6 people sentenced for money laundering offences at Liverpool Crown Court

MERSEYSIDE Police have welcoming the sentence of 5 men and 1 woman for more than 11 years for a money laundering conspiracy, that took place at Liverpool Crown Court, on Thursday, 25 January 2018.

The case followed an operation by detectives from Matrix Serious and Organised Crime Unit, and centred on 3 cash seizures from 2014, totalling over ₤230,000.

► 33 year old Ryan McDowell, from Rainhill, was sentenced to 5 years imprisonment for money laundering offences.

► 55 year old Mark Dillon, from Fazakerley, was sentenced to 2 years and 2 months for money laundering offences.

► 46 year old Robert Sloan, from Kirkby, was sentenced to 12 months for money laundering offences, to be served concurrently with his current sentence

► 46 year old Muhammed Ikram, from East Ham, London, was sentenced to 2 years and 4 months for money laundering offences

► 56 year old Syed Abbas, from Newport, was sentenced to 1 year and 4 Years and ˝ month for money laundering offences

► 29 year old Ashleigh Garrett, from Rainhill, was sentenced to 26 weeks sentence suspended for 2 years, 2 year supervision order and 150 hours unpaid work for money laundering offences

The case started on 13 June 2014, when Sloan was tasked by McDowell to transport a suitcase containing ₤93,365 cash to Manchester where he was seen to hand it to Ikram. Sloan is currently serving a 6 year prison sentence in relation to separate offences.

Following this handover, Ikram and Abbas were then observed to travel to a branch of HSBS where he deposited ₤11,370 in cash before being arrested by Officers from Greater Manchester Police. He was found to be in possession of a further ₤6,520 in cash.

A search warrant was later executed at the home address of Ikram and Abbas, as a result of which the suitcase containing ₤93,365 was recovered along with a further ₤26,375 cash from a safe within the premises.

Banking records recovered from the address identified that between February and June 2014, Ikram and Abbas had been responsible for depositing ₤172,918 in cash to various bank accounts as part of a 'Hawala' money laundering network.

Examination of banking records subsequently obtained in relation to various accounts held by either McDowell or his partner Garrett also identified, that between December 2013 and May 2016 a further ₤104,420 in cash had deposited to these accounts.

Detective Chief Inspector Steve Reardon said:- "This was a long running and complex investigation, which centred on the suspected involvement of McDowell and others in serious and organised crime, and the laundering of the large scale proceeds of this crime. Working with specialist financial detectives, and closely alongside partners and various Police forces, we were able to prove this conspiracy and in doing so, take organised criminals from the streets, who are intent to cause misery in Merseyside and beyond. Merseyside Police is committed to serious and organised crime so I would like to take this opportunity to appeal to anyone who has any information about serious organised crime to come forward and tell us. If you let us know, I can assure you we will take positive action and help you to improve your community."

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