Jailed pensioner was convicted in USA over fraud Lonely hearts scam crook had previous form
AMIDLAND pensioner who played a major part in an online dating scam can be exposed as an international fraudster.
Before he was collared for the lonely hearts con, the unassuming OAP was convicted of fraud and grand theft in America.
Neil Kavanagh Brown’s activities extended to Florida, from where he fled back to the UK, fearing he could be deported.
At Birmingham Crown Court, the 74-year-old, of Grange Road, Smethwick, was jailed for two-and-a-half years after he allowed his bank accounts to be used to launder £346,000.
Much of the cash came from lonely hearts looking for lasting love online.
The scam was simple. Vulnerable woman believed they had found a soulmate, but “Mr Right” would then plead with them for cash to help him overcome a bogus financial crisis.
Brown’s avuncular mask hid a ruthless entrepreneur with a history of sharp business practice both here and in America.
Earlier this year three-times divorced Brown’s role in the matchmaking scam cost him his liberty.
It came to light when one woman told the police she had used a dating site and been fleeced of $291,000.
But it was not the first time pensioner’s wheeler-dealing strayed into criminality. the had
In the late 1980s, court records show that Brown, then based in Jacksonville, Florida, was associated with a handful of companies, including directorship of Sunbeam Homes of Florida and WK Holdings.
Florida’s Department of Corrections confirmed that the shamed former director was convicted of contract fraud, fraud, grand theft and theft between 2004 and 2006.
He was sentenced to five years’ community supervision, but served a limited time in custody, a close friend of the OAP said.
Over the years, Brown had steered, then jettisoned, a tangled web of no fewer than 30 companies.
His business interests spread overseas and covered a gamut of ventures ranging from property and export to online dating.
There is even a chip shop among his businesses. In all, there are 15 companies that listed Brown as a director. There is no suggestion that these have been involved in criminality.
But the pensioner’s dirty dealing finally caught up with him this month. The crown court heard how he and accomplice James Labongo received vast amounts of cash from vulnerable people who had been duped in a “sophisticated and heartless” romance fraud.
Fourteen victims had paid into Brown’s accounts on 39 separate occasions, the largest sum being £122,000. In total, £839,000 went to him and Labongo, who is now serving a sentence of five and a half years after being convicted of converting criminal property.
Brown allowed his accounts to be used over a five-month period between 2011 and 2012 when more than £347,000 had poured into them, and he had taken a percentage.
Gareth Walters, prosecuting, said: “The fraud that was underlying this whole business was sophisticated and heartless. It was a so-called romance fraud involving vulnerable victims.
“Men and women were conned into believing they were being loved and asked to part with money to help their loved one out.
“Victims looking for loans were targeted, along with others who were told they had won non-existent prizes but had to send money first.
“What they all had in common is that they needed to have somewhere to send money to. That’s Labongo and Brown come in.”
Labongo had received just over £492,000, which went into five bank accounts. He took the money out in cash, handing some to the fraudsters and keeping some himself.
Sentencing Brown, Judge Richard Bond said: “I am satisfied you were motivated by greed. This criminal activity was conducted over a sustained period of time. The money where flowed from around the country, and from around the world, and would have been distributed back to criminal gangs overseas.”
Tom Walkling, defending, said: “There is no evidence of him having any understanding of what type of criminal activity was behind the money that was going into his accounts. He is very sorry that the money came from the victims of such a callous fraud.”