Fraudulent drug baron jailed

Thursday November 18, 2010

A drug baron who spent his dirty money on luxury holidays while fraudulently claiming thousands of pounds in benefits has been sentenced to eight and a half years in jail.

Michael Lawrence, 42, who has a tattoo reading ‘What goes around comes around’ was a key member of a drug dealing family gang that had been plaguing Hammersmith & Fulham for ten years.

Lawrence’s older brother and sister narrowly avoided a custodial sentence while two other gang members sentenced to a combined total of five years and ten months in jail

Michael Lawrence’s girlfriend, Tracy Lucas, 43, received a seven month sentence at Kingston Crown Court earlier today (Wednesday November 17) after being convicted of benefit fraud.

While saturating the streets of the borough with cocaine and cannabis, Michael Lawrence and Tracy Lucas were also fraudulently claiming £60,000 of housing benefit from Hammersmith & Fulham Council.

The dastardly duo spent over £37,550 on luxury holidays to Orlando and Mexico while claiming housing benefit and also bought a £365,000 house in Surrey with the proceeds of their crimes.

The convictions followed months of intelligence work by the Hammersmith & Fulham Drug Squad - which is partly funded by H&F Council - and the Council’s Corporate Anti Fraud Team as part of Operation Flatland.

The joint operation was set up to target a network of organised criminals known to be at work in the borough. In a climax to the operation, which ran for 18 months, police recovered ten kilos of cocaine and cannabis with a street value in excess of £250,000.

Cllr Greg Smith, Hammersmith & Fulham Council's Cabinet Member for Residents' Services, said: "This case shows exactly why H&F Council partly funds the Police Drugs Squad.  Residents should be delighted that Lawrence and Lucas have received such substantial custodial sentences. There is a very strong link between benefit fraud and other forms of crime and this council has an excellent track record of working closely with the police to catch drug dealers and those people who think that they can help themselves to taxpayers' money. Neither drug dealing or benefit fraud will be tolerated in Hammersmith & Fulham and the message to anyone who is considering acting in such an unscrupulous fashion is that you will be caught and you will pay the penalty."

Borough Commander, Chief Superintendent Kevin Hurley for Hammersmith & Fulham Police Said: "Hammersmith and Fulham Police together with the Council listen to the public.  Drug dealing is a big deal for the community and it is a big deal for us. The prison sentences together with the seizing of criminal gains is a clear message to drug dealers. Leave our borough alone, we take this crime seriously and we will get you".

On 21 October 2009 police raided addresses in Shepherds Bush and Surrey that had direct links to Lawrence and Lucas. Approximately 1.5 kilos of cocaine was recovered from an address in Henchman Street, Shepherds Bush as well as 25kilos of Lignocaine -  commonly used as a cutting agent in the division and onward supply of cocaine. The couple both held a social tenancy in the borough that they used to claim benefits illegally, and they moved to the leafy suburbs while keeping these two flats.

The home address of Lawrence in Chessington, Surrey was also raided. This led to half a kilo of cocaine, cutting agent and £3,000 cash being seized. Another address, also in Chessington, was raided and £8,000 in cash was seized.

On 2 December 2009, Lawrence, Lucas and two other men, James Lawrence, 45, and Adam Gale, 31, were charged with conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, money laundering and various fraud charges. Two other crooks who part of the gang were also charged as part of the ongoing investigations

Detective Sergeant Simon Rogers from Metropolitan Police Service, Hammersmith & Fulham said: ”The sentences passed today reflect the level of criminality the defendants were concerned in. These individuals were brought to justice as a result of the dedication and tenacity of the officers involved working with Hammersmith Council’s Anti Fraud team. Investigations into the assets of this network continue.”

Hammersmith & Fulham Council will now be seeking a claim for confiscation under the Proceeds of Crime Act to get back taxpayers' money.

The following persons were sentenced earlier today:

• Michael Lawrence, 42, of Grange Road, Chessington, Surrey convicted of conspiracy to supply cocaine, conspiracy to launder money, benefit fraud and mortgage fraud and was sentenced to eight and a half years imprisonment.
• Adam Gale, 31, of Henchman Street, London W12 convicted of conspiracy to supply cocaine and was sentenced to three years and three months imprisonment.
• Elliott Blackburne, 25, of Ayshford Close, Altrincham, Cheshire convicted of conspiracy to launder money and possession with intent to supply cannabis resin and was sentenced to two years and seven months imprisonment.
• Tracy Lucas, 44, years of Grange Road, Chessington, Surrey convicted of benefit fraud and was sentenced to seven months imprisonment.
• James Lawrence, 45, of Moor Lane, Chessington, Surrey convicted of money laundering by possessing criminal property, and possession of a Prohibited Weapon and was given a ten month prison sentence suspended for two years.
• Sandra Lawrence, 44, of Ravensworth Court, London SW6 convicted of money laundering by transferring criminal property and was given a 12 month community order and 150 hours of unpaid work.