Two brothers from Liverpool have been jailed for nearly 25 years combined for their involvement in drug trafficking and firearms offences, after their encrypted communications on the EncroChat platform were infiltrated by law enforcement.
Dean Gerrard, 38, of Richard Grove in Dovecot, and his younger brother Jordan Gerrard, 35, of William Jessop Way in Liverpool city centre, were sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court on Monday. Dean Gerrard, who was previously jailed in 2009 for selling a gun to undercover officers, was handed 11 years and three months, while Jordan Gerrard, a former Everton academy footballer, received 13 years.
EncroChat Handles and Criminal Activity
The court heard that Jordan Gerrard used the EncroChat handle "Merry Mode" to supply class A and B drugs across Merseyside and beyond, as well as to source and supply ammunition for firearms. Dean Gerrard operated the account "Mallet Land". Both had "operated in this way for some time" prior to the network being infiltrated by French law enforcement in the spring of 2020.
Prosecutor Emily Land described how Jordan Gerrard's communications with "Stiff Ninja", previously identified as Faye Dunn, a former England youth footballer from Huyton who was jailed for three years and nine months in 2022, showed them hatching a deal to grow cannabis at a house in Warrington owned by Dunn. She was to be paid £20,000 plus five months rent and bills as part of the agreement. In one message, Gerrard said of the property: "Got a big one on bro yeno. Nice five bedroom ken."
In April 2020, Jordan Gerrard was asked by "Natural Bell" whether he had "any 32 sweets", or .32 calibre ammunition. He replied that he "had 9s and 44s but would ask about", and confirmed he could provide a "full clip" of 9mm bullets. He also told "Octo Jungle" that he had such items "ready to grab from Widnes".
Arrest and Previous Convictions
Jordan Gerrard was arrested on February 19 this year, when police found him as a passenger of a Volkswagen Golf parked on double yellow lines on William Jessop Way. He was said to have attempted to conceal a stash of cash by sitting on it, with a £12,000 Rolex watch and two iPhones also seized. Further money and designer goods were found inside his address. He accepted under interview that he had used the Merry Mode Encro phone, which contained details of more than 100 contacts, but claimed it had been "left at a location where many others could access and use it".
Dean Gerrard was said to have "played a leading role" in plots to traffic cocaine and cannabis, including purchasing batches of up to 10kg of cocaine at once. Notes on his device recorded him passing thousands of pounds of cash per week, having been allowed credit to run up debts of up to £136,000. His criminal record shows four previous convictions for 16 offences, including possession of a class A drug with intent to supply in 2004 and transferring a firearm and ammunition from 2009.
The ECHO previously reported that the 2009 conviction related to an undercover police sting, where Gerrard, then 21, went from offering officers stolen watches and cars to drugs and guns. During one deal, where the secret PCs arranged to buy a Glock pistol, he told his customers he "was worried that he had already sold them a gun and, if they were police, he would be f***ed". Labelled a "gun salesman", he acted as a broker for a man who set up a firearms factory in his own home. Having initially sold the undercover operators an £18,000 gold Rolex and a stolen Mercedes C220 before later becoming involved in a deal for a £5,000 Brocock pistol, he was ultimately handed 10 years in prison.
Defence and Sentencing
Ian Whitehurst, defending Dean Gerrard, told the court of his client's remorse and insight, noting that he handed himself in after returning from holiday. He said: "When he returned from holiday, he handed himself in and immediately accepted what he had done. It has had a significant effect, this offending, not only on the community but on the defendant's partner, children and very close family." Whitehurst also mentioned that Gerrard and his brother had saved a fellow prisoner's life while in custody.
Peter Killen, defending Jordan Gerrard, highlighted his client's footballing career and his work as a labourer in a scaffolding company. He told the court that the Gerrards had prevented a fellow inmate from hanging himself, saying: "These two men, it seems, acted instinctively in going to his aid to try and stop that. Perhaps more than that, he spent time with him afterwards, trying to talk him out of any repeat and to focus on the positive things in his life."
Sentencing, Judge Robert Trevor-Jones told the brothers: "Both of you were users of different EncroChat devices, now very well known but sophisticated devices using encrypted data in order to avoid detection and so used, as the court is well aware, by persons operating at a high level in this type of enterprise." He noted Dean Gerrard's trading in kilogram amounts of cocaine, with references to ordering 20kg, and Jordan Gerrard's dealing in cocaine, diamorphine and cannabis, as well as his knowledge of the ammunition marketplace.
Police Reaction
Detective Chief Inspector Gary Stratton of Merseyside Police said following the hearing: "The arrest of Jordan was quickly followed by his brother Dean after it became clear they were both involved in supplying class A and B drugs. They clearly thought they could hide behind their handles on EncroChat devices, but, sadly for them, they left a trail of indisputable evidence that showed their involvement. Quite simply, our excellent investigation team left them with no option but to admit their offences."
He added: "Criminals like Jordan and Dean Gerrard, who are involved in serious organised crime, are a blight on our communities where drugs are closely linked to violence, firearms and knife crime. I hope this sentencing shows that Merseyside Police will leave no stone unturned in our pursuit of people who think they are above the law."
