AGAIN.
wow, this guy is prolific. take him off the streets and crime will halve.
www.bathchronicle.co.uk/8203-Regional-news-football-pro-gang-sentenced/story-26094004-detail/story.htmlRegional news: Former Bristol Rovers player sentenced for his part in a drugs racket in the South West
By Bath Chronicle | Posted: February 27, 2015
A former football professional and a former semi-professional footballer have been sentenced for their part in a conspiracy to supply drugs in the South West.
Former professional footballer Michael Boateng and former semi-professional footballer Anh-Tuan Tran-West were part of a gang which brought drugs down from London and laundered the proceeds from their sale in Taunton and Bridgwater.
Boateng made his debut for Bristol Rovers and last played for Whitehawk which sacked him after he was charged with match-fixing.
At the Taunton Crown Court yesterday (February 26), Boateng was spared a second spell in prison having recently completed a 16-month sentence for match-fixing. He was given a two-year suspended sentence, two-year supervision order and 300 hours unpaid work order for his part in the conspiracy to convert criminal property.
Tran-West, 22, received eight years in prison for conspiracy to supply class A drugs and a four-year sentence, to run concurrently, for conspiracy to convert criminal property.
From south east London, Tran-West was arrested at his home with 124g of high-purity cocaine (with a street value of about £33,000), cash, scales and a cutting agent traces of heroin.
About £40,000 had been paid in cash into his bank account from a Bridgwater branch.
It was estimated that Boateng had made £9,360, and Tran-West £72,709, from the drugs racket.
Orders were made to confiscate the money they’d made, but neither has the assets to cover the full amount. Boateng has assets of about £1,130, which he must pay within 28 days, and Tran-West must pay £1,005.
Christopher Longe, 19, and also from south east London, was sentenced by Judge David Ticehurst to six years in a young offenders’ institution for his part in the drug supply conspiracy, and three years for the money laundering offence – also to run concurrently.
A 14-year-old boy from East Sussex, who can’t be named, was sent down to Bridgwater and exploited by the gang as a runner; making drops of drugs and picking up money which he deposited into Tran-West’s bank account. Judge Ticehurst heard how he had made strides to turn his life around and sentenced him to a two-year conditional discharge for his two conspiracy offences.
Another offender who can’t be named is a 17-year-old girl from London who was tried alongside Boateng for the same conspiracy offence. She was given a 12-month youth supervision order, with six months of those under intense observation.
Bridgwater drug dealer Wayne Clist, 40, of Wellington Road, was given a two year community order after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A dugs, with an accompanying drug rehabilitation order which will oblige him to be tested twice weekly.
His partner Gemma Duddridge (33) will be sentenced on March 27, along with Faith Jones-Alli (18), from Gravesend.
Lancashire pair Gail Talbot (45) and Kevin Melody (43) will be sentenced at a later date. Jones-Alli pleaded guilty to a money laundering charge, the others pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.
At the conclusion of Thursday’s hearing at Taunton Crown Court, Judge Ticehurst praised the Avon and Somerset Police officers, Crown Prosecution Service and others involved in bringing the conspirators to justice.
Detective Paul Lanigan said: “Today’s sentencing marks the culmination of more than 18 months of dedicated police work to tackle the illegal supply of class A drugs in our communities.
“The seven people sentenced here and those to be sentenced next month have made money out of other people’s misery in the Taunton and Bridgwater areas.
“This investigation identified that both local individuals and national organised crime groups were monopolising the illegal drug markets in Taunton and Bridgwater.
“Between 2013 and 2014 we identified a total of 50 offenders who were committing offences of conspiracy to supply controlled drugs and conspiracy to money launder.
“In particular, we identified an organised crime group based in south London, who were exploiting young white and black youths, together with vulnerable adults to supply class A drugs within the local rural towns of Avon and Somerset.
“This operation has removed key players at all levels of this Organised Crime Group - from street dealers, drug runners and the organisers.
“In terms of the money laundering offences, we also unearthed links to a professional footballer.
“Arrests and search warrants recovered in excess of £33,000 worth of class A drugs, together with a substantial amount of laundered cash.
“The 10 offenders in this group brings the total number of offenders brought to justice as a result of this operation to 36.
“I would like to thank our partner agencies, including the Metropolitan Police Service and the National Crime Agency (NCA) for their support throughout this investigation.
“I hope this sends out a strong message to anyone who is involved with or considering getting involved in the illegal supply of drugs. We will robustly investigate any reports regarding the illegal supply of drugs and those involved will be caught, arrested and face justice.”
Local Chief Inspector Paul Mogg: “As a result of this investigation, we have removed the availability and supply of class A drugs in our community.
“Drug use brings with it associated anti-social behaviour and other types of crime, particularly theft, to help fund what can be expensive and consuming drug habits.
“Put simply; we will not tolerate this kind of behaviour, which impacts negatively on the majority within our communities who are law-abiding and not involved in drug use or supply.”
