Malaysian ran massive card factory

An illegal immigrant who helped supply crooks across Europe with fake credit cards has been jailed for nearly four years.

Malaysian Yuan Li, 39, was part of a gang selling counterfeit cards from a makeshift factory nicknamed ‘The Devil’s Pit,’ in Holloway, north London, Southwark Crown Court heard.

The Metropolitan Police’s FALCON (Fraud and Linked Crime Online) Taskforce eventually smashed the ring after arresting gang member King Mensah, 26, last May.

When Mensah’s Enfield home was searched by police, officers found several false credit cards and ID documents with Mensah’s photo on them, but all using different identities.

Police then tracked down ringleader Gabriel Yew, 45, and searched the factory, where they found thousands of blank cards and several printing and embossing machines producing fake bank cards.

Officers also found more blank cards and printing machines at Yew’s home, as well as almost £5,000 cash, luxury goods and two disguised stun guns, while his phone revealed conversations with details of orders for fake cards.

One message read: ‘For info to all: The office will be closed Wednesday and Thursday… Plan ur work carefully. Thank you. Regards The Devil’s Pit.’

Matthew Dalton, prosecuting, said: ‘Gabriel Yew was identified as the manufacture and supplier of fraudulent credit cards.

‘During the investigation they observed an address at 1 Mayton street.

‘The property was identified and searched and described by police as a credit card factory.’

Mr Dalton explained police found thousands of blank credit cards, with blank logos printing machines, and large amounts of cash at the address.

The court heard Li’s fingerprints were found at the factory on several items, and he was also seen outside on CCTV.

He said: ‘An unknown male was seen smoking outside, a man who was later identified as Mr Li.

‘Finger prints were found on a mac-book, a printer, a bottle of Volvic, the side of a wardrobe.

‘They were also found on a bank card inside an empty cigarette packet, and in that empty cigarette packet there were a further 11 “made-up” credit cards.

‘That cigarette packet was ready to be handed out to buyers.

‘When checked by an expert they all held no information.

‘Enquiries made with the bank resulted in each card being counterfeit.’

Li was later arrested at a Chinese restaurant in Sandhurst, Gloucestershire, and his home was then searched.

He said: ‘His bedroom was searched where officers found a Samsung mobile phone, £1,900 in cash, and a black t-shirt which was the same the man with the cigarette was seeing wearing in the CCTV footage.’

Mr Dalton said Li’s phone was then examined, with messages being found explaining the best ways to succeed in the fraud.

He said: ‘There were a number of conversations relating to credit card fraud.

‘People asked which credit card numbers are likely to be successfully in transactions.’

The court heard Li had come to this country from Malasyia.

Mr Dalton said: ‘He’s a Malaysian international.

‘He has no status in the UK.

‘He entered without leave to remain in 2011.’

Yew was jailed for five and a half years last December while Mensa was locked up for 16 months and Christopher Tansey, 30, was sentenced to 26 months imprisonment.

Kofi Gyateng, 26, of Tottenham and Lamarl Brown, 25, of Romford, were also convicted in relation to the fraud and received suspended sentences.

John Townsend, defending Li, said: ‘This defendant follows orders from Mr Yew.

‘His sentence should not be as long.

‘There is a commitment by the defendant to put this offending behind him, and also his drug use.

‘He decided to withdraw from the conspiracy voluntarily, and before detection.

‘He is willing to agree to voluntary deportation.’

Judge Martin Griffith told Li: ‘I have to assume that the loss would fall on the banks.

‘You’ve managed to get yourself into the top sentencing band.

‘He started at a sentence of six years, i’m reducing yours due to his greater involvement.

‘You were prepared to be deported, well, there will be an automatic deportation order.’

Li, formerly of The White Horse, Sandhurst Lane, Sandhurst, Gloucestershire, admitted conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation, supplying articles for use in fraud, possessing articles for use in fraud and possessing criminal property.

He was jailed for three years and nine months.
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