An illegal money service bureau owner who operated as a banker for criminals smuggling migrants into the UK has today been convicted. 

Asghar Gheshlaghian, 48, was found guilty of money laundering and immigration-related offences following a trial at Southwark Crown Court on 18 January 2023.

The CPS prosecuted Gheshlaghian, of Newham, London, following an investigation by the National Crime Agency (NCA).

Seven people have been jailed after an organised fraud which saw public donations worth hundreds of thousands of pounds stolen from life-saving charities.

Led by David Levi, 47 from Lytham St Annes, the criminal group collected money from the public under the guise that it would all be handed over to good causes including Children in Need, Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity, The Children’s Society, The Christie Charitable Fund and MIND.

Two men who pretended to be police officers and preyed on elderly victims in a fraud involving more than £400,000 were imprisoned today (Tuesday 19 December 2023).

Mohammed Zaman Ahmed, 26, and Kawsar Ahmed, 25, were sentenced at Gloucester Crown Court to three years and eight months and four years imprisonment respectively for courier fraud offences. They had previously pleaded guilty to these offences on 06 August 2021 and 10 November 2021, after Gloucestershire Police and the CPS brought a strong case to court.