Crime gang who posed as police sentenced after targeting 'vulnerable' victims

Members of a criminal gang who posed as police officers to prey on older people have been jailed.

Aged between 31 and 61 years-old, they were sentenced at Belfast Crown Court after approximately £190,000 in cash and £15,000 worth of jewellery was stolen from their victims in the Belfast, Antrim and Down areas.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) described the gang as "devious" and said they persuaded "vulnerable" people they were going to be victims of a crime.

All six men have been sentenced in relation to conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation, money laundering and possessing criminal property.

The members of the gang and their individual sentences are:

• Ray Lee, 33, Belfast, was sentenced to five years.
• Elijah Lee, 61, Belfast, was sentenced to 28 months.
• Mark Paul Millar, 52, of no fixed abode, was sentenced to 20 months.
• John Joseph Delaney, 49, Belfast, was sentenced to six months imprisonment and six months on licence.
• William McGinley, 37, Irvinestown, was sentenced to six months' imprisonment, suspended for two years.
• Shea Reynolds, 31, Belfast, was sentenced to six months.

Ray Lee, who was the leader of the gang, had breached his bail conditions twice when awaiting sentencing.

Detective Chief Inspector Uel Boyd explained that on dates between January 2020 and May 2021, the gang contacted members of the public and posed as police officers in order to extort money and valuables.

"These devious scammers worked by persuading their vulnerable victims that they were going to be the victim of a crime and that they needed to hand over cash, bank details or jewellery to the 'police' for safekeeping," he said.

"It's difficult to imagine how anyone could carry out this type of crime without a care for the fear and worry they caused these older people, not to mention the impact of the loss of their savings and valuables.

"Their victims were people who have worked, saved hard and contributed to society all their lives, only to be targeted by these criminals – people whose actions stand in stark contrast to those admirable values."