Fraud trio jailed for £500,000 scam (From St Albans & Harpenden Review)

Welwyn Garden City fraud trio jailed for £500,000 scam

5:12pm Thursday 3rd March 2011 in News By Neil Skinner

THREE fraudsters who stole nearly £500,000 from internet share trading companies have been handed jail sentences.

The crooked trio, brought to justice after a lengthy investigation by Hertfordshire Constabulary, appeared at St Albans Crown Court on Monday.

Between them they used false identities to open numerous bank accounts, into which they siphoned huge sums of money obtained by defrauding the web-based companies.

Jay Eseyoma, 31, formerly of Woodhall Lane, Welwyn Garden City, was jailed for 21 months after admitting conspiracy to defraud.

Tsakani Mthimkulu, 25, of the same address, was given a 12 month sentence suspended for 18 months – meaning that she will be locked up only if she commits another offence during that period.

Anthony Ukpetenan, 46, of no fixed abode, was jailed for three years after being found guilty of conspiracy to defraud and money laundering.

A fourth person, Obaro Apinoko, 26, of Orchard Grove, Edgware, will be sentenced for his part in the crime in April. He previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud.

Detectives from Hertfordshire Constabulary’s Economic Crime Unit launched Operation Perfume in 2008 after becoming aware of a complex and detailed fraud.

It was established that during 2007 and 2008, the four individuals were involved in creating false identities, supported by forged passports and driving licences – used to swindle some £473,715.

When officers raided addressees in Welwyn Garden City and North London, they found about 30 fraudulent bank cards, large quantities of financial documents and two driving licences in false names.

Detective Constable Derek Hill said: “These individuals thought that by creating a complex process to steal money from financial institutions and then disseminating the funds through the various false accounts, they couldn’t be traced.

“They were wrong. I hope this case illustrates our determination and commitment to catching offenders and sends a clear a message to fraudsters in Hertfordshire that they will be caught and dealt with”.

Officers will now look to confiscate any assets attributed to the scam via the Proceeds of Crime Act.