Life sentence for gun dealer who wanted to build underworld empire

A gun dealer who sold a gun used in a gangland murder, then sent his supplier an image of the victim dying in the street was jailed for life today (fri).

Paul Fontaine, 36, was a ‘professional middleman’ dealing in weapons, drugs and counterfeit currency as he tried to build an underworld empire.

One of his weapons was used in the murder of Abdullahi Mahmoud, 20, who was fatally shot at Bagel Brotherz in Enfield, north London, on 19 March 2020.

Abdullahi dodged four shots from gunman Khallid Hogan, but was hit in the head while climbing over a concrete wall.

Hogan, now 21, tried to give himself an alibi by phoning a friend and keeping the line open during the assassination.

He was convicted of Mr Mahmoud’s murder last August and jailed for at least 27 years.

Fontaine sent his arms supplier known as ‘Chestbridge’ screenshots of news articles about the shooting and photos of paramedics trying to save Mr Mahmoud’s life, the Old Bailey heard.

He also plotted with 34-year-old Frankie Sinclair to murder a rival of Sinclair with a James Bond style Walther PPK pistol.

Fontaine used the handle ‘UsualWolf’ on the EncroChat network while Sinclair was known as ‘NudeTrain.

He told ‘Chestbridge’: ‘It is in the news, look up Hertford Road a couple weeks back.

‘My boys had tapped two people with two of them.’

Sinclair was earlier convicted of charges including conspiracy to murder and conspiracy to supply a firearm to another.

Fontaine and Sinclair were both jailed for life with a minimum term of 18 years.

But remorseless Fontaine vowed revenge on those he blames on his conviction as he was led to the cells at the Old Bailey.

As they were led to the cells the pair clasped their hands to their hearts and Fontaine shouted to the public gallery: ‘Justice will be served.’

Kevin Dent, QC, prosecuting, had described Encrochat as ‘an Amazon for organised criminals’ as it allowed them to purchase guns, drugs and counterfeit money secretly.

He said: ‘Fontaine did supply a weapon for this murder.’

Fontaine was acting as a criminal middleman.

‘If you needed firearms or ammunition, he was somebody you could go to.

‘He used an encrypted messaging to purchase firearms, drugs and counterfeit currency to other professional criminals, communicating with them on encrypted phones.

‘In this role, he conspired with others to transfer a firearm that was used in the murder of a man, Mr Abdullahi Mahmoud on 19 March 2020.

‘One who sought his assistance is Frankie Sinclair and the defendants are alleged to have conspired together to murder a rival of Mr Sinclair’s called Kieron Hassan and others in his group.

‘Between 30 March 2020 and 8 June 2020 there was a dispute between Frankie Sinclair and a rival group.

‘There was a shoot-out at Mr Sinclair’s mother’s house in Cardiff.

‘This led to Frankie Sinclair prompting Mr Fontaine to acquire a firearm so that Mr Sinclair could carry out a revenge murder for the attack on Frankie Sinclair’s mother’s house.’

CCTV footage of the attack on Sinclair’s mum’s home in Cardiff on 1 March 2020 showed a man in a hoodie carrying a shotgun.

Usualwolf and Chestbridge used the term ‘Duppy’ in their discussions as they negotiated prices for guns and ammunition.

Duppy is a slang term for ‘ghost’ and to ‘ghost someone’ is to kill them.

Fontaine, of Sandgate House, Hackney, denied but was convicted of conspiracy to murder, two counts of conspiracy to supply a firearm to another, conspiracy to supply ammunition to another, possessing ammunition when prohibited, conspiracy to supply heroin, and conspiracy to possess counterfeit currency notes.

Sinclair, of Cathays, Cardiff, denied but was convicted of conspiracy to murder, conspiracy to supply a firearm to another, conspiracy to supply ammunition to another, possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life, possessing ammunition with intent to endanger life, possessing a firearm when prohibited, possessing ammunition when prohibited, and possessing criminal property.

Sinclair admitted two counts of conspiracy to supply a controlled drug of class A, namely heroin and cocaine.

Judge Jonathan Hillen told the pair: ‘Each of you have shown no remorse or regret.

‘You were voluntarily engaging with violent criminals. You were part, via Encrochat, of a nationwide criminal network.’

Judge Hillen said the offences were ‘part of an attempt to create a drug dealing empire in which you would bring misery to addicts and support their habits.’

‘You also conspired to get counterfeit money produced, which increases inflation and affects the lives of the population as a whole.’

Judge Hillen told Fontaine and Sinclair to consider the impact a jail sentence would have on their families.

‘The effect is considerable, but this is not the choice of the court. It is your choice.

‘The distress to your loved ones is caused directly by you.’

Fontaine is the father of four children and was said to be actively engaged in their upbringing.

Judge Hillen said he was ‘genuinely moved’ by a letter Fontaine’s had sent him and added:
‘You realise the impact you have on the ones you love.’

ends