April 26, 2024
Jack Talbot has prosecuted two defendants convicted of money laundering the proceeds of an art fraud in which over 125 vulnerable pensioners from around the UK were duped into buying fake Picasso and Dali artworks.
The mainly elderly victims were persuaded to part with large sums of money under the false pretence that they were purchasing authentic pieces by the world-famous artists. Some lost their life savings. Expert analysis revealed that the artworks were largely prints, often with signatures forged, and were valued at no more than £300.
The police investigation ran for six years. Behrad Kazemi laundered over £2.6 million. He sent money around the world of which £143k was laundered by Nasta. Nasta also accepted a charge of false accounting. He produced false invoices to provide a bogus paper trail for money he received from Kazemi and his companies.
Mr Kazemi was convicted after trial. Mr Nasta had pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing.
Kazemi was sentenced to four years and nine months’ imprisonment. Nasta was sentenced to three years in prison. A number of jurors returned for the sentencing hearing.
A proceeds of crime hearing is scheduled to compensate the victims using the criminals’ assets.
Jack both defends and prosecutes at a senior level in all matters of Business Crime & Fraud with considerable expertise in fraud, corruption and business crime. Read more: [Jack Talbot Profile ]
He was instructed by Alexander White, Specialist Prosecutor at the Serious Economic, Organised Crime and International Directorate of the CPS.
News stories:
[The Times]
[Daily Mail]
[Yahoo News]
[Sussex Police]
Barristers
Jack Talbot
Call: 2004