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20/04/2011
Three Convicted For Money Laundering Network
Three people have been found guilty at Kingston Crown Court for their part in a large-scale money laundering network which operated between Britain and Jamaica.
The convictions follow an extensive investigation by financial detectives from the Metropolitan Police Service's Trident, working closely with colleagues from Jamaica.
Burnett Morris, 48, his wife Paulette Morris, 49, were found guilty of conspiracy to launder money; co-defendant Kevin Robinson, 40, was found guilty of transferring criminal property out of the jurisdiction of the UK.
The prosecution maintained that the cash was the proceeds of Burnett Morris' drug dealing on the streets of south London.
The network, headed by Burnett Morris and his wife Paulette, used associates and family members to send small amounts of money, often £900 a time. Cash was sent almost daily, sometimes up to five times a day. Over a six-year period, the network transferred more than £500,000. In addition Paulette spent more than £250,000 on travel to and from Jamaica and Florida and on luxury items including designer clothes, a diamond valued at £8,000 and other jewellery. She rented a safety deposit at Harrods.
Whilst living a millionaire's lifestyle, Paulette and Burnett Morris claimed benefits, including housing allowance, Council Tax benefit and free school meals for two of their children.
Enquiries in Jamaica have shown that the family own two luxurious houses on the outskirts of Kingston.
The defendants were arrested on 14 May 2009 at addresses in south-east London and Cambridge during an operation that involved more than 100 officers from Trident, Lewisham borough, the Met's Territorial Support Group and Met dog units.
Four others - Gerard Dean Wright, 28, Fiona Holness, 32, Roisin Keville, 34, Dwayne Samuel, 21 - had pleaded guilty to transferring criminal property out of the jurisdiction of the UK at an earlier hearing.
Sentencing is scheduled to take place at Kingston Crown Court on 27 May.
(BMcN)
The convictions follow an extensive investigation by financial detectives from the Metropolitan Police Service's Trident, working closely with colleagues from Jamaica.
Burnett Morris, 48, his wife Paulette Morris, 49, were found guilty of conspiracy to launder money; co-defendant Kevin Robinson, 40, was found guilty of transferring criminal property out of the jurisdiction of the UK.
The prosecution maintained that the cash was the proceeds of Burnett Morris' drug dealing on the streets of south London.
The network, headed by Burnett Morris and his wife Paulette, used associates and family members to send small amounts of money, often £900 a time. Cash was sent almost daily, sometimes up to five times a day. Over a six-year period, the network transferred more than £500,000. In addition Paulette spent more than £250,000 on travel to and from Jamaica and Florida and on luxury items including designer clothes, a diamond valued at £8,000 and other jewellery. She rented a safety deposit at Harrods.
Whilst living a millionaire's lifestyle, Paulette and Burnett Morris claimed benefits, including housing allowance, Council Tax benefit and free school meals for two of their children.
Enquiries in Jamaica have shown that the family own two luxurious houses on the outskirts of Kingston.
The defendants were arrested on 14 May 2009 at addresses in south-east London and Cambridge during an operation that involved more than 100 officers from Trident, Lewisham borough, the Met's Territorial Support Group and Met dog units.
Four others - Gerard Dean Wright, 28, Fiona Holness, 32, Roisin Keville, 34, Dwayne Samuel, 21 - had pleaded guilty to transferring criminal property out of the jurisdiction of the UK at an earlier hearing.
Sentencing is scheduled to take place at Kingston Crown Court on 27 May.
(BMcN)
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