A MAN involved in an international “romance fraud” scam during which two vulnerable pensioners handed over more than £80,000 has been ordered to surrender ill-gotten gains totalling almost £27,000.
Carlisle Crown Court heard earlier this year how two elderly victims were duped into sending tens of thousands of pounds to what they believed were potential female partners.
As a result, £85,000 passed illegally through the bank accounts of Anderson Boakye, 27, and his 29-year-old partner Laura Glendinning – whom he had recruited.
Both Boakye and Glendinning, of Crummock Street, Carlisle, admitted entering into or becoming concerned in a money laundering arrangement by receiving cash into a bank account. Boakye also pleaded guilty to a similar offence involving cash sum collection.
One fraud victim later said the experience caused him to lose his faith in people.
Boakye was handed a suspended prison term in August and Glendinning a community order, both sentences comprising unpaid work.
Under tough legislation, police sought to claw back the ill-gotten gains. And their efforts resulted in Boayke appearing again at the crown court for a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing today (FRI) when Judge Nicholas Barker heard the male defendant’s agreed benefit figure from his criminal conduct was a total of £82,969.14.
Boakye’s available assets – said to be already in the possession of police – were agreed as £26,961. This sum comprised seized cash, money from a restrained bank account and personal property.
He was formally ordered by Judge Barker to hand over the assets within 28 days, or face up to nine months’ imprisonment in default.
No POCA proceedings were ultimately pursued against Glendinning.
