Luton drug dealer ordered to repay £190,000 or face prison

A drug dealer jailed after police found he was selling cocaine in Luton, has been ordered to repay his criminal earnings or face further time behind bars.

Francis McConville, 37, was jailed for seven-and-a-half years after being arrested during an investigation in August 2019 which found he was working with several other drug dealers to distribute kilogrammes of cocaine at a time.

Following the initial operation, investigators from the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit (ERSOU) established that McConville had earned £241,000 by selling the drug.

At a Luton Crown Court hearing on Friday (6 January), the court determined that he should repay an initial £189,966.35, this being the current total value of assets. 

The assets included £73,000 in cash, three seized vehicles - including two Range Rovers - and designer goods and watches.

McConville is required to pay the full amount within three months or serve a further prison sentence of one year and nine months.

Senior Financial Investigation Manager Paul Fitzsimmons from ERSOU, said: ''This was a complex financial investigation involving multiple high-value assets. 

"ERSOU's Financial Investigation Team was able to use its specialist skills and expertise to ensure the McConville was ordered to repay as much of his ill-gotten gains as possible.

"Should he choose not to comply with the order, he will face a further spell behind bars in addition to the time he is currently serving.

"We will also continue our enquiries in the future, to ensure that should he come into any money or assets, these are also used to satisfy the outstanding amount."

If you see something suspicious, whether this is suspected drug dealing, an unusual increase in people visiting a property or potential money laundering, let can let police know via beds.police.uk/ro/report or by calling 101.

This information is fed into police intelligence systems and helps officers build up a picture of organised crime, even if they do not act on the information straight away. 

Alternatively, report information to Crimestoppers anonymously via 0800 555 111 or the Crimestoppers website.