North Wales pair must payback more than £358,000
Two men from North Wales who were convicted of drug trafficking and money laundering offences have been ordered to pay back a total of almost £360,000 pounds.
Michael Morris, (61) of Woodlands Grove, Llangollen and David Llewellyn Jones (48) of Dinmael, Corwen were issued with confiscation orders during a hearing today at Chester Crown Court under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.
Specialist investigators from the North West Regional Asset Recovery Team launched an investigation into the financial affairs of Morris and Jones after they pleaded guilty to drug trafficking and money laundering offences in February 2005. Morris was sentenced to thirty months imprisonment and Jones was sentenced to four and a half years behind bars. These criminal charges arose from an operation mounted by North Wales Police back in January 2004 that resulted in the seizure of seventy-eight kilograms of cannabis and £238,600 in cash.
Today’s financial hearing at Chester Crown Court was presided over by His Honour Judge Clarke and was the culmination of a lengthy and detailed investigation.
The court assessed that Morris’s financial benefit from criminality was almost £350,000 pounds. His available assets, which included cash already seized, the equity in his home, a motorcar, jewellery, premium bonds and furnishings, amounted to £281,600. An order was made that he pay back this amount within six months or he faces a default sentence of five years imprisonment.
Jones’ benefit from criminality was assessed to be just over £334,000. His available assets, which included cash and monies in bank accounts amounted to £77,234. An order was made that he pay back this amount within six months or he faces a default sentence of two years imprisonment.
His Honour Judge Clarke complimented the police and the RART investigators on conducting a thorough and successful investigation from start to finish.
Detective Chief Inspector Mike Kellett, Head of the North West Regional Asset Recovery Team said: “People who engage in criminality in this manner should not only expect to be deprived of their liberty, but should also look forward to losing what they have gained financially. The money seized through these confiscation orders will, over time, be fed back into crime fighting projects in North Wales. This case is an example of the Proceeds of Crime Act being used to full effect. Offenders like Morris and Jones are making comfortable livings from crime and we are pleased that the court in this case has recognised this and has taken away their profits. Other people engaged in criminality for profit should expect the same thing to happen to them”.