W12 drugs & benefit criminals get 33 months jail

Two local men have been sentenced to a total of 33 months imprisonment at Isleworth Crown Court.

Hammersmith & Fulham Drugs Squad targeted convicted drug dealer Demis Ubiribo back in 2010. His address in Norbrooke Street,W12, Shepherd's Bush was raided by Police and several false documents in the name of his father, Lucky were seized along with several thousand pounds in cash.

A simultaneous raid was carried out at Margeret House, Queen Caroline Street, W6 where £7,000 in cash was seized and Lucky Ubiribo was arrested

After these raids a combined investigation was launched involving the Drugs Squad, Police Payback Unit and the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham Corporate Anti-Fraud Service. It was established that Lucky Urbiribo, a Nigerian man, had two wives and families. One living in Margaret House,W6 and the other in Norbrooke Street,W12. He had married both women in Nigeria and had children by them both. Clearly a responsible guy.

The cash seized by police was contaminated with high levels of heroin and cannabis.

In December 2010 whilst on bail for the offence of money laundering, Demis Ubiribo was stopped by police in his car late at night. He ran away but was detained and found to be in possession of another £1000 in cash.

After a thorough multi agency investigation on the family the following people were charged with Conspiracy to Launder Money. Lucky, Demis, Gladys and Joys Ubiribo. Lucky and Demis were also charged with possession of criminal property.

Joys Ubiribo was also charged with housing benefit fraud as she had not declared that several hundred thousand pounds had passed through her account.

Lucky and Gladys Ubiribo were also charged with benefit fraud as Lucky had falsely declared that he only earned £3800 a year and Gladys was accused of not revealing that Lucky had lived with her till 2010 when it is thought he had been there since as early as 2005, as bank and business cards for him were registered during the period mentioned.

Demis and Lucky were remanded in custody due to the perceived risk of them absconding due to the seriousness of this case.

On 25th July 2011 Lucky Ubiribo aged 54 years pleaded guilty to possessing £7000 of heroin and cannabis contaminated cash. These were the proceeds of crime said by the prosecution to be from Demis' drug dealing. Lucky received 9 months imprisonment for possession of criminal property He also received a further 12 months imprisonment for a separate conviction for possession of criminal property. This stemmed from a fraudulent notice on the internet in 2008 advertising shipment of scrap metal for sale. A Chinese company paid $34,000 advance fee for this shipment, which never arrived. The money was paid into a bank account controlled by Lucky Ubiribo. He also received a 3 month concurrent setence of imprisonment for possessing a false driving licence.

Lucky also pleaded guilty to the benefit fraud but no separate sentence was given.

Demis Ubiribo aged 33 years pleaded guilty earlier this year to possessing two amounts of cash totalling £2161.98 that he admitted were criminal property. He received two 9 month prison sentences to run consecutively and a confiscation order.

Joys Ubiribo aged 51 years pleaded guilty earlier this year to benefit fraud and received a 40 hour Community Order with a 30-day activity requirement.

A confiscation investigation has commenced into Lucky and Joy Ubirbo to ensure they payback all their benefit from crime.

Gladys Ubiribo aged 50 years pleaded not guilty at her trial to fraudulently claiming £28,000 of housing benefit. She was found guilty and will be sentenced in early September.

Detective Sergeant Richard Gilbert from Hammersmith & Fulham's Pay Back Unit said:

“The multi-agency approach has brought this case to a successful conclusion. The sentences reflect the courts attitude to money laundering. My unit’s work continues into the finances of Lucky & Joys to ensure that they are made to payback their benefit from crime. Demis has already lost his unlawfully earned cash.”

 Detective Sergeant Simon Rogers from Hammersmith & Fulham's Drugs Squad said:

“ This was a very complex and protracted investigation which took place over a 12 month period. For years the family instilled fear amongst the community and rival criminals portraying themselves as untouchable. In these fiscal times they bled the benefits system while leading a lavish lifestyle dealing drugs and laundering the profits. This investigation highlights the level of criminality that the Drug Squad & Payback Unit are continuing to target in the stance against Drug Supply on this borough.

I would like to personally thank both departments for all the hard work, determination and professionalism displayed throughout this enquiry. “