An Isle of Wight woman is among four people who have been convicted for their role in  complex fraud and money laundering operation.

Rachel Stephanie Herd, of Arctic Road, Cowes, admitted concealing, converting, disguising, or removing £111,339.60 of criminal property between 1 January 2017 and 9 May 2018.

The 53-year-old appeared at a hearing on March 1.

She has been bailed while she awaits sentencing. 

The offences were born out of cyber-enabled payment diversion fraud activity that occurred between February and April 2017.

During this period, victims were defrauded cumulatively to the tune of more than £200,000.

The fraud involved email accounts of victims in North Yorkshire and in London being compromised, and money transfers – including funds from the sale of a property on one particular occasion – being intercepted and diverted to fraudulent bank accounts.

From there, the stolen money was transferred through various personal bank accounts, with large sums also being spent or withdrawn including from banks and at a London casino.

An investigation was carried out by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary’s Economic Crime Unit.

During this investigation, in May 2018, the home address of 48-year-old Tyrone Christie (also known as Tyrone Trim) was searched under warrant, and a computer was seized.

Evidence of a ‘money-mule’ network, including invoices, letters and other relevant documentation in the names of individuals involved in the dissipation of funds from both frauds was found.

Enquiries also established suspicious banking activity linked to Christie, involving large transfers and withdrawals of cash, dating back to 2016 – pre-dating the fraud.

Hampshire ECU’s lengthy investigation tracked the banking and payment activities, and a number of people were arrested and subsequently charged following enquiries.

Following a trial, Christie, of Mitcham, Surrey, and Gareth Amaru Williams, of Manor Road in South Norwood, were found guilty.

At a seperate hearing, Fabian Nathaniel Thomas, 32, of Ashley Road in Bristol, also pleaded guilty for his role.

They are due to be sentenced.