Six immigration officers have been charged with a range of offences following a Home Office investigation into allegations of theft from migrants and money laundering.
All of the staff are facing counts of money laundering. Five are charged with misconduct in public office and conspiracy to steal. One has also been charged with immigration and ID-document offences.
Malcolm McHaffie, head of the Crown Prosecution Service’s Special Crime Division, said the charges followed a Home Office probe.
“The Crown Prosecution Service has decided to prosecute Besmir Matera, 36, Lee-Ann Evanson, 42, John Bernthal, 53, Ben Edwardes, 45, Jack Mitchell, 33, and David Grundy, 43, following a Home Office investigation into thefts from migrants and money laundering between August 2021 and November 2022,” he said.
“Our prosecutors have worked to establish that there is sufficient evidence to bring the case to court and that it is in the public interest to pursue criminal proceedings.
“We have worked closely with the Home Office’s Anti-Corruption Criminal Investigations Unit as they carried out their investigation.”
Matera, of Reigate, in Surrey, is charged with conspiracy to steal; misconduct in public office; and money-laundering under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. He is also charged with obtaining leave to remain in the United Kingdom by deception and three counts relating to the Identity Documents Act 2010.
Evanson, of Bracknell, in Berkshire; Bernthal, of Welling, in south-east London; Edwardes, of Bexleyheath, in south-east London; and Mitchell, of Dover, in Kent, are all charged with conspiracy to steal, misconduct in public office, and money laundering.
Grundy, of Croydon, in south London, faces only money-laundering offences, brought under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.
All six are due to appear at Westminster Magistrates Court on 29 January.
A Home Office spokesperson said all of the defendants were suspended immediately when questions over their conduct came to light. Three have subsequently been dismissed.
“These are extremely concerning allegations and it is right that criminal proceedings now run their course,” the spokesperson said.
“We expect all of our officers to meet the highest standards. Where those standards are breached, we will take action without hesitation.”