A recent crackdown on fraud has resulted in the conviction of seven individuals involved in a major operation that allegedly defrauded £770,000. The case, investigated by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), revealed that an organized crime gang made thousands of false claims for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) using hijacked identities to launder money through personal bank accounts.
The convicted individuals, including Donna John, 39, Michelle John, 33, Kofi Ofori-Atta, 52, Maria Theaker, 56, Jamie Wilkins, 36, and Serena Farmer-White, 32, all from Cardiff, along with Christopher Gougherty, 37, from Cwmbran, were sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court on October 27. They were found guilty of stealing £138,000 of the total fraudulent amount, receiving sentences as long as 71 weeks in custody, suspended for 18 months.
While these seven have been sentenced, 14 other gang members await trial as the total alleged fraud continues to rise. The DWP is now focused on recovering the stolen funds as part of a broader initiative to save at least £1.3 billion on fraud and error in the fiscal year 2023-24.
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Mel Stride MP, emphasized that the government will utilize all available resources to catch fraudsters and prevent future abuses of the system. “This case should act as a warning to anyone thinking they can get away with fraud,” he stated.
DWP Minister Tom Pursglove MP added that benefit fraud impacts those who genuinely need assistance, underlining the importance of rooting out fraudulent activity.
Earlier this year, five additional fraudsters were sentenced for their involvement, collectively stealing over £50,000, with ongoing investigations to address this significant issue.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has highlighted the complexity of the case, noting the devastating impact of fraud on victims and the financial burden on taxpayers. Efforts to reduce fraud and error in the benefits system are being ramped up, supported by a £900 million investment over three years aimed at enhancing counter-fraud measures.
