15/09/2009
Fake Fashion Job Covers Crime
A woman who fabricated a career in the fashion industry to distract from her living on the proceeds of crime has been sentenced to two-and-a-half years imprisonment.
Lisa Raitt, aged 42 years, from Slough also had a confiscation order to the value of £259,000 made against her.
She was found guilty at Kingston Crown Court on 3 August, following a two-week trial of possession of criminal property and five fraud offences.
Officers from the Central Task Force attended Raitt's Slough address as part of their inquiries into an ongoing pro-active drugs operation.
On searching the property they discovered a safe containing around £16,500.
Raitt attempted to pass the cash off as an inheritance.
She was arrested and taken into custody where she continued to claim the money was from legitimate sources - not only in the form of the inheritance but also loans from family members.
Subsequent bank checks revealed this was not the case and the cash seized was found to possess above average traces of heroin.
Officers believe she was either concerned in the supply of Class A drugs or that she was laundering the proceeds of drug trafficking.
Further inquiries established that Raitt had unlawfully claimed around £12,000 in housing and council tax benefit as well as making a fraudulent mortgage application.
Her claim to be a fashion consultant was an explanation to the banks of the source of her funds when applying for the mortgage.
Investigating officer DC Barry Byron said: "This conviction is another example of how the Central Task Force exploits every opportunity to dismantle the networks against which we are tasked and target the individuals involved in this area of criminality.
"It also shows our commitment to work with other agencies to ensure that any public funds which have been unlawfully obtained can be recovered."
(BMcC/KMcA)
Lisa Raitt, aged 42 years, from Slough also had a confiscation order to the value of £259,000 made against her.
She was found guilty at Kingston Crown Court on 3 August, following a two-week trial of possession of criminal property and five fraud offences.
Officers from the Central Task Force attended Raitt's Slough address as part of their inquiries into an ongoing pro-active drugs operation.
On searching the property they discovered a safe containing around £16,500.
Raitt attempted to pass the cash off as an inheritance.
She was arrested and taken into custody where she continued to claim the money was from legitimate sources - not only in the form of the inheritance but also loans from family members.
Subsequent bank checks revealed this was not the case and the cash seized was found to possess above average traces of heroin.
Officers believe she was either concerned in the supply of Class A drugs or that she was laundering the proceeds of drug trafficking.
Further inquiries established that Raitt had unlawfully claimed around £12,000 in housing and council tax benefit as well as making a fraudulent mortgage application.
Her claim to be a fashion consultant was an explanation to the banks of the source of her funds when applying for the mortgage.
Investigating officer DC Barry Byron said: "This conviction is another example of how the Central Task Force exploits every opportunity to dismantle the networks against which we are tasked and target the individuals involved in this area of criminality.
"It also shows our commitment to work with other agencies to ensure that any public funds which have been unlawfully obtained can be recovered."
(BMcC/KMcA)
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