wmlro.com: Smuggler transferred cash into wif'e's bank account after arrest

Christopher Osborne was sentenced to four and a half years, his son Jack Osborne was jailed for one year and Christopher Edwards of Surrey also received a one year sentence. Londoner, Clive Evans received an eight month sentence, suspended for two years, plus a three month overnight curfew. Christopher Osborne's wife, Stephanie Osborne received a 12 month sentence, suspended for two years. She must also complete 200 hours community service.
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) criminal investigators had some of the gang under surveillance. Officers caught Christopher Osborne (49) and his son Jack Osborne (23) with 2.1 million illegally imported counterfeit cigarettes at a lock-up in Leytonstone, East London on 3 May 2008. The huge haul was seized and the men were arrested. As officers raided the premises a large quantity of the cigarettes was being loaded into a van. Its occupants Christopher Edwards (63) and Clive Evans (45) had driven from Surrey to purchase and collect cigarettes. Officers discovered a carrier bag containing GBP79,980 in cash concealed under the passenger seat, which was payment for the goods. Both men were arrested.
HMRC investigators and the Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office (RCPO) were able to establish that the seizure was not a one-off supply of cigarettes. Paperwork recovered from the lock-up led investigators to a legitimate packaging supply company. Officers established from them that Christopher Osborne, using the alias Ray Hay, had purchased a total of 4,780 cardboard boxes, and a large quantity of parcel tape, from the company on 19 separate occasions between 2 November 2007 and 29 April 2008. All 'Ray Hay's' packaging purchases were in cash. Based upon the number of boxes purchased in that six month period alone it is estimated that around 78 million cigarettes passed through the organisation. The estimated loss of duty is around GBP18 million. Christopher Osborne had
made a significant amount of money in relation to the importation, distribution and supply of smuggled cigarettes over a number of years.
Within days of his arrest he and his wife Stephanie Osborne (47) transferred substantial assets (valued at in excess of GBP50,000) from joint bank accounts into accounts solely in her name, to avoid
confiscation. An initial search of the Osborne family home in Bromley uncovered GBP7,000 cash in Jack Osborne's bedroom. In a later search, assisted by 'Sniff' a cash detection dog, GBP20,000 was found hidden beneath a chest of drawers and GBP199,700 was discovered in two holdalls, hidden behind a tool box in the garage. Money laundering investigations show that cash deposits, exceeding GBP250,000, were paid into bank accounts from March 2003. This cash is believed to be the proceeds of crime.
His Honour Judge McGregor-Johnson said: "This was a professional conspiracy. Christopher Osborne was involved in laundering large sums of money through his bank account." The total amount of duty evaded on the 2.1 million cigarettes seized at the lock-up is around GBP430,000. The cash seized from the van and at the Osborne family home has been confiscated under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
Confiscation proceedings on other assets will be pursued at a later date.
Christopher Osborne, Jack Osborne, Christopher Edwards and Clive Evans were all charged with participation in a conspiracy to evade excise duty chargeable on tobacco products, contrary to Section 1 of the Criminal Law Act 1977.
All four men were arrested on 3 May 2008 and charged on 22 July 2008.
Christopher Osborne and Stephanie Osborne were separately arrested at their home on 23 September 2008 in relation to money laundering offences. They were charged on 25 November 2008 with
offences contrary to Sections 327 and/or 329 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. 5. Christopher Osborne, Jack Osborne and Christopher Edwards pleaded guilty on 16 January 2009.
Clive Evans pleaded guilty on 12 May 2009.
On 24 April 2009 Stephanie Osborne was found guilty at Isleworth Crown Court of two counts of money laundering.
Due diligence information
Christopher OSBORNE (aka Ray Hay), 22/10/1959, of Dukes Way, West Wickham, Bromley, Kent, BR4 9AU.
Stephanie Osborne, 02/03/62, of Dukes Way, West Wickham, Bromley, Kent, BR4 9AU. Occupation - Receptionist.
Jack OSBORNE, 09/08/85, of Dukes Way, West Wickham, Bromley, Kent, BR4 9AU.
Christopher John EDWARDS, 29/09/45, of 121 Manor Road, Mitcham, Surrey, CR4 1JD.
Clive EVANS, 11/11/63, of Sawkins Close, London, SW19 6JU. 13.