ANNEX 13: LOCAL AUTHORITY USE OF COMMUNICATIONS DATA
(a)
The multiple telephone numbers were owned and operated by only two
individuals. One of those individuals, who held the majority of the numbers,
had been identified as being involved in operating multiple UK bank accounts
used for money laundering aspects of the fraud and the creation of shell
companies.
(b)
All the UK free phone numbers were being redirected to Spanish based
numbers that were linked to a small number of call centres operating from the
Malaga area of Spain. These call centres were all owned by one man who was
known to have a previous history of fraudulent trading.
(c)
The link provided by this communications data provided evidence that what
appeared outwardly to be over 12 different separate escort website/agencies
were in fact all one fraud perpetrated by one set of linked individuals.
10.
In June 2012 European Arrests warrants were applied for in respect of Antoni Muldoon,
the man at the helm of the fraud, and two other members of the gang, Geraldine French
and Bradley Rogers. All three were returned to the UK. Following extradition in
September 2012 Muldoon pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud at Ipswich Crown
Court.
11.
Following Muldoon’s plea, and after a series of trials at Ipswich Crown Court including
a ten week trial involving five of the defendants that concluded in June 2013, seven
further members of the gang were found guilty of offences including conspiracy to
defraud and money laundering offences. The sentences handed down totalled 36
years overall, with Muldoon receiving 7.5 years for his role and Mark Bell of Ipswich,
Muldoon’s right hand man in the UK, receiving 6.5 years.
12.
Confiscation proceedings followed the sentencing and to date £315,000 has been
awarded in confiscation and costs, which Suffolk Trading Standards has used to repay
victims of the fraud. Confiscation proceedings are continuing against Antoni Muldoon
who is known to have benefited to the largest extent from this fraud and the amount of
confiscation possible from him is expected to be substantial. Confiscation hearings for
Muldoon are set to take place in January 2015.
13.
In July 2014 four of the defendants appealed their convictions and sentences at the
Court of Appeal in London and in front of three sitting High Court Judges all appeals
were turned down.
14.
Steve Greenfield, Suffolk’s Head of Trading Standards and Community Safety
commented that “RIPA powers were essential to the successful outcome of this case”.
Counterfeit goods case study 1
15.
Two internet traders based in Slough were selling counterfeit trainers on e-bay for
£35.00. The only intelligence the trading standards service had was the e-mail address
and mobile phone numbers that the complainants used to make the purchase. The
actual retail price of these trainers was £135 a pair. By obtaining the data from the
mobile phones and the IP address the council were able to pinpoint the address being
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