In December 2004, he was convicted in first instance for complicity in conspiracy with the Mafia () and sentenced to 9 years in 2004 [REF].
The Appellate Court of Palermo sentences Dell'Utri to seven years of detention for collusion with the Mafia, up to year 1992 having been acting as a liaison among mafia bosses Stefano Bontade, Toto' Riina, Bernardo Provenzano and being an intermediary between the criminal organizations in Sicily and Silvio Berlusconi.