A MULTI-MILLION-pound conman who flaunted his lavish lifestyle that included £5 million properties, £1.5 million cryptocurrency and a £24,000 luxury Porsche has been jailed for 37 years. Aram Sheibani, 40, who funded his incredible way of living through illicit gains was found guilty of fraud, money laundering and drug offences. The 40-year-old from Bowdon in […]
A MULTI-MILLION-pound conman who flaunted his lavish lifestyle that included £5 million properties, £1.5 million cryptocurrency and a £24,000 luxury Porsche has been jailed for 37 years.
Aram Sheibani, 40, who funded his incredible way of living through illicit gains was found guilty of fraud, money laundering and drug offences.
The 40-year-old from Bowdon in Trafford, Manchester, was able to establish an enormous property empire and even showcased his wealth generated by illegal activities.
Sheibani’s luxurious lifestyle included travelling around the world, staying in luxury accommodations and driving top of the range cars such as a Bentley and a Porsche as well as cosmetic surgery including veneers, hair transplants and a nose job.
According to police Sheibani was buying properties in the UK and Spain, posing as a legitimate businessman and then lying about his earnings by forging documents such as bank statements, payslips and P60’s.
He also evaded tax, failing to declare significant income to HMRC.
Police officers who raided his properties in London and Manchester found cash, cryptocurrency recovery codes and cocaine, a Porsche Panemera, valued at £24,000 and two encro phones with military-grade encryption.
The court heard how Sheibani smashed the devices and rammed them down the toilet in a bid to destroy evidence.
The fraudster also had expensive artwork pieces such as Banksy and Andy Warhol as well as cash counting machines.
In total police recovered £1.2 million of cash, property to the value of £5 million and crypto currency valued at £1.5 million.
Police also found items related to the production of cocaine, such as two 30 tonne industrial presses, plastic vacuum packing bags and acetone.
A video of a similar industrial press being used was found in one of the phones police found at his apartment.
Following an eight-week trial where he claimed his wealth had come from legitimate sources, Sheibani was found guilty on Wednesday of a total of 20 fraud, money laundering and drug offences.
Sergeant Lucy Pearson, of GMP’s Economic Crime Unit, said: “Sheibani is a calculated, deceitful and scheming criminal who believes he is above the law.
“His greed shows no limits and he has been funding his materialistic lifestyle of luxury with fraud and criminality, masquerading as a legitimate businessman to conceal his ill-gotten gains.
“He is a dishonest individual who has not shown any remorse for his actions throughout this entire investigation, refusing to co-operate with police and attempting to destroy evidence.
“The extent of Sheibani’s criminality should not be underestimated, not only is he involved in tax evasion and money laundering which has a detrimental effect on the economy and society, resulting in honest tax payers feeling that burden, but the source of his tainted income is as a result of a class A drugs conspiracy.
“This has been a complex investigation which has included a number of international enquiries and I would like to thank the dedicated team of GMP detectives and financial investigators who have working alongside CPS to gather all the evidence which has allowed us to expose Sheibani’s fraudulent lifestyle and the criminal activity he had tried so hard to conceal, and ensure he faces justice.
“May today’s sentencing serve as a warning to anyone thinking they can get away with such fraudulent and criminal activity, we will find you, and ensure that you face the full consequences of your actions.”
