Gang Jailed For 54 Years

18 April 2011, 16:40 | Updated: 18 April 2011, 16:43

Seven people from an organised crime group in Luton have been sentenced to a total of 54 years collectively, for offences including the supply and possession of cocaine; cultivating and supplying cannabis; possessing criminal property and possessing a prohibited weapon.

Five people were sentenced today (Monday April 18th) at Luton Crown Court and two at a previous hearing on 28 January.

CPS lawyer Louise Chitty from the Thames and Chiltern Complex Casework Unit, said afterwards: "These people are greedy and were immersed in the dark world of drug production, drug dealing and laundering the proceeds. They have no regard for the welfare of those who suffer tragic consequences through taking drugs – all they saw was the cash available through their law-breaking activities.

"The police and CPS will robustly prosecute such people and bring them before the courts. The evidence against these criminals was strong, leading to guilty pleas from all seven, which means a costly trial is thereby avoided. They have today been sent to prison for a total of 40?? years, an abstraction from Luton that law-abiding citizens will welcome and rightly so."

At today’s hearing, five defendants were sentenced as follows: 

Dale Gill (B 24/03/88) pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supplying a controlled drug and possessing criminal property. He was sentenced to 12 years and four months
 
Adam Gill (B 01/10/82) pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supplying a controlled drug; possessing a controlled class A drug and possessing a prohibited weapon. He received a total of seven years and nine months, including three months for possession of a stun gun.
 
Dean Jones (B 03/09/80) pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supplying a controlled drug; and cultivating cannabis. He received a total of seven years and three months.
 
Ross Jenkins and Michael Murray both pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply a controlled drug. Jenkins received nine years and six months and Murray got seven years and ten months.
 
At the hearing in January, two defendants were sentenced as follows: 

Christopher Walker pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply a controlled drug; receiving five and a half years.

Arron Evripidou pleaded guilty to possessing a controlled class A drug; possessing criminal property and conspiracy to supply a controlled drug. He received a total of four years and three months. 
 

The group had been under surveillance from May to July last year. A safe house was rented and a cocaine factory had been set up. All were involved in various roles within the group. Other people at the lower end of the chain have been dealt with separately in court.