Dorset-led gang jailed for money laundering and duty evasion offences

Dorset-led gang jailed for money laundering and duty evasion offences

LONDON. March 14, 2008/3mnewswire.org/ -- Five members of a gang which over a period of five years had laundered more than £172,000 cash and evaded £236,000 Excise duty have been jailed for a total of five years and two months at Bournemouth Crown Court today.

The remainder of the gang will be sentenced next month.

Gang leader Peter Robinson, who had changed his name by deed poll and used 3 other aliases, was arrested at his home in Poole in September 2006 along with accomplice Philip Fendley when 1.5 tonnes of tobacco were found in two vans. A further stash of tobacco and 377,000 cigarettes were found in storage units at a site in Poole. The duty evaded on these items is estimated at £236,000.

In a complex operation involving the use of a web of bank and building society accounts in Dorset, the North East of England and one in Guernsey, over £167,000 was moved around among the gang members using cheques and cash. During searches of Robinsons' house in Good Road, Poole, several bundles of cash wrapped in cling film were seized. A bundle of £87,290 was found under his bed in a cool bag and more were found in the loft and in bedside cabinets.

Andrew Pavlinic, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) Assistant Director for Criminal Investigations in the South said:

"Tackling fraud is one of HMRC's top priorities. We have a duty to stop money being diverted and stolen from the nation in what are often large scale and ruthless attacks on the tax system. Today's sentences are the result of a lengthy investigation by dedicated officers who work tirelessly and diligently, fighting criminal attacks on the tax system.

The sophistication of the organised crime gang behind this fraud meant that our investigations were complex and involved working with other government departments and local authorities, but we are committed to bringing the criminals responsible to justice and to recovering the money stolen from the British taxpayer, wherever in the world our

investigations lead. This is not victimless crime, it is organised crime and it causes real harm."

At a trial in Bournemouth Crown Court in November 2007, Robinson and Fendley along with Jaqueline Ridley and Joseph Michael Munroe were found guilty on 12 counts. Robinson is currently serving a four- year sentence.

It was during this trial that details of both Robinsons dealings in buying and selling taxi licences issued by South Tyneside Council and his fraudulent housing benefit claim with Poole Borough Council came to light.

At Bournemouth Crown Court on 28 January this year, John Moore, Ann Pearce, Grant Pearce and Melanie Wilson, all from South Tyneside, pleaded guilty to seven counts of criminal activity. David Monroe and Carol Slesser from the North East had also pleaded guilty to the same seven counts, at Dorchester Crown Court on 21 September 2007.

Cllr Brian Leverett, Leader of Borough of Poole, said:

"This is another good example of joint working. Benefit fraud is stealing from honest taxpayers and we will continue working with other agencies and use all the powers available to us to combat fraud, recover all monies overpaid and bring to justice those individuals who attempt to cheat the system."

Councillor Michael Clare, Lead Member Environment, Housing and Transport, South Tyneside Council, said:

"Our Licensing Section played a key role in this complex case, with one officer providing crucial evidence during the trial. Robinson was selling and hiring licence plates he had obtained from us, then laundering money through licensees' accounts.

"This case demonstrates our commitment to working in partnership with other agencies as part of our efforts to pursue and take action against anyone who attempts to profit from illegal activities."

This case was successfully prosecuted by the Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office (RCPO). RCPO is an independent prosecuting authority reporting directly to the Attorney General, and is responsible for the prosecution of all HMRC cases.

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