Publication date:
A serial fraudster who was the organiser of a complex operation of fraud by targeting victims online has been sentenced today at Belfast Crown Court.
John Cartmill (43) pleaded guilty to 44 charges relating to fraud and money laundering between 1 January 2017 and 31 March 2020. They included three counts of conspiracy to defraud, 15 counts of fraud by false representation, three counts of entering into an arrangement to acquire criminal property, 22 counts of possessing articles in connection with fraud, and a single count of possessing criminal property.
He was sentenced to four years imprisonment for fraud totalling around £1.2million.
Also sentenced in court today were three of his co-accused Sean McMahon (42), Barry McLaughlin (46) and Paul Diamond (63). They each pleaded guilty to assisting offenders and were each sentenced to complete 100 hours community service.
Assistant Director Roger Davison said: “John Cartmill has an extensive criminal record and prosecutors in the PPS Fraud and Departmental section worked closely with the Police Service of Northern Ireland who carried out a thorough investigation into one of the most complex fraud cases we have seen. We worked with police to bring Cartmill and his co-accused before the court and build a strong case against them, which resulted in their guilty pleas.
“The custodial sentence sends a clear message that financial crimes will not go unpunished. John Cartmill preyed on innocent victims, causing significant financial and emotional harm.
“I hope the conclusion of today’s case deters anyone in the future from committing financial crime and shows the PPS will continue to work with our criminal justice partners to robustly prosecute alleged financial crimes, where the Test for Prosecution is met.”