A Liverpool property developer has been charged with drug and money laundering offences.
Jonathan Cassidy , 48, linked to a number of property companies, has been charged with conspiracy to import class A drugs , conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and conspiracy to money launder.
The ECHO now understands that Cassidy, known to friends as 'Cass', was well known in the city's development and property community.
READ MORE: EncroChat suspects named after police put in doors across city
According to the latest information on Companies House which was last updated on June 11 Cassidy, of Whitewood Park , Aintree, is a director of Keypark Developments Ltd. The company is registered to an address on Duke Street in Liverpool city centre.
Cassidy was a director of JJC Developments Ltd up until the company was dissolved in November 2020. He was a director of City Building Design up until the company was dissolved in May 2010.
In 2018 JJC Developments Ltd, also registered to an address on Duke Street, was behind plans to transform a former north Liverpool cinema into apartments.
Liverpool City Council approved plans submitted by JJC to build 29 apartments and five townhouses on the site of the former Princess Cinema on the corner of Brewster Street in Kirkdale.
However JJC did not deliver the scheme and the company was dissolved in November 2020.
Jonathan Cassidy and his younger brother Jamie Cassidy were charged with drug and money laundering offences last year as part of the police investigation into the EncroChat phone network.
The ECHO recently revealed that Jamie, 43, played for Liverpool FC's youth team in the 1990s. The talented midfielder helped the reds win the FA Youth Cup in 1996 and was a popular figure at the club.
Jamie Cassidy was released by the reds after a spate of injuries. He later played for a number of lower league clubs including Cambridge United.
Jonathan Cassidy and Jamie Cassidy of Knowsley Lane were arrested last year during an operation by Greater Manchester Police codenamed Embossed.
Joshua Avis, of Alton Close in Hightown, was also arrested along with Nasar Ahmed of Moreton Drive in Bury.
The arrests followed the penetration of the EncroChat network which was hacked through a joint operation between French and Dutch investigators 15 months ago.
A police spokesman said to the ECHO: "Jonathan Cassidy (04/04/1973), Jamie Cassidy (21/11/1977), Nasar Ahmed (18/08/1972), and Joshua Avis (22/04/1985) have all be charged in relation to an investigation which forms part of the UK-wide Operation Venetic, focusing on the take down of the encrypted communications service Encrochat.
"Jonathon Cassidy and Nasar Ahmed have both been charged with conspiracy to import class A drugs (fraudulent evasion of a prohibition by bringing into the UK a controlled drug), conspiracy to supply class A, and conspiracy to money launder.
"Joshua Avis and Jamie Cassidy have been charged with conspiracy to supply class A drugs and conspiracy to money launder."
The four men have been remanded in custody. A court date is yet to be set.
Receive newsletters with the latest news, sport and what's on updates from the Liverpool ECHO by signing up here
