NCA officers seized two flats and the freehold title for the flats’ building after making a civil recovery order under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.
The properties were believed to be bought with the proceeds of crime by the defendants John George Evans (34) his wife Josephine Evans (34) his brother Richard Lee Evans, (29) and their mother Joan Ann Evans (58).
Officers also seized £288,341 from bank accounts belonging to John Evans, his wife and mother.
The money was what remained from the sale of a property in Bromley bought through mortgage fraud.
It is the NCA’s belief that the properties were funded by fraudulent trading, money laundering, tax evasion and mortgage fraud.
In response to the NCA’s investigation, the family agreed to settle by handing over the money and two properties in Sidcup Hill, Sidcup, Kent.
Disqualification
One fraud involved two apparent wine investment companies, Fine Wine Vintners Limited and Beaumont Vintners Limited, which took customers’ money but rarely provided their wine.
John Evans ran Fine Wine Vintners but was disqualified in 2013 from being a director for 12 years.
He and his brother Richard received money from both wine companies.
Stephanie Jeavons, deputy director of the NCA’s economic crime command, said: “This is our latest success in targeting offenders who, despite not being criminally charged, often crumble under the NCA evidence against them.
“We have many more cases under investigation and many more organised crime groups will be handing over their ill-gotten gains which often represent other people’s misery.”
