Derby Ice Cream Van Boss Hit with Million-Pound Tax Bill!
Sinfin’s Tony Persico Under Fire
Tonino “Tony” Persico, 58, from Derby’s Sinfin area, isn’t just known for his ice cream vans. The entire Persico family ran a business empire renting out industrial units on Osmaston Road. But Police were suspicious. Links to drugs, fraud, and money laundering put the family under the microscope. In 2013, Tony’s sister was jailed for conspiracy to produce cannabis.
NCA Cracks Down on Hidden Tax Debts
The National Crime Agency (NCA) took over the probe from HMRC, digging into Tony’s rental income from industrial units at 555 Osmaston Road. They uncovered a staggering £1,135,857.82 in unpaid taxes, National Insurance, interest, and penalties stretching from 1996/97 to 2013/14.
Despite numerous claims, Tony stayed silent. On November 1, 2017, the NCA scored a default court judgment against him. Still no payment. So, the NCA took the battle to the High Court to seize his assets.
Complex Ownership Fails to Hide Assets
The Persico clan tried to mask ownership through tangled company setups. One company, Osmaston Business Park Ltd, was nominally owned by Tony’s niece — a 16-year-old shareholder. But the High Court found the truth: Tony Persico was the real owner.
Mrs Justice Foster DBE ruled, “This case falls fair and square into the concealment category. Tony Persico is the true beneficial owner.” A final charging order was slapped on the Osmaston Road property, clearing the way to recover Tony’s huge tax debt.
The NCA had already secured charging orders against three other properties linked to Tony at the same industrial site. The hunt for Persico’s hidden wealth is well and truly on.
