AN ASHTON man and two other people have been jailed for five years for money laundering, following a HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) investigation.
Hua Chen, 40, of Hurst Brook Close received a three-year prison sentence for his part in possessing criminal property that led to the discovery of £370,000.
In December 2019, Chen seen handing over £150,000 to a man on the corner of Hillgate Street and Holden Street, close to his Tameside home, where a further £220,000 was discovered lying on his bedroom floor.
Hua Chen met up with Wythenshawe couple Jie Chen, 39, and Mei Jin Huang, 34, and handed over a carrier bag containing £150,000 in banknotes to Jie Chen.
He returned to his house while the couple jumped into a taxi destined for Oxford Road in Manchester.
When it was stopped and searched by HMRC officers, the carrier bag was discovered at Jie Chen’s feet.
Officers seized keys for an apartment in Whitworth Street West from Mei Jin Huang and discovered a cash counting machine under the bed, elastic bands, bank cash wraps and a small number of torn banknotes.
In total, £370,000 cash was seized and the three were arrested on suspicion of money laundering.
On May 20, 2022, following a five-day trial at Manchester Crown Court, Hua Chen was found guilty of money laundering.
He has now been sentenced to three years in prison at the same court. Jie Chen and Mei Jin Huang pleaded guilty to money laundering in October 2021.
Jie Chen has been jailed for two years while Mei Jin Huang was sentenced to two years, suspended for one year, and given a three-month electronic curfew.
Recorder Ciaran Rankin spared the latter prison due to ‘exceptional circumstances.’ The cash will be forfeited.
Sandra Smith, Assistant Director, Fraud Investigation Service, HMRC, said: “Money laundering is not a victimless crime.
“Laundered cash funds other serious crimes that bring harm and misery to communities.
“HMRC will investigate anyone suspected of being involved in money laundering and after conviction we’ll pursue the money they owe.
“We encourage anyone with information about tax fraud or money laundering to report it online by searching ‘Report Fraud HMRC’ on GOV.UK and report it using the online form.”