Bulgarian nationals, Galina Nikolova, 38, Stoyan Stoyanov, 27, Tsvetka Todorova, 52, Gyunesh Ali, 33, and Patritsia Paneva, 26, pleaded guilty to fraud and money laundering-related offences.
By James Robinson, News reporter @thejournojames
Five members of a benefit fraud gang who falsely claimed £50m in Universal Credit have been brought down in the largest prosecution of its type in English legal history.
The gang made thousands of false claims for Universal Credit using either real people or hijacked identities and backed them up with an array of forged documents, including counterfeit payslips and fake GP letters.
As part of the investigation, police identified three “benefit factories” in London where repeated false claims for benefits originated from.
During raids, police also found “claim packs” containing forged and false documents, as well as bundles of cash stuffed in shopping bags and suitcases, a luxury car, and designer goods including watches, jackets, and glasses.
Bulgarian nationals Galina Nikolova, 38, Stoyan Stoyanov, 27, Tsvetka Todorova, 52, Gyunesh Ali, 33, and Patritsia Paneva, 26, have now pleaded guilty to fraud and money laundering-related offences.
Ben Reid, Specialist Prosecutor for the CPS, described it as a “complex and challenging case” which required “close and effective work” between UK authorities and international partners in Bulgaria and the European Union crime agency, Eurojust.
“This case is the largest benefit fraud prosecution ever brought to the courts in England and Wales,” he said.
“For a number of years, these defendants conspired to commit industrial-scale fraud against the Universal Credit system, costing the taxpayer more than £50m.
“Submitting thousands of false claims, the organised criminals enriched themselves from government funds designed to protect and help the most vulnerable people in our society.”
He said the CPS and Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) would now launch confiscation proceedings against the defendants in an attempt to recoup the stolen money.
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Mel Stride MP, Secretary of State for the Department for Work and Pensions, said: “I am immensely proud of DWP investigators’ work, in collaboration with the Crown Prosecution Service, to take down this organised crime group.
“[These] convictions underline our commitment to protecting taxpayers’ money and it is only right and fair that we bring to justice those stealing from the public purse.
“My message is simple – if you are committing benefit fraud, you are cheating the taxpayer, and we will catch you.”
The gang operated over a four-and-a-half-year period, between October 2016 and May 2021 – when they were first arrested.
Following his release under investigation, one of the five defendants, Ali, fled the country to Bulgaria.
However, in February last year, following joint work with Bulgarian authorities, he was extradited back to the UK so that he could face justice.
All five defendants will appear for sentencing at Wood Green Crown Court in May.
William Turner is a seasoned U.K. correspondent with a deep understanding of domestic affairs. With a passion for British politics and culture, he provides insightful analysis and comprehensive coverage of events within the United Kingdom.
