A multi-million pound money laundering operation involving a cop killer was shut down following a major police raid on a car dealership.
The elaborate scheme involved laundering large sums of money derived from drug trafficking by converting it into digital currency. It was orchestrated by a six men – Timmy Donovan, Arron O’Sullivan, James Vaughan, Christopher Roper, Paul Duncan and Kenneth Kean.
As the Manchester Evening News reports, the gang led by 40-year-old Donovan would drop vast amounts of cash at Wavetree Car Centre in Merseyside, where Roper, 41, was employed. Donovan recruited his brother-in-law, 38-year-old Vaughan, and 41-year-old O’Sullivan to collect debts and arrange cash drops.
Cash deliveries were made to the car dealership by taxi driver Duncan, 56, and 59-year-old Kean, who operated under a code name in messages as Boris and Theresa.
The gangs communicated through encrypted EncroChat devices between late 2019 and mid-June 2020. However, their scheme came crashing down after European law enforcement hacked the EncroChat network – allowing local police force and the National Crime Agency (NCA) to gain access to their messages, leaving their plot exposed.
Manchester Crown Court heard on Monday that two of the defendants, Donovan and O’Sullivan, were also part of an agreement to supply cocaine, while the former was also involved in a separate heroin plot.
The raid on Wavertree Car Centre
Martin Reid KC, prosecuting, told the court that Donovan, who used the EncroChat handles ‘Astralcleaner’ and ‘Legendarytooth’, played a leading role in both the drug conspiracy and the money laundering plot, the Liverpool Echo reported.
Mr Reid said: “He was involved in conversations about pricing and fed that down to those below him in the chain. There are messages in which he discusses the supply of both cocaine and heroin. In relation to the money laundering offence, he collected and accounted for money owed to him and his drug supplying associates.
“He chased debts via Arron O’Sullivan. Mr O’Sullivan arranged the collection of money himself, or through his couriers. This money went to James Vaughan, who prepared some of the cash to go to Mr Roper. The aim of all of this activity was to try and hide the origin of the cash.”
The court heard a lot of it, though not all, was routed through Roper. The NCA raided Roper’s work place on June 15 2020 and found large amounts of cash there. Roper, who used the EncroChat handle ‘Senientwolf’, received packages directly from others. The analysis of messages showed there were a number of references to “Wave” and “Wavo” as well as “Chris” and “Roper” when the arrangements were made to hand over the cash.
Vaughan used the handle ‘Lameregent’, but while Donovan distanced himself from the storage of cash, he would collect, store and count the money. O’Sullivan, who used the handles ‘Filthyburrito’ and ‘Amplebee’, acted in a subordinate role to Donovan, often liaising with him as well as Vaughan before deploying the drivers with the cash.
Kean and Duncan both used the handle ‘Specialpanda’ on Encrochat and acted as the operation’s delivery drivers using their own vehicles – a VW Passat in Kean’s case and a Peugeot private hire taxi in Duncan’s. They would pick up the cash from Vaughan before dropping it with Roper. They both communicated with Vaughan and O’Sullivan to discuss amounts, commission for the job and drop off locations.
The messages also showed discussion regarding a “pie” in the back of Duncan’s taxi. Mr Reid told the court: “This references in Scouse slang the fact that Mr Duncan had a disguised space to hide money.” The prosecutor, who was supported by junior Martyn Walsh, added that the crown suggested Kean and Duncan were interchangeable as a team of drivers because of the ironic Boris and Theresa nicknames.
‘Get paps to Wavo today’
Mr Reid took the court through an example of the gang’s money laundering scheme in practice. On March 31 2020, Donovan told ‘Mav.com’ that he would “get paps to Wavo today”. After sending that message, Donovan, using his EncroChat device, liaised with O’Sullivan and told him to prepare £200,000 to post to Wavertree that day.
O’Sullivan then asked Vaughan to prepare the money in £50,000 bundles, with the latter later sending four images of the money ready to be wrapped. Roper then asked Donovan whether the cash was ready – and the latter responded “it’s ready to go” before he added: “I get you a time now.”
James Vaughan, 38, of Green Lane, Liverpool, was previously on the NCA’s Most Wanted fugitives list. He pleaded guitlty to money laundering and was sentenced to four years three months
Donovan told O’Sullivan to make sure there was an extra £9,000 commission for Roper, with reference to 4.5% – the car dealer’s cut. O’Sullivan then arranged with Kean to pick up the money from Vaughan, messaging him “you ok to go grab off fonz mate”. O’Sullivan asked the driver to then go to the same post code as “last night”.
O’Sullivan said the delivery would be around 2pm and then told Vaughan to make sure Kean was paid £150. It appeared later that afternoon that the delivery was a success as Roper messaged Donovan “sorted”.
The court heard that the amount of money in total that the gang laundered was agreed by both prosecution and the defence to be approximately £10m. The scale of the money laundering was evidenced by a spreadsheet, created by Donovan, which showed money owed by and to him. This included “3,424,000 owed in eng” and “934000 all got it now to come off bill”.
Following the raid, all the defendants were arrested. The NCA said when they arrested Donovan almost every door in his house was specially reinforced. All of the defendants answered no comment when interviewed by the police.
‘Bits, tops, bats and bulls’
Mr Reid told the court that a further review of the EncroChat evidence took place during December 2021 and January 2022. It identified “significant” evidence that both Donovan and O’Sullivan were involved in a plot to supply class A drugs. EncroChat messages discussing the supply of class A drugs between the two men and other members of the organised crime group (OCG), known by their handle names including ‘Nuttyboom’, ‘Simplebass’, ‘Toughglass,’ ‘Calmtea’, ‘MediumRose,’ ‘Scarwars’ and ‘Satintown’.
These messages showed references to “bits, tops, bats and bulls”, which are all references to cocaine and heroin. They also discussed numbers, “such as 38s and 40s” which represent the value of kilo blocks of cocaine, the court heard.
Arron O’Sullivan, 41, of Deepfield Drive, Liverpool, operated as “filthyburrito” and “amplebee” on EncroChat, and supplied drugs for the OCG. He was jailed for seven years and six months for money laundering and cocaine supply.
On March 31 2020, Donovan, using his ‘Astralcleaner’ handle, discussed the supply of cocaine with ‘Nuttyboom’ and ‘Mav.com’, telling the former to “get onto people” and advertise the drug at “38s cash”. Three days later Donovan arranged the supply of 1kg of cocaine to ‘Dampwasp’. On April 7 Donovan and ‘Nuttyboom’ spoke about the supply of 872g of cocaine.
O’Sullivan, using his ‘Filthyburrito’ handle, advertised “bits” to others, at prices of “38 cash and 40 bail”. Mr Reid said ‘Satintown’ also asked Donovan for “a top an(d) a bottom but the plot ran into trouble when arranging a driver. Donovan was also in touch with ‘Tigermarsh’ on multiple occasions, including on May 12.
The court heard ‘Tigermarsh’ asked “my mate wants 3” before later adding “can do 5 cash”. Donovan told him the price was reduced to “35s” before ‘Tigermarsh’ said “sweet will tell him”.
Donovan was arrested and interviewed about the drug allegations on February 16 2022 and answered no comment. O’Sullivan did the same during his police interview the following day. Donovan would later admit he was involved in the supply of nearly 24kg of cocaine and 1kg of heroin. O’Sullivan accepted he was directly involved in the supply of 1kg of cocaine, but admitted being instructed to record and collect a payment for a further 3kg of the same drug.
The defendants plead guilty before trial
All the defendants were due to appear for trial at Manchester Crown Court in January 2025. However, all pleaded guilty to the money laundering charge before the trial started, while Donovan and O’Sullivan also admitted their drugs offences. While Donovan was said to play a leading role in the conspiracy, the prosecution said he had acted under instruction by those above him in an extended hierarchy.
Mr Reid told the court Donovan had three convictions for eight offences – most recently a wounding with intent and manslaughter conviction in 2015. Donovan also received a prison sentence for being one of two men who fatally attacked PC Neil Doyle in 2014 while on a night out in Liverpool city centre.
The court heard O’Sullivan and Roper both had a single conviction, while Vaughan had no previous convictions. Mr Reid added Kean had a single, spent conviction from 30 years ago, while Duncan had two convictions for seven offences, the most recent in 2001.
In mitigation, Matthew Ryder KC, for Donovan, told the court that his client had suffered with post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety since his previous conviction for manslaughter. He told the court: “Up until 2014 he had been a hardworking, quiet, meticulous life, he was industrious and a thoughtful and caring partner. He found himself in an altercation that led to the conviction.”
The court heard he had significant remorse from his wrongdoing and since his recall to prison had done “an enormous amount to come to terms with what he has done”. Mr Ryder said his client was “immensely remorseful to everyone involved including all the family members of those involved”. Mr Ryder said since the killing of PC Doyle, Donovan had completed a restorative justice course.
Mr Ryder added Donovan had also become a ‘listener’ in prison to help other inmates with their mental health. He also said Donovan had a role in prison regularly meeting the governor to discuss the working relationships between staff and inmates. Mr Ryder said Donovan was someone who is “genuinely trying to be involved to make things better for the prison officers and those generally”.
The barrister added: “This is a watershed moment so he can have a release date to focus on. We would submit this is someone who has made real efforts, real remorse and real determination to put his life back together.”
Matthew Buckland, defending O’Sullivan, told the court his client was of “relatively good character and has applied himself since his arrest in working hard to provide for his family in a legitimate way”. The court heard O’Sullivan was a dad of three and had a “daily involvement in their upbringing and education”.
Mr Buckland told the court: “They will serve his prison sentence too because they will have the absence of a parent who has guided them through life to date.” He added his client had “changed his ways and lessons have been learned and he can return to being a productive member of society”.
Osman Osman, for Vaughan, told the court that his client had written a letter that set out his “genuine remorse, the particulars of what he was going through and the reformation while he has been in custody”. The court heard he had been extradited from Spain back to the UK after being arrested in February 2024.
The court heard Vaughan had undertaken courses in prison and had also become a trusted ‘listener’ – something he enjoys and has found fulfilling. Mr Osman said Vaughan, who has a young daughter with a significant health issue, was “still a relatively young man with a future”.
Nick Johnson KC, representing Roper, told the court that his client’s mitigation was centred around role and whether the custodial sentence could be suspended. He said Roper’s role was as a handler of cash, he was not the person who would “sort the transversion or transfer of cash”.
Mr Johnson continued that his client had a “menial and high risk role”, evidenced by the fact others in the conspiracy had to source him an EncroChat phone and show him how to use it. He added: “Those in plain sight are likely to be at the bottom of the food chain because they are the ones taking the risk for little reward. Mr Roper is not very high up the chain.”
Jonathan Duffy, for Kean, told the court his client had been married for 25 years and had two grown up children. He said his client had “played a lesser role”, adding “it is clear where he fits and that’s different to those further up the indictment”. He added the amount he was paid was “comparatively trivial” and said his client didn’t know the origin of the money until much later.
Alaric Walmsley, for Duncan, told the court that his client’s family and friends had provided 11 testimonials on his behalf. He added his client’s sentence could be suspended, citing that he was no risk to the public and it would have a harmful impact on his partner, whose illness means he needs to give her support.
‘These crimes ruin lives and destroy communities’
Sentencing, Judge Nicholas Dean KC, the Honorary Recorder of Manchester, told the court “this is an EncroChat case, with the evidence predominantly coming from the seizure of EncroChat messages”. He told the court that the downfall of the phones was that its users believed messages to be so secure that they talked openly about their criminal activity.
Judge Dean said although the phones were used by organised crime groups, the reality was many people used the EncroChat system as a “form of networking to pursue criminal activities”. He said it was not right to speak about a hierarchy, instead people on different levels “can be assessed by the volumes of drugs and money”.
The judge told Donovan, of Walsingham Road in Childwall, that he was “the leading player” in both the drugs and the money laundering conspiracies, but accepted that there were others further up the chain. Accepting Donovan’s mitigation, the judge sentenced him to 14 years and six months’ imprisonment. Donovan, wearing a suit and sporting dark brown hair, sipped from his cup of water as he learned his fate.
Judge Dean told O’Sullivan, of Deepfield Drive in Huyton, that he “acted as a lieutenant” for Donovan and had a “managerial role in the chain”. He sentenced O’Sullivan, wearing a blue Under Armour tracksuit, to seven years and six months in prison. The judge sentenced Vaughan, of Green Lane in Old Swan, to four years and three months in prison. Vaughan, wearing a white shirt and black jacket, did not react.
Judge Dean told Roper that analysis of the messages showed he had played a more sophisticated role than previously thought. However, the judge told Roper, of Allerton Road, that he was below Vaughan in the organisation and sentenced him to three years and 10 months in prison.
The judge told both Kean, of Huyton House Road, and Duncan, of Gentwood Road, both in Huyton, that their involvement was limited to couriers. He sentenced both men to two years in prison, suspended for two years. He also told them they will have to complete 200 hours of unpaid work.
The defendants shook hands before they went their separate ways – Donovan, O’Sullivan, Vaughan and Roper to the cells, and Kean and Duncan to the court exit. The defendants were supported by around 20 members of their families.
Following sentence, Gary Cathcart, head of financial investigation at the NCA, said: “Donovan is a dangerous individual who returned to criminality as soon as he left prison. NCA officers painstakingly combed through EncroChat messages to identify him and his co-conspirators, proving the extent of their involvement in both money laundering and drug trafficking.
“These crimes ruin lives and destroy communities, and the NCA, alongside our partners here in the UK and abroad, will pursue every angle to ensure that those who commit them face justice.
Specialist CPS prosecutor Paula Lloyd added: “Despite their efforts to evade detection, the overwhelming evidence against each defendant meant that they had little choice but to admit their involvement. Together, this group attempted to launder millions of pounds made from the sale of illegal drugs and enjoy the profits from this harmful trade which ruins lives and communities.
“The CPS worked closely and effectively with law enforcement partners to dismantle this organised crime group by building a strong case and bringing them to justice. We will be pursuing confiscation proceedings against the defendants to recover their ill-gotten gains.”
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