Shepherd's Bush Man Among Gang Sentenced for Money Laundering
Sangosanya, of St Stephen's Avenue was one of six involved in £240,000 fraud
A man from Shepherd's Bush was among of a gang of six people who have been sentenced for laundering a six figure sum using a fake catering company.
The gang laundered a total of £240,000 by setting up a fake catering business.
Kayode Sangosanya, 45, of St Stephen's Avenue in Shepherd’s Bush was among four people who all admitted money laundering and were each sentenced to three months in jail, suspended for 12 months, and 100 hours of unpaid work.
The mastermind of the operation, Michael Akindele, 50, of Carshalton, Surrey, set up the fake firm to fraudulently claim VAT payments totalling £240,974.29, and, with five accomplices, laundered the money through their bank accounts.
But investigators from HM Revenue and Customs, or HMRC swooped after they found the gang had hijacked an innocent person’s identity to start the business. The fraud was uncovered by HMRC’s VAT repayment taskforce, set up to identify those who fraudulently claimed VAT repayments.
Investigators also found Akindele had set up other fake businesses including a newsagent, tobacconist and IT consultants as part of the fraud.
The gang was sentenced at Kingston Crown Court on 3 October, 2017.
Akindele, a director of TGL Logistics, based in Mitcham, Surrey - which handles exports mainly to Nigeria - and accomplice Abdul Mohamed, 30, of Chiswick, both admitted money laundering at Kingston Crown Court on 31 March 2017. Akindele also pleaded guilty to cheating the public revenue.
Akindele was sentenced to three and a half years while Mohamed was sentenced to six months in jail, suspended for 15 months. He must also do 120 hours of unpaid work.
As well as Sangosanya - a manager at TGL Logistics - three others admitted money laundering and were each sentenced to three months in jail, suspended for 12 months and 100 hours of unpair work; Akindele’s wife Abimbola an accountant, 44; Sunday Adejobi, 36, of Finsbury Park, North London; Abiodun Gbadamosi, 42, of South Ockenden in Essex.
Four others, who pleaded guilty, were alongside them in the dock, Essex; and Kayode Sangosanya, 45, of Shepherd’s Bush, West London. They all admitted money laundering and were each sentenced to three months in jail, suspended for 12 months, and 100 hours of unpaid work.
Brett Wilkinson, Assistant Director, Fraud Investigation Service, HMRC said: "This gang thought they were above the law and that they could get away with cheating the system. They were wrong and they are paying the price for their greed.
"Tax cheats take money from the public services we all rely on. Anyone with information about tax fraud can contact our hotline on 0800 788 887."
October 11, 2017