A former England footballer who worked as an accountant for a drug gang enjoyed a glamorous lifestyle with a drug dealer who named himself 'Led Zeppelin'.
Faye Dunn, 38, was jailed for three years and nine months last week after a court heard how she laundered money for a drug gang. The mum became involved in the underworld when her business ventures began to falter due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, the Liverpool Echo reports.
Liverpool Crown Court heard how Dunn, who once played for Tranmere Rovers and England Under 19s, began using the EncroChat phone network to launder money and supply cannabis. Operation Venetic officers arrested her at Manchester Airport in June on suspicion of drug offences.
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The court heard that she used the EncroChat handle 'StiffNinja' to communicate with a user known as 'LedZeppelin'. Court documents seen by the ECHO revealed that this handle was used by Liverpool man Stephen Canty.
Barrister Nicola Daley told the court on April 2, 2020 Dunn sent a tick list to Mr Canty, showing an income of £1,155,548, and details of expenditure worth £431,700. Ms Daley said that the list included £100,000 spent on a house, £25,000 on cars and £21,500 on a watch.
On May 8, 2020 Dunn took the car ferry from Portsmouth to Santander in northern Spain, when she was in frequent contact with Mr Canty. When asked by Mr Canty if the authorities asked to see her rent statement or phone, said replied: “No they asked me to email it but I blagged the feller and made him half forget so he let me just do him…. If was a problem they wouldn’t av let me go?
"Plus I didn’t act one bit fazed so I think they was happy that was legit…. I had another little black bag on me and I hid it in between paperwork I had on me. I didn’t let them go near the other black bag and I put the other one down me keks behind my back and was just talking to them to half distract them. I had took all my jewellery off except wedding ring…. If I call u on normal and say “Liverpool” get this phone wiped”.
The ECHO has seen several photographs of Dunn with Mr Canty. The pictures appear to have been taken in Spain and show trips to hotels, restaurants, shopping malls and beaches.
Dunn was linked to a number of businesses on Merseyside over recent years, including a restaurant and kids' play centre. The court heard that Dunn's father Michael, who used the Encro handle ZincBat, was also involved in the conspiracy. Dunn senior also communicated with Mr Canty about drugs, the court heard.
On May 15 2020 Michael Dunn sent Mr Canty a message which read: “OK lad I gonna give your mate 5k in min had a hard time with jackets kid has half done."
The father and daughter, both of Walpole Avenue in Whiston, admitted conspiracy to supply cannabis and money laundering. Dunn, previously of Kingsway Parade in Huyton, had previous convictions for drink driving and driving while disqualified.
Sentencing, Judge David Potter, told the Huyton mum that drug use and addiction harmed the fabric of society. He said: "Recent events in this city show how innocent people can get caught in the spiral of violence of organised crime groups. Quite simply, cannabis dependency wrecks lives.
"It was into this trade that you have both willingly participated with the sole intention of significant financial reward. I accept that you are a woman of effectively good character - a highly intelligent, successful, motivated sportswoman, entrepreneur and mother of high achieving children.
"You came to this trade as a result of the failure of your businesses due to the coronavirus pandemic. You took your considerable management skills into the trade of drugs. "
Michael Dunn had 23 previous convictions for 39 offences. In 1986, he was jailed in the Netherlands in connection with burglaries and was later deported. He was jailed for nine years in Portugal in 2009 for drug importation charges.
The court passed a two-year imprisonment suspended for two years on Michael Dunn "as a measure of mercy".
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