Solicitor sentenced to 7 years in jail for conveyancing fraud

Ross McKay, a solicitor found guilty of fixing property deals for mortgage fraudsters, has been handed a seven year prison sentence at Manchester Crown Square.

Related topics:  Business
Warren Lewis
8th January 2019
Law

McKay was rumbled during an investigation into the activities of an organised group who had been laundering the proceeds of their criminal enterprise, including drug-dealing, tax evasion and mortgage and property fraud.

McKay was complicit in the group’s criminal activities by providing his conveyancing services in order for the money to be laundered. Deposits were put down on houses where the true illegal source of the funds was disguised from the lenders, mortgage applications used nominees instead of the names of the legitimate purchasers, and claims about income were wildly exaggerated in order to secure the loans.

In total, McKay was responsible for the conveyancing in over 80 property transactions for several criminals, all of whom were subsequently convicted of serious criminal offences including money laundering and fraud.

Adrian Ladkin, Senior financial investigator of GMP’s Economic Crime Unit, said: “McKay was fully aware that the purpose of the transactions was to launder criminal proceeds and he was deliberately dishonest in facilitating them. As a solicitor, McKay was in a position of trust, but he spectacularly failed in his legal duties through his corrupt and unlawful actions.

It is thanks to the meticulous work of the officers in this case that today he has been brought to account for his deceitful actions.”

More like this
Latest from Financial Reporter
Latest from Protection Reporter
CLOSE
Subscribe
to our newsletter

Join a community of over 20,000 landlords and property specialists and keep up-to-date with industry news and upcoming events via our newsletter.