Overview
- A jury at Leicester Crown Court found Jogesh Bhandari, Meenakashi Bhandari and Craig Morris guilty after a five‑week trial that concluded on Wednesday, July 15, 2026.
- Prosecutors say the trio falsely claimed they could supply millions of boxes of nitrile gloves during 2020–21 and took large advance payments that were never used to buy PPE.
- Court evidence showed defendants used forged bank statements and a fraudulent escrow arrangement to persuade suppliers and release funds prematurely.
- Investigators recovered bank records and more than 47,000 WhatsApp messages and emails that trace payments being diverted into purchases such as a Porsche, Rolex watches, jewellery, holidays and home renovations.
- The NCA highlighted the case’s cross‑border reach, noting US involvement in the escrow scheme, and said the convictions underline ongoing enforcement as sentencing is scheduled for August 21, 2026.