A convicted illegal money lender from #Dudley has been ordered to pay back all his available assets to the courts under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
John Guest, 62, who was given a suspended prison sentence in June, had assets amounting to £134,225. He must pay back this amount within three months or face two years in prison.
Guest was given a 22-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, and ordered to do 80 hours’ unpaid community work after admitting two charges of unlawful money lending, another of concealing or removing criminal property and also possessing criminal property.
Read the full story here: bit.ly/2yYdtQT
(Pic: £18,000 in £20 bundles found in a safe at Guest's home) ... See MoreSee Less
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Victims of a suspected #Burton loan shark are being urged to come forward.
The England Illegal Money Lending Team (IMLT) is appealing for information following an operation which identified victims in Burton-on-Trent.
The known victims are understood to be Eastern European nationals - mainly Bulgarian, Hungarian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Polish, Romanian and Slovakian.
Anyone who believes they have come into contact with the suspect is being asked to attend an event at Gretton House, Waterside Court, Third Avenue, Burton, on Tuesday, August 20, between 9am and 5pm.
The IMLT arrested a 34-year-old man from Burton on suspicion of illegal money lending, money laundering and unlawful possession of identification documents as part of the operation last month.
Cash, documentation and electronic devices were seized following raids at two properties in town on Tuesday, July 23.
Officers from the IMLT, working in conjunction with Staffordshire County Council Trading Standards and Staffordshire Police also recovered a large quantity of passports and European identity cards during searches of both addresses.
The suspect has been released under investigation pending further enquiries.
Tony Quigley, head of the IMLT, said: "It's understood that a number of Eastern European nationals have had their driving licences, passports and identification cards retained as security against the loans provided.
"We are appealing to these people to get in touch with us as we would like to return their property and offer our help and support.
"You are not in trouble if you have borrowed money or have been paying back a loan from a loan shark – they are the people committing a crime, not you."
To report a loan shark call the 24-hour confidential hotline on 0300 555 2222, text a report to 078600 22116 or visit www.stoploansharks.co.uk. ... See MoreSee Less
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Two suspected loan sharks arrested following an operation in #Oxfordshire yesterday (13 August).
A 41-year-woman and 55-year-old man were arrested on suspicion of illegal money lending and money laundering.
The England Illegal Money Lending Team (IMLT) working in partnership with Oxfordshire County Council Trading Standards and Thames Valley Police executed a warrant at a residential address in #Abingdon.
During a search of the property, officers recovered documentation and electronic devices.
The suspects have been released under investigation pending further enquiries.
Read the full story here: bit.ly/2KHrRCn ... See MoreSee Less
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A loan shark who pocketed more than £300,000 from vulnerable victims over four years has been jailed for 9 months.
One victim ended up repaying £15,310 on an £8,500 loan, the court heard.
Keith Riley, 56, of Thornton Cleveleys, #Lancashire admitted illegal money lending and money laundering, at a previous hearing at Preston Crown Court.
Recorder Stanley Reiz ordered Riley to pay £61,100 under the Proceeds of Crime Act. He must pay back this amount within 3 months or face an additional 12 months behind bars.
To report a loan shark call the 24/7 confidential hotline 0300 555 2222 or visit www.stoploansharks.co.uk. ... See MoreSee Less
Fantastic result at court yesterday. Man sentenced to five years’ imprisonment for forced labour, human trafficking and illegal money lending offences.
An excellent example of great partnership working with
Thames Valley Police, National Crime Agency, South East Regional Organised Crime Unit, Oxfordshire County Council, HMRC & Department for Work and Pensions - DWP. ... See MoreSee Less
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