Post by Macmoish on Jan 30, 2012 9:51:15 GMT
Serious Fraud Office
Three jailed for a €22 million forgery fraud on a Swiss bank
27 January 2012
**Amended press release**
Mr Steele has no previous convictions for dishonesty. The reference to past dishonesty was in fact attributed by the sentencing judge to co-conspirator, Mr Shephard, also sentenced on 27 January and named in this SFO press release, amended below.
Three conspirators have been sentenced for their roles in defrauding EFG Private Bank of Zurich of €22 million through a loan application that was supported by a false claim in 2008 that over £76 million was held on deposit at a Guernsey bank as security.
Kevin James Christopher Steele (d.o.b 09/06/60) of Kent, has been sentenced today to five years and six months' imprisonment. He was found guilty in December 2011.
Michael Andrew Shephard (d.o.b 29/01/61) of Lancaster, has been sentenced today to six years and three months' imprisonment. He was also disqualified from acting as a company director for 15 years. He pleaded guilty in September 2011.
Mark Terence Pattinson (d.o.b. 08/11/73) of Preston was sentenced on 6 January to 18 months' imprisonment. He pleaded guilty in November 2010 and entered into a SOCPA agreement to give evidence at the trial of Steele.
In passing the sentences, HHJ Wood QC said of Shephard, (who has previous convictions for dishonesty) "This was a very serious escalation in your criminal activity where you corrupted other people." He also said of Shephard, "you derived some pathetic satisfaction from parading yourself as a man of wealth." The judge said of Steele, that he was, "lured into it by the dominating nature of Shephard."
Background
Kevin Steele was a partner at London law firm Mishcon de Reya. Michael Shephard who purported to be a wealthy businessmen was one of his clients. Mark Pattinson was an associate of Shephard's. Engaged by him to assist in the dishonest venture. Together they conspired to produce letters purporting to be from Bank Julius Baer & Co in Guernsey. The false documents were presented to EFG Private Bank in order to support a loan application on behalf of Michael Shephard. The documents contained a claim that over £76 million was held in two Guernsey accounts and available for use as security on the €22 million loan.
The claimed purpose of the loan application was for property developments in Turkey.
The SFO investigation commenced in November 2008, and was supported by Warwickshire Constabulary, following their initial enquiry.
Charges were brought against all three in June 2009. Shephard and Pattinson pleaded guilty ahead of trial, which opened on 7 November, to conspiring to use false instruments contrary to section 1(1) of the Criminal Law Act 1977 and section 3 of the Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981. They pleaded guilty also to conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation contrary to section 1(1) of the Criminal Law Act 1977 and section 1 of the Fraud Act 2006. Steele denied the charges against him but was convicted of the same offences on 5 December 2011. Additionally he was found guilty of fraud contrary to section 1 of the Fraud Act 2006 in that he exposed another, (Michcon de Reya) to risk of loss, he abused his position as partner in a law firm in which he was expected to protect the financial interests of the firm.
Notes for editors:
The Serious Fraud Office is a government department responsible for investigating and prosecuting serious and complex fraud. The SFO is headed by the Director (Richard Alderman) who exercises powers under the superintendence of the Attorney General. These powers are derived from the Criminal Justice Act (1987).
Serious Fraud Office, Elm House, 10-16 Elm Street, London, WC1X 0BJ
Press Office tel: 020 7239 7000/7004/ or mobile: 0781 807 6688
Main switchboard tel: 020 7239 7272
press.office@sfo.gsi.gov.uk - or via - www.sfo.gov.uk
www.sfo.gov.uk/press-room/latest-press-releases/press-releases-2012/three-jailed-for-a-22-million-forgery-fraud-on-a-swiss-bank.aspx
Three jailed for a €22 million forgery fraud on a Swiss bank
27 January 2012
**Amended press release**
Mr Steele has no previous convictions for dishonesty. The reference to past dishonesty was in fact attributed by the sentencing judge to co-conspirator, Mr Shephard, also sentenced on 27 January and named in this SFO press release, amended below.
Three conspirators have been sentenced for their roles in defrauding EFG Private Bank of Zurich of €22 million through a loan application that was supported by a false claim in 2008 that over £76 million was held on deposit at a Guernsey bank as security.
Kevin James Christopher Steele (d.o.b 09/06/60) of Kent, has been sentenced today to five years and six months' imprisonment. He was found guilty in December 2011.
Michael Andrew Shephard (d.o.b 29/01/61) of Lancaster, has been sentenced today to six years and three months' imprisonment. He was also disqualified from acting as a company director for 15 years. He pleaded guilty in September 2011.
Mark Terence Pattinson (d.o.b. 08/11/73) of Preston was sentenced on 6 January to 18 months' imprisonment. He pleaded guilty in November 2010 and entered into a SOCPA agreement to give evidence at the trial of Steele.
In passing the sentences, HHJ Wood QC said of Shephard, (who has previous convictions for dishonesty) "This was a very serious escalation in your criminal activity where you corrupted other people." He also said of Shephard, "you derived some pathetic satisfaction from parading yourself as a man of wealth." The judge said of Steele, that he was, "lured into it by the dominating nature of Shephard."
Background
Kevin Steele was a partner at London law firm Mishcon de Reya. Michael Shephard who purported to be a wealthy businessmen was one of his clients. Mark Pattinson was an associate of Shephard's. Engaged by him to assist in the dishonest venture. Together they conspired to produce letters purporting to be from Bank Julius Baer & Co in Guernsey. The false documents were presented to EFG Private Bank in order to support a loan application on behalf of Michael Shephard. The documents contained a claim that over £76 million was held in two Guernsey accounts and available for use as security on the €22 million loan.
The claimed purpose of the loan application was for property developments in Turkey.
The SFO investigation commenced in November 2008, and was supported by Warwickshire Constabulary, following their initial enquiry.
Charges were brought against all three in June 2009. Shephard and Pattinson pleaded guilty ahead of trial, which opened on 7 November, to conspiring to use false instruments contrary to section 1(1) of the Criminal Law Act 1977 and section 3 of the Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981. They pleaded guilty also to conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation contrary to section 1(1) of the Criminal Law Act 1977 and section 1 of the Fraud Act 2006. Steele denied the charges against him but was convicted of the same offences on 5 December 2011. Additionally he was found guilty of fraud contrary to section 1 of the Fraud Act 2006 in that he exposed another, (Michcon de Reya) to risk of loss, he abused his position as partner in a law firm in which he was expected to protect the financial interests of the firm.
Notes for editors:
The Serious Fraud Office is a government department responsible for investigating and prosecuting serious and complex fraud. The SFO is headed by the Director (Richard Alderman) who exercises powers under the superintendence of the Attorney General. These powers are derived from the Criminal Justice Act (1987).
Serious Fraud Office, Elm House, 10-16 Elm Street, London, WC1X 0BJ
Press Office tel: 020 7239 7000/7004/ or mobile: 0781 807 6688
Main switchboard tel: 020 7239 7272
press.office@sfo.gsi.gov.uk - or via - www.sfo.gov.uk
www.sfo.gov.uk/press-room/latest-press-releases/press-releases-2012/three-jailed-for-a-22-million-forgery-fraud-on-a-swiss-bank.aspx
