A WEST Belfast man branded a “professional fraudster’’ has been jailed for two years over an almost £1.3 million banking fraud racket.
John Cartmill (43), of Coolnasilla Park, faced a total of 44 offences spanning a two-year period between March 2018 and March 2020.
He pleaded guilty to three counts of conspiracy to defraud and 15 counts of fraud by false representation.
Cartmill further admitted three counts of entering into an arrangement to acquire criminal property, possessing criminal property and 22 counts of possessing articles in connection with fraud.
Co-accused Paul Diamond (63), of White Glen, Barry Martin McLaughlin (47), of Horn Drive and Sean Edward McMahon (42), of Coolnasilla Park West, all west Belfast, had previously pleaded guilty to a single charge they each faced of assisting offenders.
All three were ordered to carry out 100 hours unpaid work in the community.
Prosecution counsel Philip Henry KC described Cartmill as a “professional fraudster’’ and his scam involved almost £1.3 million.
He said at one end of the fraud was Cartmill and at the other end were McLaughlin and McMahon who were acting as “money mules’’ who allowed him to use their bank accounts to pay in sums of cash fraudulently obtained by him.
“He had a large number of victims. It was sophisticated, it was planned and there were attempts made to avoid detection.’’
The court heard Cartmill traveled to the Republic on several occasions in 2019 driven there by Paul Diamond staying in hotels in Dublin and Dundalk.
Said Mr Henry: “He used the hotels’ WiFi in conjunction with various mobile telephones and Sim cards to contact bank customers and banks.
“He created virtual telephone numbers through an online service provider. Calls were made from a different telephone number different to Cartmill’s own phone and Sim cards.
“The injured parties were often contacted after they made complaints about their bank on social media thereby providing the defendant a platform to contact them, ostensibly calling on behalf of the bank.
“After gaining their confidence he obtained information about them and their banking details in order to access their accounts either using their online banking or by calling the bank by telephone by pretending to be the customer.’’
He said the cash stolen fraudulently by Cartmill was paid into “mule accounts’’. The court heard Cartmill was arrested on December 10, 2019, while driving between Newry and Belfast.
He was a passenger in Diamond’s car following an overnight stay in a Dublin hotel.
“Multiple items were seized from the car including a laptop, mobile phones, Sim cards and a large amount of cash stored in his suitcase,’’ said Mr Henry. “
Interrogation of the seized devices revealed links to his offending.
He gave a no comment interview and provided a written statement denying he was at one of the hotels.
The court was told that Cartmill has 159 previous convictions with 40 entries for deception, 12 for forgery and 86 convictions for fraud. In October 2013 he was jailed at Belfast Crown Court for two years for multiple counts of fraud by false representation committed in 2011.
In September 2014 Cartmill received a two year suspended prison sentence for fraud by false representation for offences committed between 2003 to 2014.
Mr Henry said the prosecution was applying for a Serious Crime Prevention Order against Cartmill along with a Proceeds of Crime Order.
Greg Berry KC for Cartmill told the court: “There is no doubt in this case he is the principle and pivotal offender and he accepts that.
In March this year, Cartmill was charged with 63 offences which included fraud by false representation, converting criminal property, and supplying a credit card for fraud.
Cartmill was initially remanded in custody but was subsequently granted High Court bail after the judge was told he had undergone a process of transformative change.
Mr Berry told the plea and sentencing hearing: “On my instructions he has made extensive admissions to those matters but that is for another day.’’
Passing sentence on Cartmill Judge Sandra Crawford said the aggravating factors were his significant criminal record, the large number of victims, the offending occurred over a particular time period and the “significant efforts to avoid detection’’.
Following the sentencing of Cartmill and his three co-accused Detective Chief Inspector Uel Boyd of the PSNI’s Economic Crime Unit said:
“Cartmill targeted the life-savings of innocent people, and acted with no thought for the long-lasting trauma he caused through his deception. His only concern was to line his own pockets.
“This sentencing should send a clear message to those involved in scamming hard-working people that they will be vigorously pursued and brought before the courts to face the consequences of their actions.”
Assistant Director of the Public Prosecution Service Roger Davison said:
“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.”