Yesterday, Wednesday 12 May 2021, at specialist 'Nightingale Court' Prospero House, two defendants were convicted on all counts following a 15-week trial, understood to be the longest trial during COVID lockdown.
The trial concerned the fraudulent selling of Voluntary Emissions Reduction (VER) carbon credits to individuals as investments, together with the laundering of the proceeds. The case has now been adjourned for sentence to 28 May 2021.
Kevin Dent QC leading Andrew Evans were instructed in the case by the Specialist Fraud Division of the Crown Prosecution Service, in a joint investigation brought by the City of London Police and Hampshire Police. Danielle Barden acted as disclosure counsel on the case.
Kevin Dent QC is a highly persuasive advocate with a calm, measured, yet robust courtroom manner. Kevin took silk in 2019, building upon his heavyweight practice in the fields of financial crime and serious crime. For more than a decade, Kevin has been leading in cases of serious fraud and money laundering. Kevin is ranked in the Legal 500 in Fraud, Crime.
Andrew Evans is an experienced criminal practitioner, specialising in the prosecution of serious and complex fraud. He is Grade 4 prosecutor, and is often instructed as leading counsel. He has appeared on behalf of various prosecution agencies, including the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) Central Fraud Group, CPS Special Casework Unit, HM Revenue & Customs, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
Danielle Barden is a specialist barrister instructed in business crime, general crime and extradition. She is ranked in the Legal 500 as a rising star in International Crime and Extradition. Danielle has broad experience of acting in business crime cases. She also has significant experience in proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. She acts in cases concerning cash forfeiture, detention, confiscation and enforcement proceedings and has appeared at the Court of Appeal in relation to such matters.
