Four Convicted in UK's £200M Money Laundering Scheme

Four men have been sentenced for their roles in a £200 million money laundering scheme, one of the largest in UK history, involving the conversion of criminal cash into untraceable gold. Gregory Frankel received 11 years and eight months, Arjun Babber 11 years, Daniel Rawson 10 years and 10 months, and Haroon Rashid 10 years; only Rawson was present in court, while the others were believed to have fled or were evading arrest. The operation, which ran from 2014 to 2016, involved laundering money through a jeweler and a front company before shipping gold to Dubai. Socialite James Stunt, who was accused of being involved, was cleared of any wrongdoing, asserting he was unaware of any criminal activities when he allowed Frankel and Rawson to use his Mayfair office for deposits. The judge described the scale of the operation as 'eye-watering', highlighting the concealment methods used, including the delivery of cash in carrier bags and even fast food boxes. The case was marked by significant public interest due to the high-profile connections involved and the dramatic details surrounding the defendants' attempts to evade justice.