The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Jail term likely for city money launderer
Victims of prize draw scam were robbed of almost £33,000
A money launderer found guilty of playing a key role in a prize draw scam that saw victims robbed of almost £33,000 is facing jail.
Gerald Sunnie provided a bank account in which unnamed international criminals deposited large sums of money stolen from vulnerable victims.
Dundee Sheriff Court heard he had himself been the victim of a scam but subsequently agreed to process cheques, depositing money in his account and then sending it on after taking a cut.
Trading Standards officers twice visited Sunnie’s home in the city’s Aboyne Avenue to tell him that he was involved in a scam and in fraudulent activity.
After informing him once again that he was part of an international fraud, they eventually frozen.
The court heard Sunnie soon resumed his scam, taking in cheques from three victims identified to the court.
They were enticed into paying cheques totalling £32,900 into an account owned by Sunnie after being convinced they had each won a substantial sum in a prize draw.
Giving evidence in court, Sunnie denied knowing that he was participating in fraud.
Sheriff Simon Collins QC, however, found him guilty of a charge that between August 1 and 12, 2013, at his home address, he became concerned in an arrangement that he knew facilitated the acquisition of criminal property, namely £32,900, on behalf of another.
Sentence was deferred until August 26 and Sunnie was released on bail. had his bank account