Ten people have been sentenced today following an investigation focused on 170 bank accounts that had been opened across various high street banks and resulted in losses to the banking industry of nearly £3million.

City of London Police economic crime department launched the investigation in December 2005 after reports of suspicious activity centring on a number of bank accounts held at several high street banks in West London.

Officers uncovered an organised gang of individuals, responsible for the accounts, living in the Ealing and Greenford area all of whom were either related or close friends.  One of those involved, a former employee of a major high street bank - accepted payments from the group and used false documents to open a total of 20 business and personal accounts on their behalf.  The gang would then move money between the accounts, running up overdrafts and taking out personal loans.

In February 2006 130 police officers executed 30 search warrants at private addresses in West London, the South East and Bradford, resulting in 17 arrests and the seizure of some high value goods, including televisions.

At one of the addresses officers seized paperwork concerning a lock-up in West London.  When this was searched it contained false identities and £26,000 cash.

Overall, the investigation focused on 170 bank accounts that had been opened across various high street banks and resulted in losses to the banking industry of nearly £3 million.

The ten defendants were sentenced at Croydon Crown Court.

Seven of the suspects entered guilty pleas and were subsequently charged with Conspiracy to defraud the UK Clearing Banks.

Kasim Dandash, age 38, Yeoman Road, Northolt was sentenced 40 months
Mishel Dandash, age 33, Yeoman Road, Northolt was sentenced 20 months
Marwan Ataya, age 33, Shelley Avenue, Greenford, was sentenced to 32 months
Hussien Abbas Ataya, age 38, Grosvenor Avenue, Hayes was sentenced to 30 months
Kelly O'Gorman, age 21, Conway Crescent, Perivale was sentenced to 20 months
Houssam Srour, age 34, Charlotte Street, Kingston was sentenced to 16 months
Milad Abdul Srour, age 23, Charlotte Street, Kingston was sentenced to 12 months
Three of the suspects entered guilty pleas and were subsequently charged with Money laundering.

Belinda Newstead, age 41, Beechmount Avenue, Hanwell was sentenced to 16 months
Bilal Ataya, age 36, Shelley Avenue, Greenford was sentenced to 80 hours community service
Ahmed Ali Dandash, age 39, Yeoman Road, Northolt was sentenced to 100 hrs community service
The next step in this investigation will be a confiscation hearing, which will be conducted in early 2008.

Investigating officer, DI Martin Peters, said:

"With the help of all the high street banks it has been possible to bring this gang to justice and send out a clear message that we will not tolerate any form of economic crime."

City of London Police also worked closely with the newly formed Fraud Prosecution Service (FPS), who were involved in providing advice from the earliest stage of the investigation.

Reviewing lawyer, Gaon Hart, said:

"This is a terrific example of why the Fraud Prosecution Service was established. Organised teamwork within the prosecution - Counsel, City of London Police and the FPS - successfully ensured convictions for this organised gang. "