An award-winning businessman made an 'astonishing' decision to become involved in high-level drug dealing after the pandemic left his finances in jeopardy. Carl Jones, 33, ran a yoga studio, was involved in a gym and had invested £30,000 in a café.
Jones, from Tameside, even won the 'Rising Star Business Award' in 2019. But when the coronavirus pandemic forced his businesses to close he became 'panicked' about his financial situation and mounting debts.
When law enforcement hacked the highly secretive EncroChat network, which had been used by organised crime gangs across Europe, Jones' double life was revealed. Messages from the previously encrypted service disclosed that Jones had been involved in dealing 19 kilos of ketamine, and 10 kilos of cannabis.
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"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."
Jones was sentenced to six years in jail during a hearing at Manchester Crown Court. "Mr Jones, you have ability, you have influence, you have skill, and you are thought of highly by many," the judge, Recorder Sarah Johnston said.
"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."
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. "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", Mr Scott said.
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.
He'd been able to secure a coronavirus bounce back loan for one business, but the others hadn't been registered long enough to be certified. Jones then 'couldn't think of any other option' but than agree 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, of The Fairways, Dukinfield, pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to supply class B drugs.
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