Counterfeiter given £2.8m confiscation order
Following a referral to NE Regional Asset Recovery Team (RART) by South Yorkshire Police, a confiscation order in the sum of £2.8 million was made at Sheffield Crown Court on 6th March 2008 by HHJ Keen against Lily LEE. The judge also made a 10 year default sentence.
Lee was previously sentenced to four years and 9 months imprisonment in 2006 for trade mark offences. She headed up the sophisticated operation which had involved millions of pounds worth of counterfeit designer goods being imported into the UK and then sold to unsuspecting buyers.
This is the largest single confiscation order South Yorkshire Police has ever obtained and it is also the largest available amount from one subject that the NE RART has ever had.
One of her criminal associates, Aftab ASLAM was sentenced to 2 years imprisonment in 2006 and had a confiscation order of £1 million made against him.
This investigation is an example of what can be achieved when a multi agency approach is taken as the investigation process has involved South Yorkshire Police, Trading Standards, HMRC and NE RART.