QINGDAO, Shandong - The Shandong provincial Higher People's Court on Monday upheld a death sentence verdict for gang leader Nie Lei.

The court rejected Nie's appeal for a lighter penalty. The verdict is subject to approval by the Supreme People's Court, according to legal procedure.

Nie was tried along with 31 other gang members at the Qingdao Municipal Intermediate People's Court, in March.

The gang leader was convicted on several counts, including intentionally injuring others and running a mafia-style gang, which operated underground casinos, organized prostitution rings and illegally possessed guns, in Qingdao from 1995.

Their crimes led to the death of two people and 22 others being injured.