Thomas Scragg, from Hockley Heath, was jailed for a total of 17 years following three separate fraud convictions for stealing millions of pounds in employee PAYE tax.
The extent of his fraud racket has remained a secret until now as cases against his two henchmen – Carl and Anthony Johnson from Wolverhampton – progressed through court.
But reporting restrictions were lifted after the brothers were convicted of laundering Scragg’s ill-gotten gains.
Scragg used his business “Moya Payroll” – which managed staff wages from construction industry companies – to steal more than £26 million in tax between 2002 and 2007.
His co-defendant, Paul Phillips from Derbyshire, was jailed for nine years.
A further investigation by West Midlands Police uncovered another £8 million of stolen PAYE tax in a ten-month period from April 2007 and February 2008.
Birmingham Crown Court heard how Carl Johnson, 49, and brother Anthony, 51, lived extravagant lifestyles using money they received from Scragg in return for their “protection services”.
In total he paid the brothers – who had a string of convictions for violence and witness intimidation – around £2.4 million.
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