In a bizarre turn of events, Saheed Azeez, a 33-year-old who obtained refugee status by claiming to be gay, has recently been implicated in a £220,000 parcel fraud scheme. Azeez, now residing in Wigan, Greater Manchester, fathered three children with different women after being granted asylum from persecution in Nigeria over his alleged sexuality.
Azeez collaborated with a network of accomplices, utilizing strangers' homes to receive parcels from online sellers. The goods, including smartphones and cameras purchased from platforms like eBay and Facebook Marketplace, were then sold through his brother's electrical shop in Wigan. Azeez, operating between September 2020 and November 2021, took a cut of the profits and transferred some earnings to his fellow fraudsters using Bitcoin.
A total of 272 victims suffered losses in the scam, falling prey to the deception of sending out second-hand items before receiving payment. The fraudulent activities came to light when an unusually high volume of parcels was reported in north Manchester. Police investigations linked the addresses to Azeez, who was apprehended while dropping his son off at primary school. During his arrest, three smartphones used in the scam were discovered in his son's school bag.
Azeez, who admitted to conspiracy to commit fraud and plotting to possess criminal property, faces a potential six-year jail term under sentencing guidelines. Despite his claims of being a minor player pressured into the scam, he is set to be sentenced next week. Azeez, currently identifying as bisexual, expressed concerns about potential deportation.
The court also revealed that nine householders involved in the scam would be sentenced next year, with several others yet to be traced. Some sellers, desperate to retrieve their items, were even coerced into sending money to the fraudsters. In mitigation, Azeez's defense counsel highlighted his exploitation as a teenager and portrayed him as a minor participant pressured into the fraudulent activities.
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