UKIP volunteer and former aide to ex-party leader Nigel Farage has admitted to offenses including blackmail, extortion and money laundering and could be imprisoned in the U.S. for up to 20 years, the Telegraph reported Tuesday.
George Cottrell, described by UKIP as an “unpaid and enthusiastic volunteer for the party” during its campaign over the U.K.’s referendum on EU membership, also faces $250,000 in fines.
Cottrell struck a plea deal with prosecutors and admitted to masquerading as a “financier” on a clandestine network and offering to help transfer money for drug traffickers.
His activity was tracked by undercover agents who posed as drug traffickers seeking money laundering services. He was arrested at Chicago O’Hare airport in July, as he was traveling back to Britain from the Republican Party convention with Farage.
Cottrell is set to be sentenced in March.
Former Farage aide faces two decades in jail for attempted fraud – POLITICO
George Cottrell, described by UKIP as an “unpaid and enthusiastic volunteer for the party” during its campaign over the U.K.’s referendum on EU membership, also faces $250,000 in fines.
Cottrell struck a plea deal with prosecutors and admitted to masquerading as a “financier” on a clandestine network and offering to help transfer money for drug traffickers.
His activity was tracked by undercover agents who posed as drug traffickers seeking money laundering services. He was arrested at Chicago O’Hare airport in July, as he was traveling back to Britain from the Republican Party convention with Farage.
Cottrell is set to be sentenced in March.
Former Farage aide faces two decades in jail for attempted fraud – POLITICO