Drugs boss’s £700,000 bill
A COKE dealer who thought he was “untouchable” has been ordered to pay back £700,000 of his ill-gotten gains.
Barry Armstrong, of Brackenhill Avenue, Shotton Colliery, in County Durham, has been ordered to hand over the drug money by a Proceeds of Crime Order at Durham Crown Court on Friday.
The former cocaine kingpin was sentenced to 10 years and nine months in prison in February 2013 after he was found guilty of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.
Under Operation Sledgehammer, cops caught the dealer after fitting a tracking device on his car and swooping in after his gang had received a major consignment in 2011.
He had £75,000 worth of cocaine at his home and police described his operation as an “empire” and said he had thought he was untouchable before he was caught.
It has been calculated that Armstrong, now 51, made £846,345 from his criminal behaviour.
He is considered to still have £718,772 of that available – the amount confiscated in the order.
Financial investigator Lindsay Toward said: “This has been a long and very complex investigation.
“Serious and organised crime has a major impact on the community and we are committed to supporting those affected and bringing the perpetrators to justice.
“The decision made by the courts to confiscate more than £700,000 from Armstrong should send out the clear message that crime does not pay and we will robustly deal with those involved in this kind of activity.”
Armstrong has three months to Barry Armstrong who was jailed in 2013 cough up the cash. If this is not done he could be given a further three-year jail spell.
Durham Constabulary said that a proportion of the money confiscated from Armstrong will be used to support community projects.