Man jailed for money laundering offences after gambling den prosecution

A man has been jailed in the first case of the running of a money laundering scheme in connection with an illegal poker den, following a council trading standards investigation.

The London Borough of Enfield in April prosecuted Ahmet Melin, 33, of Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, who was found guilty of five offences of money laundering under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 on 10 April.

He was sentenced last week at Wood Green Crown Court to 15 months’ imprisonment for each offence to run concurrently.

The judge said a prison sentence was “inevitable” and that Melin had a longstanding involvement with such clubs. The defendant is also subject to confiscation of assets under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Melin was prosecuted after council enforcement officers found the Big Bluff Private Members Club in Palmers Green, north London, was actually a front for an illegal poker club and not a non-profit making private members club in line with its club gaming permit.

The club was raided in September 2012 by council officers as well as the Gambling Commission and the Metropolitan Police.

Cabinet member for environment Chris Bond, said: “I’m pleased Enfield council’s licensing, enforcement, trading standards and legal teams worked effectively together to bring this prosecution which sends out the very clear message that we do not tolerate any illegal gambling in this borough.”

Mark Smulian

See also: Calling their bluff? Dominic Lewis explains what the case involved