Final 2 year sentence handed down in Courier Fraud case

A final 2 year sentence has been handed down in a Courier Fraud case.

On 30 April 2021, at Worcester Crown Court, a man was sentenced to 2 years for his roles in committing nationwide telephone and courier fraud offences against the elderly and vulnerable, which formed part of Operation Hyperion. 

The sentencing was further to convictions during 2019, 2020 and in early 2021 and prison sentences totalling over 35 years, along with a number of suspended sentences, have now been handed out to the 18 defendants who formed part of this case.

The fraud offences took place between April and July 2016 across the force areas of Worcestershire, Warwickshire, Cumbria, West Midlands, Avon & Somerset, Gloucestershire and Thames Valley, when 50 victims, ranging from 49 to 96 years old, were called on their landline telephone numbers and asked to hand over money.

It was a persuasive scam that saw offenders purporting to be police officers investigating a fraud at a local banking branch.

Of the 50 victims targeted, 15 were persuaded to hand over money, with a total of over £200,000 being stolen.

Eight men were previously sentenced on 11 February 2019 at Worcester Crown Court to more than 21 years for their roles in the nationwide telephone and courier fraud scam. A further two men were sentenced on 25 June 2019, to eight months for their involvement in the scam, however their sentences were later varied upon appeal. 

On the 21 and 22 December 2020 a further man and two women were sentenced to more than 6 years for their roles in the money laundering elements of the conspiracy. On the same dates two further men were given suspended sentences for being involved in money laundering arrangements linked to the fraud.

On 19 January 2021, a further man was sentenced to 6 years imprisonment for his role in the conspiracy and was made subject to a Serious Crime Prevention Order for a period of 5 years following his release from prison. A further man then received a suspended sentence on 2 February 2021.

In addition to the sentences detailed above, 11 of those convicted have so far been made subject of Confiscation Orders, under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.  This means they have to pay back the money which they gained from the crimes committed. Even if they do not have the funds or assets to pay the money back now, the Order means that if they are found to have assets at any time in the future, they still have to pay back all they received from their crimes. Any monies they repay will be directed to the victims who have suffered losses as compensation. A further 4 of those convicted still have ongoing proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Claudio MEGI, aged 26 years and previously from Cardiff, played a significant role, receiving funds that had been obtained from two separate vulnerable victims of the fraud and was handed a sentence of 2 years imprisonment. He also failed to appear at court, in a deliberate attempt to evade justice and received an additional 2 months imprisonment for this offence, therefore receiving a total sentence of 26 months. MEGI is one of those still to face confiscation proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Detective Inspector Emma Wright said “The defendants in this case took large amounts of money from vulnerable people by abusing the trust those victims have in the police, posing as officers who told the victims they must co-operate with a police investigation. As highlighted by HHJ Cartwright during sentencing, this is the worst kind of fraud and MEGI, was one of those who would receive large amounts of money obtained from victims. Without individuals like MEGI, who are happy to receive proceeds of crime from vulnerable victims, these offences could not take place.

"These sentences recognise the life-changing amounts that were taken from some of these victims. Some of the defendants have already been made subject to Confiscation Orders and for others confiscation hearings will follow. This will mean the defendants will have to pay back the proceeds of their crimes, whether that is immediately or if they come to have further assets in the future.

"The 18 convictions, 2 Serious Crime Prevention Orders and 11 subsequent confiscation orders achieved in this case, are testament to a lengthy and thorough investigation, spanning 5 years and showing that West Mercia Police will pursue offenders who directly target the elderly and vulnerable, bringing them to justice and stripping them of any assets they have gained through crime. I hope this will deter other criminals who may be involved in these despicable offences, by showing that they will be convicted and have their ill-gotten gains removed.”

West Mercia Police would like to remind people that the police will NEVER ask you to hand over cash or valuables. If you receive a call of this nature, do not provide any details, hang up and wait 10 minutes (to ensure the call has disconnected) before calling police on 101 (or 999 in an emergency) to report it. Members of the public are urged to pass on this information to elderly and vulnerable friends and relatives.

For more information about how you can protect yourself from this kind of fraud, visit the Action Fraud website and our wesbsite carries lots of useful advice for general fraud prevention advice."