Craig Makinson enjoyed holidays and expensive cars
Craig Makinson(Image: GMP)
A gangster who worked alongside Salford drugs boss Jamie Rothwell enjoyed a lavish lifestyle funded by crime.
Craig Makinson, 50, had been drug dealing ‘over many years’ before he was caught out by the law enforcement infiltration of EncroChat. Manchester Crown Court heard that he had expensive cars, booked luxury holidays to Dubai and Thailand and ramped up his drug dealing to help pay for a £500,000 home with a swimming pool.
He ploughed his drugs money into other ventures renovating property, in the leisure industry and a tanning salon. But Makinson, from Wigan, will be behind bars for the foreseeable future after being handed a huge 38 year sentence. He was one of nine other men to be jailed alongside Rothwell for their own criminality.
The court heard how Makinson was linked to drug dealing in cocaine, heroin and amphetamine worth £2.5 million. He helped to finance the purchase of an AK47 machine gun and worked with Rothwell.
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Also sentenced was Zak Rourke, who acted as a ‘conduit’ between bosses and those lower down the chain. He was also involved in the sale of firearms and ammunition. James Close also helped source the AK47.
He was ‘trusted’ by Rothwell and learned how to adulterate drugs, in order to boost his profits. Judge John Potter branded Close a ‘violent and dangerous criminal’.
A text message he sent to someone who owed him money read: “If you have not dropped some money off to me by 5pm tonight I am going to acid your face off in your front garden choice is yours.” Morris became involved through his friend Close, after the pair trained in mixed martial arts together.
Callum Morris, Zak Rourke and James Close(Image: GMP)
He also had an EncroChat phone and developed a ‘close connection’ with Rothwell, storing guns for him and embroiling himself in cocaine dealing. Messages on the encrypted system revealed that he had agreed to murder someone named Paul Cooper.
Morris agreed to shoot him, or have someone else shoot him after one of his contacts on EncroChat said he was an enemy of his. Mr Cooper was never attacked, but the judge described Morris as a ‘highly dangerous criminal’.
Terence McDonagh worked for Morris and acted as his driver. He agreed to store the AK47 for Morris. John Stankus allowed his home in Wigan to be used by Makinson for the storage and adulteration of drugs.
Andrew Ackers worked as a driver for Makinson, and transported about £700,000 worth of drugs. Scott Davies stored and transported cocaine and heroin for Makinson.John Moore worked for Morris as a driver on at least one occasion.
John Stankus, Scott Davies and Terence McDonagh(Image: GMP)
All ten men were sentenced on Thursday.
Jamie Rothwell, 38, of Grindon Avenue, Salford, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess firearms with intent to endanger life; one count of conspiracy to possess ammunition with intent to endanger life; conspiracy to supply a controlled drug of Class A, namely cocaine; two counts of conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm with intent and a single count of conspiracy to supply a controlled drug of Class B, namely ketamine. He received a total sentence of 43 years, comprising of an 18 year sentence for drugs offences and a 25 year extended sentence for the firearms offences, comprising of 21 years in prison and an extra four years on licence.Craig Makinson, 50, of Springpool, Winstanley, was found guilty of conspiring to possess firearms with intent to endanger life, conspiring to possess ammunition with intent to endanger life, conspiracy to supply cocaine and conspiracy to possess criminal property. He admitted conspiring to supply heroin and amphetamine. He received a total sentence of 38 years, comprising of a 20 year sentence for drugs offences and an 18 year extended sentence for the firearms offences, comprising of 14 years in prison and an extra four years on licence.
Andrew Ackers(Image: GMP)James Close, 44, of Henry Street, Leigh, was found guilty to conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent to endanger life; conspiracy to possess ammunition with intent to endanger life; conspiracy to supply cocaine; and conspiracy to possess criminal property. He received a total sentence of 36 years, comprising of an 18 year sentence for drugs offences and a 18 year extended sentence for the firearms offences, comprising of 14 years in prison and an extra four years on licence.Callum Morris, 33, of Carr Bank Crescent, Atherton, was found guilty of conspiracy to murder, conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent to endanger life; conspiracy to possess ammunition with intent to endanger life; conspiracy to supply cocaine; and conspiracy to possess criminal property. He received a total sentence of 38 years, comprising of an 14 year sentence for drugs offences and a 24 year extended sentence for the firearms offences, comprising of 20 years in prison and an extra four years on licence.Zak Rourke, 35, of Deakins Mill Way Egerton, Bolton, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess firearms with intent to endanger life, conspiracy to possess ammunition with intent to endanger life, conspiracy to supply cocaine and ketamine and conspiracy to possess criminal property. He was jailed for 18 years.Terence McDonagh, 34, of Thorncroft Avenue, Astley, was found guilty of conspiring to possess firearms and ammunition with intent to endanger life. He was jailed for eight years.Andrew Ackers, 39, of Benjamin Road, Wigan, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine and conspiracy to possess criminal property. He was jailed for ten years and two months.Scott Davies, 36, of Courier Place, Wigan, pleaded guilty to conspiring to supply heroin and cocaine. He was jailed for eight-and-a-half years.John Stankus, 70, of Wigan Street, Platt Bridge, Wigan, was found guilty of conspiracy to supply cocaine and amphetamine. He was jailed for six years.John Moore, 38, of Kendal Drive, was found guilty of conspiring to possess criminal property and pleaded guilty to participating in the activities of an organised crime group. He was jailed for 14 months.
After the hearing, Senior Investigating Officer Detective Sergeant Colin Shackleton said: “The supply of Class A drugs in this investigation were on an industrial scale, with the criminal gang making eye-watering profits.
“They believed they were above the law, and having access to their messages gave us real insight into their arrogant, egotistical, and apathetic nature.
John Moore(Image: GMP)
“This has been a complex and long-standing investigation which has spanned years and international borders. These sentences today are testament to years of hard work by Greater Manchester Police SOCG team, Cheshire SOCU, the Crown Prosecution Service, Prosecution Barristers, the NCA and our partner agencies.
“It is not uncommon for suspects to flee the country in a bid to avoid facing the consequences of their crimes, but this case epitomises our dedication of bringing offenders to justice, regardless of where they try and hide.
“International collaboration was crucial to this case, and here we worked closely with the National Crime Agency and the Spanish authorities, and we continue to do so to locate fugitives who are currently at large.
“We share the common goal to see these people behind bars and we will do all we can to achieve this.”
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Wayne Johns, National Crime Agency senior investigating officer for Operation Venetic, said: “The NCA used its global reach to trace and arrest Jamie Rothwell, not just once, but twice, bringing him back from Spain and then Holland when he went on the run a second time.
“Fugitives should take note of the NCA’s tenacity in tracing wanted offenders, and working with partners such as GMP, we will never give up on finding and returning those who have fled justice.
“More than 2,200 criminals have been convicted under Operation Venetic, and Jamie Rothwell is one of the most dangerous. Throughout the operation, the NCA and UK police have stopped 200 threats to life, seized over £84m in criminal funds and more than eight tonnes of class A drugs, recovered 175 firearms and more than 3,500 rounds of ammunition.
“UK law enforcement will continue doing everything possible to protect the public from serious and organised crime.”Rebecca Macaulay Addison, Specialist Prosecutor for CPS North West’s Complex Casework Unit, said: “The sentencing of these men concludes 5 years’ work by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), Prosecution Counsel and Greater Manchester Police, assisted by the National Crime Agency.
The use of EncroChat communication devices as part of their involvement in serious organised criminal activities ultimately led to their offending coming to light. It was evident from EncroChat messages obtained that Jamie Rothwell, 38, played a leading role which included him organising the purchase and supply of class A drugs, firearms, ammunition and directing acts of extreme violence.
“The others who have been sentenced today and at previous hearings all played their part in the same criminal activities.
“The CPS continue to work tirelessly to ensure that those who engage in such activity are brought to justice.
“We will pursue confiscation proceedings against the defendants to ensure that they do not profit from the money gained through their crimes.”