A gangster who profited from crime by more than £1.5 million has been ordered to pay back just £546. James Close, a drug dealer who helped source an AK-47 assault rifle, faced a financial investigation after being sentenced to 36 years in prison. Manchester Crown Court heard he benefited from crime to the tune of £1,525,126.45, but had available assets of only £546. The sum consists of cash and designer clothing held by the authorities, which will be sold to pay the amount.
Associate of Jamie Rothwell
Close was a close associate of Salford criminal Jamie Rothwell. The pair were sentenced alongside other offenders last summer. Rothwell, a veteran of the Salford gang wars, received 43 years in prison after ordering underworld hits, arranging large drug deals, and selling guns from his Spanish base. He was exposed after European law enforcement hacked the EncroChat encrypted communications network, used by organised crime across Europe. He became one of the National Crime Agency’s most wanted after messages revealed he organised a shooting in Warrington during a gangland feud while living in Barcelona.
At last summer’s hearing, Rothwell’s lawyer claimed the gangster is 'tired' of his life of crime and wants to help young people avoid his path. Another sentenced was Craig Makinson, who had been drug dealing 'over many years' before being caught through EncroChat. He had expensive cars, booked luxury holidays to Dubai and Thailand, and increased his drug dealing to pay for a £500,000 home with a swimming pool.
AK-47 and threats
Makinson was linked to drug dealing in cocaine, heroin, and amphetamine worth £2.5 million. He helped finance the purchase of an AK47 machine gun and worked with Rothwell. James Close also helped source the AK47. He was 'trusted' by Rothwell and learned how to adulterate drugs to boost profits. Judge John Potter branded Close a 'violent and dangerous criminal'. A text message Close sent to someone who owed him money read: “If you have not dropped some money off to me by 5pm tonight I am going to acid your face off in your front garden choice is yours.”
Close’s barrister Alan Kent KC told last year’s sentencing hearing that his client was involved in the 'acquisition' of an AK47 but 'never actually physically possessed' the firearm. He argued there was 'no evidence that Mr Close presents a significant risk of serious harm to the public', noting he has made 'significant progress' in prison during his five years on remand.
Court hearing and sentences
During a hearing on August 14 at Manchester Crown Court, Proceeds of Crime hearings against Rothwell, Makinson, and others were adjourned until October. Close was given three months to pay back the £546, allowing the goods to be sold off. Close, 44, of Henry Street, Leigh, was found guilty of conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent to endanger life; conspiracy to possess ammunition with intent to endanger life; conspiracy to supply cocaine; and conspiracy to possess criminal property. He received a total sentence of 36 years, comprising an 18-year sentence for drugs offences and an 18-year extended sentence for firearms offences, with 14 years in prison and an extra four years on licence.
Craig Makinson, 50, of Springpool, Winstanley, was found guilty of conspiring to possess firearms with intent to endanger life, conspiring to possess ammunition with intent to endanger life, conspiracy to supply cocaine, and conspiracy to possess criminal property. He admitted conspiring to supply heroin and amphetamine. He received a total sentence of 38 years, comprising a 20-year sentence for drugs offences and an 18-year extended sentence for firearms offences, with 14 years in prison and an extra four years on licence.
Jamie Rothwell, 38, of Grindon Avenue, Salford, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess firearms with intent to endanger life; one count of conspiracy to possess ammunition with intent to endanger life; conspiracy to supply a Class A controlled drug, namely cocaine; two counts of conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm with intent; and a single count of conspiracy to supply a Class B controlled drug, namely ketamine. He received a total sentence of 43 years, comprising an 18-year sentence for drugs offences and a 25-year extended sentence for firearms offences, with 21 years in prison and an extra four years on licence.
Rothwell was a leading figure in the Salford gang feud between 2014 and 2019, involving rival groups the A Team and the Anti A-Team. Rothwell was said to be the right-hand man of Michael Carroll, alleged leader of the Anti A-Team, in opposition to the A-Team, said to be led by Stephen Britton. Gangster Paul Massey was said to be Britton’s mentor. Rothwell was shot at a car wash in Ashton-in-Makerfield, Wigan, in March 2015 as part of the feud; a gunman sprayed bullets but Rothwell survived. In July that year, Massey was shot dead outside his Salford home by Mark Fellows, an Anti A-Team associate nicknamed The Iceman. In October, seven-year-old Christian Hickey was shot at his doorstep as the A Team sought revenge in a botched hit, thought to target the schoolboy’s father, a close associate of Carroll. Rothwell was extradited back to the UK from Spain in June 2020 following the EncroChat hack.
In October that year, Rothwell went on trial at Manchester Crown Court alongside four other men, including Mark Fellows, accused of conspiring to murder two A Team associates, after one was shot in February 2015 and the other attacked with a machete in March. Rothwell was found not guilty of all charges. After his acquittals, Rothwell left the country. He was arrested in Amsterdam on December 14, 2020, and extradited back to the UK in March 2021 after police obtained a European Arrest Warrant.
