http://www.kentonline.co.uk/kentish_gazette/news/2013/february/14/money_laundering.aspx
The mastermind behind a Canterbury-based crime gang that netted nearly £300,000 has been jailed for five years.
Evaldas Ziogas led an "eastern European organised crime group", setting up a fake company to launder cash for more than four years.
The 31-year-old Lithuanian used fake passports in dozens of names to obtain bank accounts and credit cards – used to rip off casinos, high street stores, petrol stations and banks.
And the cheeky conman even ordered goods from B&Q, Argos and Abbey Garden Services with fake cards – and then demand £8,000 compensation saying he had been the victim of fraud.
Ziogas, of Lower Chantry Lane, Canterbury, also opened his own Russian-themed restaurant in Margate called CCCP.
Eunice Shang-Simpson, prosecuting, told Canterbury Crown Court how he was arrested in December 2010 for money laundering.
That related to him setting up a building business account in the name of Stone GB Ltd, based in St Stephens Road, Canterbury, in 2006.
"We say that it is apparent that there was no evidence of any trading activity such as would be expected in a legitimate business but that it was merely a vehicle for laundering the proceeds of crime," the prosecutor added.