A greedy fraudster who funded a luxury lifestyle u
A greedy fraudster who funded a luxury lifestyle using credit card receipts stolen from a top West End bar was jailed for 30 months today.
(fri)
Nickson Anegbode, 40, and his accomplices took card details from Tiger Tiger customers to order holidays, electrical equipment and even car insurance.
The team of fraudsters had an inside man working at the bar who pocketed the receipts and passed them on.
Anegbode denied conspiracy to defraud but was found guilty by a jury at the Old Bailey.
The trial heard that the gang rented flats in the capital solely to receive the goods.
Anegbode was arrested in a police raid on his home
in Barking, east London.
Another suspect was bailed after a raid in Edgware, north-west London, but he has since vanished.
The gang made more than 100 transactions using bank details which often belonged to American or Canadian tourists visiting the bar and grill in the Haymarket.
Flights to Nigeria, computers, train tickets, top-of-the-range stereo equipment and building materials were bought by the fraudsters.
The crime network was smashed after suspicious workers at a DIY store organised a controlled delivery.
Anegbode was arrested after answering the door of his home to collect the parcel.
Prosecutor Peter Testar said: ‘This was an international fraud because the credit cards were used throughout the world.
‘The amount defrauded during the 130 transactions concerned was about pnds stlg 70,000.
‘
Anegbode and his gang carried on the swindle for 18 months before they were caught.
Even after he was arrested Anegbode used someone else’s card details to insure his car.
Mr Testar said the fraud was unravelled after Anegbode was caught red-handed by MFI staff.
He told the jury: ‘They became suspicious that there were a number of fraudulent transactions going to the same house in Barking.
‘Eventually, they agreed to do a controlled delivery.
In July 2001, two of their security staff went with the goods and knocked on the door.
‘When it was answered it was this defendant, who was there to take the goods into the premises.
‘
When police raided Anegbode’s home, they found photocopied receipts from Tiger Tiger, purchase details of airline tickets to Nigeria, and a piece of paper containing the names of other alleged gang members.
He claimed in interview that he knew nothing about the fraud, and said the documents in his room must have been left there by his housemates.
Anegbode, of Faircross Avenue, Barking, denied the conspiracy to defraud between August 21, 2000, and February 4, 2002.
Sentencing Anegbode to 30 months jail the judge Mr Recorder Nicholas Purnell, QC, said: ‘You have been convicted of a conspiracy to obtain goods by deception, which extended over 16 or 17 months.
‘It was a sophisticated plan.
During that period, there have been 130 transactions involving a number of important participants – those who obtained details of cards, placed orders and received deliveries.
‘You were one of the persons who received deliveries.
The address you resided at was made available for a swathe of illegal activities.
‘You received airline tickets, travel tickets, season tickets, alcoholic drinks, kitchen equipment – all manor of items that could be translated into cash.
‘It was professional and well-executed.
This was not done because of a shortage of money.
You took home pnds stlg 400 a week and your wife was working.
You were engaged in it because you were greedy.
‘
ends
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