Fraudsters jailed over luxury lifestyle funded by crime - The Solihull Observer

Fraudsters jailed over luxury lifestyle funded by crime

Solihull Editorial 11th Jul, 2019 Updated: 11th Jul, 2019   0

A FRAUDSTER who lived a lavish lifestyle and fraudulently obtained a mortgage, with the help of his partner and a friend, has been jailed.

Ryan Edwards, his partner Louise Maxwell-Duffy (27) of Solihull, and his friend Samuel Upton (27), were convicted of fraud and money laundering following a trial.

Edwards’, of Wychnor Road, Birmingham, criminal conduct spanned from January 2011 until April 2016. There is currently an arrest warrant against Edwards who absconded before the jury delivered their verdict.

He sentence, eight year in jail, was passed in his absence at Birmingham Crown Court.




The 32-year-old’s bank accounts showed unexplained cash credits totalling over £170,000.

Images on his phone showed him posing with bundles of cash.


One video showed his child with large cash bundles in her lunchbox whilst another showed him counting £28,000.

There was no explanation as to how he came into possession of that money.

Maxwell-Duffy, of Winchall Road, Solihull, helped Edwards obtain a fraudulent mortgage by providing fake documents.

She was convicted of fraud and transferring criminal property and sentenced to 21 months’ imprisonment which was suspended for two years.

Upton, of Old Farm Road, Stechford, allowed Edwards to use his account to store tens of thousands of pounds, which he then transferred back to him, in order to disguise the origin of the funds.

Upton was convicted of fraud and transferring criminal property and was handed a suspended 21 months’ jail sentence.

Mark Paul from the Crown Prosecution Service said: “Edwards claimed to be a legitimate businessman as a gym owner and car trader.

“In reality, he was in possession of cars that had been obtained through criminal means. He also traded several fake designer watches, whilst owning four genuine Rolexes and two Brietling watches from his criminal proceeds.

“Edwards enjoyed 14 luxury holidays in just over three years; including trips to Mexico, Dubai, Florida, Jamaica and Venice. He was often accompanied by his partner Maxwell-Duffy and stayed at 5 star hotels. They enjoyed a champagne lifestyle; including a helicopter ride in Dubai and running up bills into thousands of pounds during several of the trips all funded from illegitimate funds.

“Working in partnership with the West Midlands Police, the CPS was able to prove Edwards’ criminality through a detailed analysis of his bank accounts and evidence obtained from his mobile phone, which resulted in guilty verdicts from the jury.”

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