Latest news with #SouthWestRegionalOrganisedCrimeUnit
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Yahoo
Man ordered to pay £140,000 after crypto fraud
A man from Wiltshire has been ordered to pay back more than £140,000 after committing "international cryptocurrency fraud". James Heppel, 44, from Staverton in Wiltshire, was handed the confiscation order at Bristol Crown Court on June 6 following an investigation by the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit. He now has three months to pay the order or face an additional 18 months in jail. Heppel was convicted of three counts of conspiracy to commit fraud in May last year alongside Jake Lee, from Bath, who was handed a four-year sentence and a confiscation order for nearly £1million. Recommended reading Thousands of former Wilko staff to receive compensation after collapse Stalker left ex partner and her young children in fear for their safety Latest pro-Palestine march in Swindon prompts heated debate The pair carried out the fraud by spoofing the domain of online cryptocurrency exchange to access victims' Bitcoin wallets, stealing their funds and login details. During this time, "55 victims in 26 countries were identified, with total losses of £5.7 million worth of cryptocurrency". DS Matt Brain from SWROCU's Regional Cyber Crime Unit said: 'This additional money will add to the compensation received by the victims we identified in the case, including 11 in the UK. 'We have a team of financial investigators who work closely with the CPS to evidence how much money criminals like Heppel and Lee have made through crime, and to ensure the maximum amount possible is taken off them to pay that back. 'Our investigation started back in 2018 after colleagues at Avon and Somerset Police arrested Lee on suspicion of money laundering. As well as £24k cash, officers from the force seized digital devices and three laminated Bitcoin wallet recovery seeds." Heidi Leaney, Legal Manager for the CPS' Proceeds of Crime Division, said: "James Heppel was involved in a sophisticated cryptocurrency fraud which caused devastating financial and emotional harm to victims across the globe. 'We worked closely with financial investigators in SWROCU to identify his available assets and secure this £140,000 Confiscation Order, which will go some way towards compensating victims. "The CPS will always use the powers available to ensure crime does not pay, depriving criminals of their ill-gotten gains and ensuring where we can that monies are repaid to the victim.' In May 2024, the two men were jailed and cash totalling £835k, which includes a suitcase containing £551k cash voluntarily handed over by Lee in January, as well as £64k worth of cryptocurrency, a Banksy print worth £60k and three vehicles, have all been restrained.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Yahoo
Drug dealer who went on run for three years jailed
A woman who has been on the run for three years after admitting smuggling drugs into prison and importing cocaine into the UK has been jailed. Emily MacArthur, 34, of no fixed address, failed to appear in court back in April 2022 having pleaded guilty to both offences. Her co-conspirator and former partner Dennis Obasi was sentenced to 11 years and seven months in November 2022. On Friday, MacArthur was sentenced to 13 years and 11 months in prison when she appeared at Swindon Crown Court. The hearing was told MacArthur exploited young people and vulnerable women to smuggle her drugs so she could fund a lavish lifestyle. MacArthur was also jailed for the previous guilty pleas, but also for three counts of being concerned in the supply of class A drugs, possession of criminal property, and the failure to attend court. An investigation by the the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SWROCU) started when UK Border Force discovered cocaine in parcels in January 2020. Officers stopped three parcels from Jamaica, addressed to MacArthur at flats in Frome and Bristol. Cocaine, with a street value of more than £13,000, was hidden inside what looked to be shipments of seasonings. MacArthur and Obasi had tens of thousands of messages between each other about making lots of money from drugs. In one message, MacArthur talks about "moving to hard food" – meaning cocaine – as she needed £23,000 for a car and wanted to live in a nicer house. Officers from the Metropolitan Police were also investigating MacArthur about the supply of Spice into prisons. Police issued a warrant to search MacArthur's home in Trowbridge, Wiltshire, in February 2020. At the address, they uncovered substantial amounts of Spice and arrested MacArthur and Obasi. Equipment was found showing they had been making fake legal letters - which were not allowed to be opened by prison staff - to smuggle the Spice into jail. Between February 2019 and March 2020, at least 40 fake letters were recovered from 11 prisons in England, each package having between 25 and 50 sheets of infused paper. More news stories for Wiltshire Listen to the latest news for Wiltshire The court heard that after the pair was released under investigation, they carried on drug dealing. Thames Valley Police arrested them when they were seen dropping off two teenagers at an address belonging to a vulnerable man. MacArthur used aliases to move around and avoid capture, but was arrested in Belfast in June 2024. DC Williams from SWROCU explained that MacArthur had been exploiting young people and vulnerable women to smuggle drugs. "It was all just about money and bettering her lifestyle. "She's tried hard over the past few years to avoid being caught but now it's her turn to face justice for the harm she's caused," he said. Follow BBC Wiltshire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. Man smuggled drugs into jail with fake legal papers
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Yahoo
West-country drug dealer jailed for 19 years
A west-country drug dealer who went on the run has been jailed for 19 years for his role in a large drug operation in the south west. Christopher Barbosa, 32, formerly of Sea Mills in Bristol, was sentenced at Bristol Crown Court today, Friday April 4. Barbosa was arrested in May 2020 after officers from the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SWROCU) identified him as 'Kilo-chris', a key associate of Romaine Hyman, who was sentenced to 26 years in prison in 2022. He then went on the run, travelling across mainland Europe before being arrested in Paris while trying to continue his journey from Dubai to Barcelona. He spent a year in custody in France, having contested every stage of the extradition process, before being returned to the UK last December. Evidence from Barbosa's encrypted phone, where he used the handle 'Kilo-chris', showed he purchased at least 46 kilograms of cocaine from Bath-based Hyman at a cost of over £1.5 million in just two months. He also bought at least 20kg of cocaine from the Wiltshire-based Allison brothers, who were jailed in February as part of a separate £7m drugs conspiracy investigation, and 3kg from North Somerset man Alex Male, who was jailed last December for 18 years and who also went on the run. Barbosa used Robert Dent's home in Knowle West as a safe house, with James Hele as a courier. Dent and Hele were jailed in 2023 for 12 years and 11 years respectively. DCI Adam Smith from SWROCU said: 'Barbosa was very well connected to other serious criminals who were collectively making huge profits out of supplying class A drugs onto our streets. 'We've already seen others, including his suppliers and those who worked for him, receive significant jail time. Now it's his turn. 'Barbosa kept a low profile, letting others run the risk of storing and distributing drugs and money under his instruction. He'll have seen the sentences they've received while on the run. 'We all know the huge harm caused by the business they're in and the youth violence and exploitation it fuels. Cases like this show the absolute determination of our unit, together with our regional forces, to target those causing the most harm.' Ruona Iguyovwe, Senior Specialist Prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service, said: "Barbosa had a significant role in a sophisticated operation which supplied Class A drugs across the South West, handling over 66 kilograms of cocaine worth millions of pounds. "Despite his attempts to evade justice by hiding behind encrypted technology and fleeing abroad, the Crown Prosecution Service, including our International Unit, worked closely with law enforcement and international partners to secure his extradition, build a strong case and bring him to justice. 'This case sends a clear message that we will pursue criminals wherever they go – there is nowhere to hide. Organised crime and illegal drugs bring misery and harm to our communities, and we will work tirelessly to help dismantle these criminal networks. 'We will be pursuing confiscation proceedings against Barbosa to recover the proceeds of his crimes.' Barbosa pleaded guilty on 25 January this year to three counts of conspiracy to supply class A (cocaine, heroin and crack cocaine); conspiracy to conceal, disguise, transfer or remove criminal property; and acquiring criminal property.
BBC News
04-04-2025
- BBC News
Drug dealer known as 'Kilo Chris' jailed for 19 years
A drug dealer from Bristol who was known as "Kilo Chris" has been sentenced to 19 years in prison for his part in a large drug operation in the south Barbosa, 32, formerly of Sea Mills in Bristol, was sentenced at Bristol Crown Court was affiliated with other high-profile drug dealers such as Bath-based Romaine Hyman, the Wiltshire-based Allison brothers and Alex Male from North said Barbosa bought at least 46kg of cocaine from Hyman at a cost of more than £1.5m in just two months. Barbosa was arrested after officers from the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SWROCU) identified him as "Kilo-Chris", a key associate of Bath-based drug dealer Hyman, who was sentenced to 26 years in prison in went on the run, travelling across mainland Europe before being arrested in Paris while trying to continue his journey from Dubai to spent a year in custody in France, during which time he contested every stage of the extradition process. He was eventually returned to the UK in December last from Barbosa's encrypted phone, where he used the handle 'Kilo-Chris', showed he purchased at least 46kg of cocaine from Hyman at a cost of £1.5m in just two also bought at least 20kg of cocaine from the Wiltshire-based Allison brothers, who were jailed in February as part of a separate £7m drugs conspiracy investigation, and 3kg from Male, who was jailed in December 2024 for 18 pleaded guilty to three counts of conspiracy to supply class A drugs, conspiracy to conceal, disguise, transfer or remove criminal property and acquiring criminal property. 'Serious criminals' Barbosa used Robert Dent's home in Knowle West as a safe house, with James Hele acting as a and Hele were jailed in 2023 for 12 years and 11 years Ch Insp Adam Smith from SWROCU said: "Barbosa was very well connected to other serious criminals who were collectively making huge profits out of supplying class A drugs onto our streets."We've already seen others, including his suppliers and those who worked for him, receive significant jail time. Now it's his turn."Barbosa kept a low profile, letting others run the risk of storing and distributing drugs and money under his instruction."He'll have seen the sentences they've received while on the run."We all know the huge harm caused by the business they're in and the youth violence and exploitation it fuels."
The Independent
03-04-2025
- The Independent
Police officer jailed for child sex offences after being caught in sting
A police officer who was caught in a law enforcement sting after travelling to meet what he thought was a 14-year-old boy he had met on Grindr has been jailed for 32 months. Inspector Thomas Kettleborough, 35, was caught by officers from the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit when he went to meet the child. The Avon and Somerset officer thought he was communicating with a child but was in fact snared in an undercover police sting, Exeter Crown Court heard. Nicholas Lewin, prosecuting, said Kettleborough had used a false name – calling himself Liam on Grindr and Snapchat – and claimed to be 28. After beginning sexually explicit chat with the teenager, the pair arranged to meet on July 14 2023 in a car park in Bristol. ' Police officers attended on Mr Kettleborough and arrested him in relation to the conversation,' Mr Lewin said. 'During search of his vehicle, a yellow Aldi bag for life was located inside the boot containing an assortment of sex toys, condoms and bondage equipment, including a pair of limb restraints.' Mr Lewin said that following his arrest, police found he had previously engaged in sexual communication with a child and had in his possession indecent images. At an earlier hearing, Kettleborough pleaded guilty to charges of arranging or facilitating commission of a child sex offence, attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and attempting to cause or incite a child to engage in sexual activity. He also admitted one count of engaging in sexual communication with a child and four counts of making an indecent photograph/pseudo-photograph of a child. Lee Bremridge, defending, said Kettleborough had shown genuine remorse for his crimes. 'It is reflected, firstly in the guilty pleas, it is reflected in the pre-sentence report, and it is also reflected by Mr Kettleborough in his letter to the court,' he said. 'Since the point of his arrest in July of 2023, Mr Kettleborough has done everything that he can attempt to do to try and understand why it is he committed the offences that he did. 'That process has been an incredibly long one, it is continuing, but that should not detract from the fact that he is genuinely sorry for what it is that he has done.' Mr Bremridge said the several character references submitted on Kettleborough's behalf spoke of the 'high regard' he was held in. 'They have known him in a work capacity, they've known him in a personal capacity, and they have known him in a volunteering role capacity,' he said. 'What is apparent from those letters is that he has made a significant contribution to those areas in which he has worked, particularly in a volunteer role.' Jailing Kettleborough for 32 months, Judge Stephen Climie said a combination of childhood trauma and his experiences as a police officer led to a decline in his mental health. 'There is no criticism of the police themselves but unfortunately the inevitable, from time to time, is there are traumatic experiences that officers find themselves faced with,' he said. 'Your mind diverted away from what is otherwise a very positive background and positive performance on the areas of employment I've described. 'So too does the description from family members that makes it very clear to me that you were otherwise a decent member of society. 'In the context of this case, it may be suggested that your employment as a police officer in some way, shape or form, aggravates the position. 'In my judgment, that might have been the case had you been using your position as a serving police officer to incite the sexual activity, but you did not. 'It is, of course, regrettable from society's perspective that any serving police officer finds himself or herself before a court charged with a criminal offence, but it is not in my judgment an aggravating factor for the purposes of passing sentence.' Kettleborough was also handed an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and will be on the sex offenders' register for life. After he was jailed, police shared the Snapchat username and avatar Kettleborough used to help identify any further victims of his offending. Detective Inspector Dave Wells, who led the investigation, said: 'The serious sexual offences against children that he's been convicted of span a period of four years. 'Thomas Kettleborough was in a position of trust at the time, both as a police officer and as a volunteer for the Sea Cadets and the Royal Lifesaving Society, however he concealed his true identity through an online persona as 'Liam', 'L S' and 'Liamss5506'. 'Specialist investigators are ready to listen and investigate any reports relating to Thomas Kettleborough or any other matters of concern. I want people to know that they will be believed. 'Thomas Kettleborough is now behind bars. I hope if there are others that have been affected by this case, they now feel empowered to tell someone, if they are ready to do so.'
