Glasgow gangster who used child's bank account to conceal £353k is jailed

A Glasgow gangster who used a child’s bank account and family member’s homes to conceal nearly £600,000 made from drug deals has been jailed.

James Clark also discharged a firearm at a home on Whitelaw Street in April 2020.

The 37-year-old was put behind bars for six years at Edinburgh High Court today.

The court heard how his sister alerted police after discovering a suitcase filled with cash in her hall cupboard.

She told officers that her brother had been living at her home following the death of her mother.

The suitcase contained 16,000 Euros and £173,000.

Cops then investigated Clark’s financial background and found evidence he was using the handle “Stoicelephant” on the EncroChat messaging platform favoured by criminals.

They uncovered messages that linked him to the third-party sale, supply and purchase of drugs including cocaine, heroin and cannabis, and to deals valued at thousands of pounds.

There were also messages from him discussing plans to buy an automatic assault weapon for between £8-£12,000.

Meanwhile, a search of his late dad’s house revealed £12,800 in cash hidden in a shrink-wrapped bag which contained Clark’s DNA.

And cops recovered a haul which included receipts for luxury goods, a quantity of United Arab Emirates currency, a Rolex watch and £32,000 in an Asda carrier bag following a search of his partner’s house.

He also deposited money into a youngster’s Royal Bank of Scotland savings account which contained £353k in November 2021.

All of the deposits originated from Clark’s personal account.

Following his sentencing, Sineidin Corrins, deputy procurator fiscal for specialist casework at the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), said: “This individual was responsible for the supply of drugs on a huge scale, but he failed in his attempts to conceal the money he made from his crimes.

“With this conviction, we have dismantled his route for the supply of drugs to the streets and made communities safer.

“With each case of this kind, we can help reduce the harm that these drugs inflict on Scotland’s communities.

“We will continue to work with our partners as a member of Scotland’s Serious and Organised Crime Taskforce to tackle serious organised crime and this kind of case highlights the extensive work that has been ongoing in this area.”

Clark was made the subject of a Serious Crime Prevention Order lasting three years after admitting to being concerned in the supply of controlled drugs and the culpable and reckless discharge of a firearm.

He will also be the subject of proceedings under Proceeds of Crime legislation to recover monies gained through crime.