Fraudster faces longer sentence for payback failing
A chess-playing fugitive fraudster who stole more than £750,000 in a tax and mortgage fraud faces an extra five years in prison for not paying back the money.
According to HMRC, tax agent Robin Moss, will have prized possessions, including thousands of pounds of collectible Moorcroft pottery, gold coins and jewellery, auctioned off to recover some of the stolen cash.
Mr Moss, who has absconded, is also an internationally-ranked chess player and originally from Melton Mowbray but now believed to be in Poland.
He lied about his income, made bogus claims in the names of unsuspecting clients and provided false documents that were used in fraudulent mortgage applications.
Many of his clients were believed to be from Leicestershire.
The 60-year-old was sentenced in his absence to 10 years in prison for tax fraud, money laundering, mortgage fraud and theft. He was convicted in October 2023 after a joint investigation between HMRC and police officers from the East Midlands Special Operations Unit.
He has been given an extra five-year sentence at Nottingham Crown Court for failing to repay a £970,101 confiscation order. He now faces a total of 15 years in prison and will still owe the money, plus interest that continues to accrue, even after he has served his extended sentence.
An international arrest warrant has been issued for him.
Mark Robinson, operational lead, Fraud Investigation Service, HMRC, said: “Our work doesn’t stop at conviction – we always look to recover the proceeds of crime, money that should have been used to fund our public services.
“We’re determined to track down Robin Moss and when we do, he’ll now spend even longer in prison and still owe the money.”