Eight crooks have been jailed following the exposure of a massive £22 million tax scam involving fake labour firms. This ruthless organised crime gang set up bogus labour supply companies to illegally claim VAT and tax deductions, defrauding HMRC on a large scale.
The gang created fake labour supply companies to divert VAT and subcontractor tax payments away from HMRC. Key players including Terry Mordecai, Dean Remfry, Billy Kinsella, and Dean Simmonds funnelled payrolls through these fraudulent firms. The VAT and tax payments that should have been paid to HMRC were instead pocketed through a cash courier network.
Terry Mordecai and Michael O’Sullivan also involved other firms, illegally obtaining £238,000 and £42,000 respectively.
Heavy Jail Terms for Big-Shot Fraudsters
The sentences handed down are as follows:
- Terry Mordecai, 45, London – 2 years 6 months in jail and banned from being a company director for 6 years.
- Dean Remfry, 52, Sevenoaks – same sentence as Mordecai.
- Michael O’Sullivan, 50, Essex – 2 years 2 months in jail plus a 6-year director ban.
- Billy Kinsella, 36, Essex – 1 year 9 months suspended sentence.
- Dean Simmonds, 53, Essex – 18 months community service.
- Mark Ives, 47, Crayford – 24 months suspended jail sentence.
- Mason Bonura, 29, Hertfordshire – 24 months suspended jail sentence.
- Christopher Denton, 35, Gravesend – 2 years suspended jail sentence.
HMRC and Police Clamp Down on Tax Fraud
Detective Constable Dameon Shaw stated: “These fraudsters deliberately stole VAT and CIS payments from HMRC to fill their own pockets. Today’s verdict sends a loud and clear message – no tax cheat escapes justice.
“We’ve caught 27 offenders so far, from bosses to couriers and office workers.”
“Tax fraud cheats everyone. No matter how hard they tried to cover their tracks, we revealed the full scale and brought them down.”
Martin Forster of HMRC’s Fraud Investigation Service added: “These jail sentences must serve as a warning. We relentlessly target anyone trying to rip off the tax system – particularly company directors.
“If you suspect tax fraud, report it straightaway on GOV.UK.”
Originally published by UKNIP.
