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Ex-councillor laundered drug cash Ex-councillor laundered drug cash
(about 2 hours later)
A former councillor from Lancashire has been jailed for four-and-a-half years for helping a drug dealer to launder more than £300,000.A former councillor from Lancashire has been jailed for four-and-a-half years for helping a drug dealer to launder more than £300,000.
Former deputy leader of Preston City Council Frank McGrath, 59, was found guilty of nine counts of concealing criminal funds for Silvano Turchet.Former deputy leader of Preston City Council Frank McGrath, 59, was found guilty of nine counts of concealing criminal funds for Silvano Turchet.
Turchet, 55, is serving a 15-year sentence for importing class A drugs.Turchet, 55, is serving a 15-year sentence for importing class A drugs.
McGrath, an ex-Labour councillor from Fulwood in Preston, was sentenced at Manchester Crown Court.McGrath, an ex-Labour councillor from Fulwood in Preston, was sentenced at Manchester Crown Court.
He used his own bank accounts to buy assets for Turchet, who imported millions of pounds worth of drugs from the continent.He used his own bank accounts to buy assets for Turchet, who imported millions of pounds worth of drugs from the continent.
Turchet, a qualified aircraft engineer who had a pilot's licence and a small aeroplane, began regular trips to Belgium in 2003 bringing back kilos of ecstasy and cocaine.Turchet, a qualified aircraft engineer who had a pilot's licence and a small aeroplane, began regular trips to Belgium in 2003 bringing back kilos of ecstasy and cocaine.
He needed someone to convert the cash he earned from drugs into legitimate assets and found a conspirator in McGrath, Manchester Crown Court heard.He needed someone to convert the cash he earned from drugs into legitimate assets and found a conspirator in McGrath, Manchester Crown Court heard.
You told a pack of lies through your evidence, you're a deceitful man Judge Robert Atherton
The drug money was used to purchase a house in Wrexham, bought for £116,000 in December 2004, a hangar where Turchet stored an aeroplane used to import drug and a £17,000 designer watch.The drug money was used to purchase a house in Wrexham, bought for £116,000 in December 2004, a hangar where Turchet stored an aeroplane used to import drug and a £17,000 designer watch.
Financial adviser
McGrath, who also worked as a financial adviser, also transferred £154,000 to an Italian bank account.McGrath, who also worked as a financial adviser, also transferred £154,000 to an Italian bank account.
He claimed he did not know the cash from Turchet was being made from drugs - despite laundering the £330,000 in just five months.He claimed he did not know the cash from Turchet was being made from drugs - despite laundering the £330,000 in just five months.
Judge Robert Atherton, sentencing, said he was satisfied, given the sums of cash involved over such a short space of time, that McGrath did know the cash was drugs money.Judge Robert Atherton, sentencing, said he was satisfied, given the sums of cash involved over such a short space of time, that McGrath did know the cash was drugs money.
He described him as a "highly intelligent man" and a "liar".
"You told a pack of lies through your evidence, you're a deceitful man, you deceived those you did business with and you deceived those who trusted you," he said.
Turchet pleaded guilty to nine counts of transferring criminal property at the beginning of the trial. He was jailed for six years.Turchet pleaded guilty to nine counts of transferring criminal property at the beginning of the trial. He was jailed for six years.
His sentence will only begin when he has completed a 15-year jail term after admitting importing Class A drugs at an earlier trial.His sentence will only begin when he has completed a 15-year jail term after admitting importing Class A drugs at an earlier trial.
Both will face further hearings to confiscate assets they have that are the proceeds of crime.Both will face further hearings to confiscate assets they have that are the proceeds of crime.