Scammers who posed as police to steal elderly victims' cash jailed
Six men were sentenced today for their part in the “cynical, callous exploitation and targeting of some of the most vulnerable people in our society”.
Judge Neil Rafferty KC revealed some of the elderly provincewide victims were in their nineties when they were targeted by the gang.
Crown barrister Charles MacCreanor KC said the case concerned a large number of frauds committed between February 2020 and the following May which were “predatory, planned and sophisticated”.
Mr MacCreanor said “an actor” would cold-call the elderly victim pretending to be a police officer or someone linked to the police.
The actor would then persuade the victim that he or she was about to be the target of bank fraud or theft of money or valuables, and that the only way to safeguard their assets would be to hand them over to an undercover police officer for safekeeping.
The actor would then coordinate with a co-conspirator on the ground who would arrive at the victim's address or a nearby location and act as the courier.
On many occasions the fraud was successful and the victim handed over money or valuables voluntarily.
On other occasions the victims became suspicious at an early stage and refused to cooperate or only became suspicious that they had been duped at the last minute, at which point the couriers often resorted to snatching the money or valuables and making off – some from victims who were making their way home from withdrawing cash from the bank.
The total losses to the victims amounted to approximately £137,000 which was not recovered, as well as personal jewellery and items.
All six men appeared in the dock of Belfast Crown Court and were sentenced for the various roles they played.
Ray Lee, 33, from Colin Glen Green in Belfast was described as the primary organiser and actor in the series of scams.
He admitted conspiring to commit fraud between February 16, 2020 and May 28, 2021 and possessing criminal property on May 28, 2021 and was handed a sentence of five years.
Elijah Clifford Lee, 61, with an address as HMP Maghaberry, also pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit fraud between February 16, 2020 and May 28, 2021 and possessing criminal property on July 10, 2020.
He agreed to collect and deliver money on request, and he was handed a sentence of 28 months.
Mark Paul Millar, 52, from Ventry Lane in Belfast admitted the same charge of conspiring to commit fraud and of possessing criminal property on July 10, 2020.
He also played the role of a courier and had a 20-month sentence imposed.
John Delaney, 49, from Hazel View in Belfast, also described as a courier, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit fraud between February 16, 2020 and May 28, 2021 and he was handed a 12-month sentence.
All the terms imposed were divided equally between prison and licence.
Shea Reynolds, 31, from Alexandra Crescent in Lurgan admitted a charge of possessing criminal property on May 28, 2021.
Judge Rafferty noted he had a “significant” criminal record and imposed a six-month sentence.
William McGinley, 36, from Spruce Hill in Irvinestown had a six-month sentence imposed, which was suspended for two years, on a charge of possessing criminal property on May 28, 2021.
He has already spent time in custody following his arrest.
During today's hearing, Judge Rafferty revealed some of the many victims have since passed away, whilst another elderly man was targeted when he was nursing his wife who was undergoing chemotherapy for cancer.
Saying none of the victims were “faceless”, the judge continued: “Every one of those people was simply an ordinary, decent older person who had vulnerabilities due to their age."
Judge Rafferty said the offending occurred during the Covid pandemic when older people were advised to shield.
He added that in statements they subsequently made, the victims outlined their loss of independence and the distress and fear they felt by being scammed.
As he imposed the sentenced, the Judge said: “This case should serve as a clear expression of revulsion as to those who organise these scams and who perpetrate these crimes against targeted older people who must be protected.”
A seventh co-accused, 42-year old Nicola Samantha Morgan from Marguerite Court in Newcastle, was also due to be sentenced today on a charge of possessing criminal property on December 7, 2020. She didn’t appear in court due to ill health.
Judge Rafferty relisted her sentencing for Wednesday, warning that non-attendance could result in an arrest warrant being issued.