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A money laundering couple from Greater Manchester have been handed prison sentences by Bolton Crown Court.
The court heard that Bury resident Mohammed Arfan, 39, and his 41-year-old wife, Riffit, illegally claimed more than £90,000 in tax credits.
Mr Arfan pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to 15 offences of mortgage fraud, false accounting, money laundering and fraudulent activity to obtain tax credits.
He was sentenced to three years in prison, while his wife received a 12-month jail term, suspended for two years.
Mr Arfan was previously served a four-year prison sentence in 2010 for drug dealing from his Stretford off license and operating a cannabis farm from a derelict shop opposite.
Police launched a Proceeds of Crime Act investigation into his financial affairs in the wake of the convictions, and found that the couple were living beyond their disclosed means.
The Arfans made false declarations for tax credits despite owning two houses, a Range Rover worth £62k and a 4x4 BMW, partly funded through ill-gotten gains.
Both properties were acquired through multiple false mortgage applications. Mrs Arfan was also found to have filed an illegitimate mortgage for a shop in Bury while claiming significant tax credits and other benefits.
She also allowed a tenant to live in the flat above her shop so she could claim additional housing benefits.
Ian Horrocks, Financial Investigator from GMP’s Serious Crime Division who carried out the investigation into the couple’s financial affairs, said: “The Arfans’ were living a lifestyle and driving around in cars that many honest hard-working people can only dream of.
“There is no doubt much of this money came from their illegal activities as neither had any discernible legitimate disclosed income that could fund such spending. In addition to this, they were still claiming benefits and taking away money that is there to support those who genuinely need it.
“Riffit’s CV, which was recovered following her arrest, even went as far to say that she was adept at filling in official forms, such as income support and disability allowance.
“This couple tried to hide their criminal dishonesty behind a tangled web of 24 bank accounts. However, we were able to unpick their finances and discover exactly what money they had been spending and today they have rightfully been sentenced for their actions.
“Greater Manchester Police is committed to ensuring that justice is properly served on those profiting from crime and a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing is now due to take place on 23 August 2012.”
Mrs Arfan pleaded guilty to illegally receiving more than £14,500 in tax credits and her husband over £77,500 in tax credits.
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