New York ? Two decorated former detectives were sentenced Monday to life in prison for moonlighting as hitmen for the Mafia.

“This is probably the most heinous series of crimes ever tried in this courthouse,” U.S. District Judge Jack B. Weinstein said in handing down the maximum sentences to Louis Eppolito and Stephen Caracappa.

The two former partners were convicted of participating in eight slayings while simultaneously on the payroll of the New York Police Department and the Luchese crime family.