Award-winning businessman unmasked as drug dealer after 'astonishing' fall from grace

An award-winning businessman made an 'astonishing' decision to become involved in high-level drug dealing after the pandemic left his finances in jeopardy. Carl Jones, 33, ran a yoga studio, was involved in a gym and had invested £30,000 in a café.

Jones, from Tameside, even won the 'Rising Star Business Award' in 2019. But when the coronavirus pandemic forced his businesses to close he became 'panicked' about his financial situation and mounting debts.

When law enforcement hacked the highly secretive EncroChat network, which had been used by organised crime gangs across Europe, Jones' double life was revealed. Messages from the previously encrypted service disclosed that Jones had been involved in dealing 19 kilos of ketamine, and 10 kilos of cannabis.

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"He made the astonishingly out of character decision to engage in this offending," Jones' barrister said. "It was a foolish decision, a decision that he will pay for dearly."

Jones was sentenced to six years in jail during a hearing at Manchester Crown Court. "Mr Jones, you have ability, you have influence, you have skill, and you are thought of highly by many," the judge, Recorder Sarah Johnston said.

"I am told that the pandemic and related business losses caused you to fall into debt, and the attempts you had made legitimately to cope with that financial pressure were not successful. But ultimately that you would sink into this world is really through greed, and nothing more."

Prosecuting, Andy Scott told how Jones was identified as the criminal using the EncroChat handle 'Chief Commander', which had been in contact with 'at least' 10 other users on the network. "The EncroChat material revealed that