A Stonebridge man has been convicted of his role in a criminal gang, masterminded by two prison inmates, which supplied illegal firearms and ammunition.
Leon Brown, 31 of Melville Road, plotted to transfer ammunition as part of the sophisticated network led by murderer Carl Gordon, 27, and fellow prisoner Paul Alexander, 58, from their cells in Swalesie Prison in Kent.
Woolwich Crown Court heard eight people were involved with Gordon, a lifer, using his links to organised crime and Alexander tapping in on his knowledge of firearms to arranged the lawful purchase of obsolete firearms to parties on the outside which were converted to live weapons.
The pair used smuggled mobile phones to arrange their ‘business deals’.
The network was smashed when officers received intelligence that the pair were in contact with criminals on the outside via their mobile phones.
Detectives launched Operation Propus to investigate their activities resulting in the recovery of 12 guns and defendants being sentenced to a total of 28 years’ in jail for possession of firearms and ammunition.
Today Sherika Abbott-Holder, 27, from Park Royal, was found guilty of conspiracy to supply firearms with intent to endanger life, and Emma Jones, 26, from Uxbridge, was found guilty of conspiracy to supply firearms.
Last Friday, Gordon admitted conspiracy to supply firearms with intent to endanger life.
At previous hearings, Alexander admitted conspiracy to supply firearms and ammunition with intent to endanger life.
His wife, Caroline Hunter-Mann-Purdy, 64, admitted conspiracy to supply firearms and his step-daughter Lullabell Purdy, 26, both from Harwich, pleaded guilty to money laundering offences.
David Joseph, a 28-year-old who is serving a sentence in Belmarsh Prison, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply firearms with intent to endanger life.
All will be sentenced at a date to be decided.
DI Richard Mills investigating officer, said: “During the period that Gordon and Alexander met in prison, they effectively became business partners, dealing in deadly weapons and ammunition.
“The firearms and ammunition they converted had the potential to cause great harm on our streets and there is no doubt London is a safer place as a result of this network being dismantled.”
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