An Encrochat dealer was caught by police after he admitted in messages who he was and how he drove a hackney cab.
Lee O’Donnell, 28, of Mostyn Avenue, Old Roan, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on Thursday, February 16 after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply a Class A drug (cocaine), Class B drug (cannabis), money laundering and acquiring/using/possessing criminal property. O’Donnell used the Encrochat handle "toxicmantis" from March 2020 to June 2020 and was given the nickname ‘Scarface Anfield’ by other users due to a scar on his face and Anfield being where he used to live.
Officers were able to identify O’Donnell after he revealed his own first name and that he was a hackney cab driver. Officers managed to find out he used his cab to transport drugs during the Covid-19 lockdown.
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O’Donnell also bragged on Encrochat about purchasing a television from a specific store and officers were able to find evidence and further details about the transaction. He was arrested on November 10, 2022 and was jailed for nine years at Liverpool Crown Court.
Speaking after the sentencing, Sefton Community Policing Inspector Raymond Mavrakakis said: “O’Donnell’s Encrochat messages revealed his clear involvement in drug conspiracies that could have caused suffering to families and residents in our community. His messages clearly identified him as the user of the ‘toxicmantis’ Encrochat handle, which showed his involvement in conspiring to supply significant amounts of cocaine and cannabis, causing misery to the people of Merseyside and potentially beyond.
“We know the destruction that drug supply causes and Merseyside Police remains relentless in our pursuit of these criminals and to bring down serious and organised criminal groups. O’Donnell, like many offenders before him, thought he was hiding behind a secure communications system.
"Instead, he collected damning evidence of his own drug supply and will face a long spell in prison.”
Anyone with information on drug supply is asked to contact @MerPolCC, 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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