Two men and a woman from Sussex received prison sentences last week for their roles in a ‘boiler room’ and timeshare fraud.
According to a police statement, between 2009 and 2010 a company known as Global Management Investments, run by Frances Harris, allegedly ran a boiler room fraud, selling non-existent stocks and shares to people who were contacted by telephone and pressured into buying them. Harris was apparently assisted in the fraud by husband and wife Graham Lewis and Rosemary Nye who helped to launder the proceeds.
In 2010 and 2011 another company, Rest Assured Property Services, was set up and purported to sell timeshare apartments over the telephone. Those who fell for the scheme apparently paid an initial payment, followed by the VAT due on the purchase price of the apartments. No properties changed hands. This fraud appears to have been led by Graham Lewis, with the support of Harris and Nye, says the police statement.
The two frauds affected over 100 people, who lost an estimated £500,000 altogether. None of this has been recovered.
The case came to trial at Lewes Crown Court earlier this month, at which the three were convicted and received prison sentences ranging from a two year suspended sentence for Nye to five years imprisonment for Harris.
Fraud is treated very seriously by the authorities, while money laundering can involve prosecuting authorities as varied as the Department of Work and Pensions and the Revenue.
If you are accused of fraud or money laundering it is important to enlist the help of fraud defence lawyers quickly.
Contact Lewis Nedas’ Criminal Lawyers in London
If you have been, or fear you may be charged with fraud and require specialist legal advice, please contact our solicitors Jeffrey Lewis or Siobhain Egan on 020 7387 2032 or complete our online enquiry form here.
This blog post is intended as a news item only – no connection between Lewis Nedas and the parties concerned is intended or implied.