Crime Solicitors

A gang, led by Mr Kanaventi and Mr Adekoya, conspired to create fraudulent identification documents intended to enable immigration offender’s illegal residence in the UK. The group were prosecuted at Woolwich Crown Court and were each sentenced according to their varying offences as part of their operation, ranging from 6 months to 4 years imprisonment.

Evidence which was found includes fake British Passports, British residence permits, degree certificates and Constructions Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) cards, for sale to immigrants who wished to illegally reside in the UK. The identification documents were sold for up to £900, whilst the false qualifications were bought for £200.

The gang pleaded guilty to conspiracy to manufacture a fake document, which is defined under the UK Government False ID guidance as a ‘fake document which is a form of ID that does not exist.’ The Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981 states that:

‘A person is guilty of forgery if he makes a false instrument, intending that he or another person use it to induce someone else to accept it as genuine to their prejudice.’

The official guidance states that a person guilty of such an offence may be imprisoned for a term not exceeding 10 years.

Under the Fraud Act 2006 ‘dishonestly making a false representation of oneself or another’ is a punishable offence. The gang were producing these false IDs for immigrants to illegally make residence in the UK under the guise that they were British citizens and that they had obtained recognised qualifications. In turn, this provided the buyers with the opportunity to convince employers that they had a right to work in the UK.

Inspector Ben Thomas from the Immigration Enforcement’s Criminal and Financial Investigation (CFI) Team stated:

“By bringing Kanaventi, Adekoya and their associates to justice we have stopped a concerted, systematic and financially motivated assault on the UK’s immigration system.”

Through this scheme the gang were undermining the UK immigration system, which works to ensure all those who legally enter into the UK receive the entitled benefits. By disregarding the system in place, they allowed immigration offenders to make use of these benefits dishonestly.

Inspector Thomas identified the nature of the counterfeit operation was particularly bold, in that Mr Kanaventi’s social media alias Chris Namatchanga played on the words ‘name changer.’

Other offences committed by members of the gang include money laundering and possessing equipment for the manufacture of fake documents, as well as possessing fake ID documents with improper intention. The CFI are now pursuing confiscation proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act against the gang whose profits exceed £130,000, stored as cash.

Duncan Lewis Crime Solicitors

Hardeep Dhaliwal, Duncan Lewis Crime Director and solicitor is a Recommended Lawyer in the Legal 500, 2017 Edition, for fraud defence matters. He has extensive experience in low-level fraud cases up to serious fraud matters, including individual fraud, forgery, conspiracy to defraud and immigration fraud.

For expert advice on fraud offences, call criminal defence solicitor Hardeep Dhaliwal on 02072752029 or email him on hardipd@duncanlewis.com.

Duncan Lewis has a significant practice defending clients in serious and complex criminal cases, including gun and knife crime. We continue to deal with full range of criminal offences from police station representation up to Crown Court trials, appeals and judicial review.

Duncan Lewis' Crime Department has been recognised as a Top Tier and recommended criminal defence practice by Chambers UK 2018 and the Legal 500 2017 Edition.

Contact Duncan Lewis Crime department on 0333 772 0409 for expert legal advice. For our 24 hour service call Duncan Lewis’ emergency assistance on 033 3772 0607.