Two men from Gloucester have been sentenced to prison following their involvement in a large-scale money laundering operation valued at £2.2 million.
Patrick White, 31, of Spa Road, and Thomas Dainty, 31, from Beckford Close in Abbeymead, pleaded guilty to their roles as members of an eight-person organised crime group. Both men also admitted to drug offences, including being involved in the supply of class A drugs (cocaine), with Dainty additionally admitting involvement in the supply of class B drug cannabis.
At Bristol Crown Court on Friday, 14 August, White was sentenced to three years and eight months’ imprisonment, while Dainty received a sentence of two years and nine months.
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Investigations revealed that the pair laundered more than £300,000 through Post Office branches across Gloucestershire and Bristol. The money laundering operation was led by Guiseppe Sangiovanni, 35, from Belworth Drive in Cheltenham.
The South West Regional Organised Crime Group (SWROCU) began the probe following reports of suspicious cash deposits made through 28 Post Office branches and two bank paying-in machines within the region.
During a search of Sangiovanni’s residence, authorities recovered £30,000 in cash atop his fridge, as well as a collection of Rolex watches, a Porsche vehicle, and designer clothing.
Peter Highway, head of the SWROCU investigation, stated that Sangiovanni was profiting by laundering, and recruiting others to launder, funds believed to stem from criminal activities in Cheltenham and surrounding Gloucestershire areas.
The group carried out 1,168 transactions over four months, with individual laundered amounts ranging from £93,000 up to £1 million. Sangiovanni himself deposited £80,000 in cash.
All eight members of the criminal group were arrested in February 2022, with support from Gloucestershire Constabulary.
Sangiovanni was sentenced to six years and eight months’ imprisonment in April after admitting to recruiting one woman and six men to launder £2.2 million, which was swiftly converted into cryptocurrency.
Sara Buffin, 43, of Valley Gardens, Quedgeley, played a significant role in the operation, laundering over £1 million, and was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment in February.
Four other men from Gloucestershire received suspended sentences earlier this year.
Peter Highway added: “This investigation began following alerts regarding suspicious cash deposits using multiple Post Office branches and bank paying-in machines in our region. Through detailed analysis of numerous transactions and international collaboration, we uncovered the full scale of Sangiovanni’s operation and those involved.
“Criminals will always seek to launder illicit funds, but this case demonstrates our capability, working alongside the financial industry, to identify and prosecute those who facilitate these crimes. By laundering money for criminals, they become complicit and will be brought to justice.
“We are currently pursuing confiscation orders for the cash and assets seized from those convicted.”