A ruling that permitted evidence that three men accused of extortion against business owners had ties to organized crime did not taint the trial that ended in their convictions, a federal appeals court ruled.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit said evidence that Anthony Fazio, Sr., Anthony Fazio, Jr. and John Fazio were believed by victims to have ties to the Mafia was relevant as to their state of mind when they made payments to the Fazios to win union peace.