Extradited Fraudster Jailed

Published on: 24 Sep, 2024
Updated on: 24 Sep, 2024

Calin Barta

A fraudster who helped launder more than two million pounds has been jailed after being extradited back to the UK.

Three years ago, Surrey Police executed a warrant at an address in Woking as part of investigation into indecent image offences. However, whilst at the property, officers found multiple mobile phones and bank card readers along with 38 passports in different names but all with the same photo.

Calin Barta (born 16/01/95) was arrested and bailed pending further enquires including examination of all his devices.

But whilst on bail he fled to his home country of Romania.

Working under the name Operation Highlight, Surrey’s Economic Crime Unit continued a detailed investigation which revealed Barta was part of an organised crime group committing complex fraud.

Using the fake passports, Barta had set up 70 separate bank accounts under different names through which more than £2 million had been funnelled.

Barta’s phones and card readers.

Working with a specialist CPS lawyer, officers secured charges against him and with support from the National Crime Agency and the Met Police’s extradition team, Barta was brought back to the UK in February of this year where he was met at Heathrow by Surrey officers.

Due to the weight of evidence, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud, money laundering, possession of articles for use in fraud and making indecent images of children (categories A, B and C). And on Friday September 20 at Guildford Crown Court he was sentenced to four years and 10 months imprisonment. He also received a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) in relation to the original indecent image offence.

Authorities will now look to ensure he is deported from the UK after his sentence.

Surrey Police Detective Constable Ashley Mullem said: “Much of our work within economic crime is complex and takes place behind the scenes out of sight. It can take long hours and patience to conduct enquiries both in the UK and abroad but, as this case demonstrates, we will put that work in to pursue perpetrators of financial crime and get them before the courts.”