Six individuals have been declared guilty in a series of ‘boiler room’ investment scams in the UK that has cost investors around £2.7m.
In a criminal prosecution brought by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), three defendants have been found guilty for their roles in a series of boiler room scams which led to the loss of more than £2.7m of investors’ funds.
A further three defendants had already pleaded guilty earlier in the proceedings.
The FCA said in statement yesterday that the defendants are due to be sentenced at Southwark Crown Court at a later date and confiscation proceedings will follow. Due to reporting restrictions the defendants cannot yet be named as two of the defendants face separate criminal trials in 2018.
The FCA statement said that defendant 1 was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to defraud, contrary to the common law, one count of fraud by abuse of position, contrary to s1 Fraud Act 2006 and one count of doing acts tending and intending to pervert the course of public justice, contrary to the common law.
Defendant 1 also pleaded guilty to four counts of communicating an invitation to engage in investment activity, contrary to s21 Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (FSMA).
Defendant 2 was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to defraud, contrary to the common law and three counts of communicating an invitation to engage in investment activity, contrary to s21 FSMA. Defendant 2 was acquitted of one count of communicating an invitation to engage in investment activity, contrary to s21 FSMA.
Defendant 3 was found guilty of entering into or becoming concerned in a money laundering arrangement contrary to s328(1) of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and one count of doing acts tending and intending to pervert the course of public justice, contrary to the common law.
Defendants 4 and 5 plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud, contrary to the common law.
Defendant 6 pleaded guilty to one count of fraud by false representation, contrary to Section 1 of the Fraud Act 2006 and one count of communicating an invitation to engage in investment activity, contrary to s21 FSMA.
