "Vinnie Gorgeous" Basciano were charged with conspiracy to distribute large volumes of marijuana in an indictment in federal court in Manhattan on Wednesday.

Basciano, who was accused of plotting to kill a judge, beat a death penalty case in Brooklyn and is imprisoned for life at the federal supermax prison in Florence, Colo. The sons -- Vincent Jr., Joseph and Stephen -- were each charged with conspiracy to distribute marijuana.

Prosecutors said they were part of a large-scale conspiracy involving members of both the Bonanno and Genovese families to transport hundreds of pounds of marijuana from California to New York and distribute it.

All three pleaded not guilty. Vincent Jr., 32, and Joseph, 27, were released on bail, and Stephen, 29, was detained pending a bail hearing next week. They each face up to 40 years in prison.