The acting leader of the New England Mafia was sentenced in federal court in Rhode Island on Wednesday to 6½ years in prison for his role in a racketeering conspiracy to extort payments from adult entertainment businesses in the state, federal and state authorities said.

Anthony L. Dinunzio, 53, of East Boston, pleaded guilty in September to one count of conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise, authorities said in a statement.