An award-winning businessman suffered an ignominious fall from grace after he was jailed for “high-level” drug dealing.
Carl Jones, from Tameside, Greater Manchester, ran a yoga studio, was involved in a gym and had invested £30,000 in a cafe.
The 33-year-old even won the ‘Rising Star Business Award’ back in 2019, but after the Covid pandemic hit his businesses hard, he began to panic about his financial situation and growing debts, Manchester Evening News reported.
His barrister described how he then made the “astonishing” decision to become involved in dealing drugs, involving moving 19 kilos of ketamine and 10 kilos of cocaine.
"He made the astonishingly out of character decision to engage in this offending," Jones' barrister said.
"It was a foolish decision, a decision that he will pay for dearly."
His crimes were unveiled by the law enforcement hack of the highly secretive Encrochat, which had been used by organised criminals across Europe.
Jones has now been sentenced to six years in jail during a hearing at Manchester Crown Court.
The judge, Recorder Sarah Johnston said: "Mr Jones, you have ability, you have influence, you have skill, and you are thought of highly by many.
"I am told that the pandemic and related business losses caused you to fall into debt, and the attempts you had made legitimately to cope with that financial pressure were not successful.
"But ultimately that you would sink into this world is really through greed, and nothing more."
The court heard how Jones had been able to secure a Covid bounce back loan for one of his businesses but the others had not been registered long enough to be certified.
Prosecuting, Andy Scott told how Jones was identified as the criminal using the EncroChat handle 'Chief Commander', which had been in contact with "at least" 10 other users on the network.
Mr Scott said: "The EncroChat material revealed that the defendant was involved in discussions on a regular basis about the supply of substantial quantities of class B drugs".
It appeared that Jones had employed a driver to transport cash and drugs, the prosecutor added.
Defending, Oliver Cook said Jones was acting as a “broker” between the criminals sourcing drugs and those eventually selling it on.
References submitted to the court spoke of the positive side to his character, Mr Cook said.
Jones told a probation officer that he'd received about £5,000 as a result of his crimes, after initially being approached by someone who knew about his financial problems.
Jones then “couldn't think of any other option” but agreed to become involved in dealing, the court heard.
The judge told him: "It goes without saying that the courts see on a daily basis the misery caused by the trade in illicit drugs."
Jones from Dukinfield, pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to supply class B drugs.
