Five members of an organised criminal gang, involved in falsely claiming more than £53 million in Universal Credit, have been sentenced to a combined total of more than 25 years in jail. The sentencing marks the conclusion of the largest benefit fraud case in England and Wales.
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Bulgarian nationals Galina Nikolova, 39, Stoyan Stoyanov, 28, Tsvetka Todorova, 53, Gyunesh Ali, 34, and Patritsia Paneva, 27, were all sentenced today (30 May 2024) at Wood Green Crown Court after pleading guilty to fraud and money laundering charges related to their involvement in a multi-million-pound scam targeting the benefits system. They received sentences ranging from three years to eight years.