TAX-CHEAT STRIPPED OF CRIMINAL PROFIT
A man found guilty of Cheating the Revenue at Cardiff Crown Court in April 2007- has today been ordered to pay back £ 707,200.
In 2005 a man from Pontypool, was arrested on suspicion of money laundering. During a search of his home and warehouse, Police found counterfeit watches and clothing together with mobile telephones contaminated with drugs.
During the investigation which followed, it became clear that the man and his family lived a lavish lifestyle. This included high value luxury cars, expensive holidays to the USA and Caribbean and the purchase and development of a house with swimming pool in Pontypool, valued at £ 500,000. Evidence provided by the HM Revenue & Customs showed that the man and his family had not declared any income for many years and were making false claims for state benefits.
In April 2007 he pleaded guilty to an offence of Cheating the Revenue, an offence for which he was today sentenced to 6 months imprisonment suspended for two years. As a result of this conviction the Court proceeded to confiscation under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, where an examination of his finances has revealed his lavish lifestyle to be funded from various forms of criminal activity. In September 2009 whilst giving evidence in his own defence, he admitted further criminal offences going back as far as 1994.
Today (9th October 2009) His Honour Judge Phillip Richards passed judgement on this long and complex investigation stating; “The overall picture supports the contention that more likely than not, this man was involved in criminal conduct over and above that to which he pleaded guilty”.
The man was judged to have a criminal lifestyle and the Court set his benefit to be £863,303. The available assets of two houses, a gym business and cars were valued at £707,200 and an order was set in this amount. The man was given six months to pay or face four years imprisonment in default.
Detective Chief Inspector Chris Dodd, Head of Regional Asset Recovery Team (Wales) said:
“This Confiscation Order is the culmination of years of dedicated work by the Regional Asset Recovery Team and Gwent Police.
The man amassed a small fortune from a variety of offending which pervaded all aspects of a dishonest lifestyle. His conspicuous wealth was an affront to the law-abiding community in the area. Having been convicted earlier this year for Cheating the Revenue, it would have been manifestly unreasonable for him to be allowed to retain the proceeds of his offending.
This result sends a positive message to the public of Gwent that their local officers will challenge and pursue the negative role models in their midst; and a further message to those who choose to live a criminal lifestyle; - the Criminal Justice Community are determined to remove from you the profits and assets of criminality.
My colleagues in the RART are grateful for the persistence and professionalism of Gwent CPS and the HMRC Tax Inspectors, who were essential partners in a complex and difficult trial.”