Six men jailed over Coventry drug dealing operation
The group have been sentenced to more than 60 years between them
Six men have been jailed for their part in a massive drug dealing operation in Coventry.
Collectively, the group have been sentenced to combined total of more than 60 years.
Between April and November 2022, the gang made 163 journeys, driving up and down the country and staying in locations including Crewe and Bristol, before returning to Coventry with drugs or money.
The group have been handed sentences as follows:
- 31 year old Jonathan Mann, from Gretna Road, Coventry: Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and possession of criminal property - Jailed for 13 years and four months.
- 35 year old Thomas Johnson, from Trafford Close, Atherstone: Found guilty of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, possession with intent to supply Class A and B drugs and possession of criminal property - Jailed for 16 years.
- 30 year old Luke Purcell, from Barkers Butts Lane, Coventry: Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, possession of criminal property and possession of a firearm - Jailed for 13 years and two months.
- 32 year old Alexander Purcell, from Burns Road, Coventry: Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and possession of criminal property - Jailed for nine years.
- 29 year old Ryan Prescott, from Morris Avenue, Coventry: Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and possession of criminal property - Jailed for eight years.
- 28 year old Ian Lewis, from Hollyfast Road, Coventry: Pleaded guilty to money laundering - jailed for three years.
What happened?
As leader of the group, Mann oversaw the distribution of the drugs, while brothers Alexander and Luke Purcell acted as couriers to move the drugs.
Ian Lewis laundered the group's ill-gotten gains, as well as collecting money on behalf of Mann to buy luxury cars.
Ryan Prescott was the principle courier, moving more than 100 kilograms of class A drugs alongside Mann and the Purcell brothers.
Finally, Thomas Johnson was identified during the investigation as a customer of the group, buying five kilograms of cocaine for his own drug supply operation.
Johnson initially pleaded not guilty, blaming family members for his own criminality.
He was found guilty at trial.
Messages sent between the group's members were seen by police, in which they discussed how much money and drugs they were moving and where to.
The group used codenames in their messaging including "Cookies" and "Greyman" - believed to be the aliases of Prescott and Mann.
Their messages included telling each other how much money they could keep as payment for courier work, as well as the quantities of drugs being ordered by customers.
The six defendants were all arrested in 2022 and charged with conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.
When officers searched Luke Purcell's house, they found a top-venting handgun which had been converted to fire live ammunition.
Throughout the investigation, officers seized 21 kilos of cocaine, 4.9 kilos of ketamine, 17 grams of MDMA and more than £450,000 in cash.