Forgery Factory Busted in Stratford
Ukrainian national Sergiy Mykhaylov, 41, ran a large-scale forgery operation from his Stratford home. Equipped with computers and printers, he churned out tens of thousands of fake documents. His online business took orders from across the UK, posting forged IDs nationwide.
Police seized over 3,000 forged identity documents, 3,500 passport-style photos, 300 fake Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) cards, 40,000 counterfeit bank cards, and £15,000 in cash from the operation.
Middleman Caught Handing Over Fake IDs
Mykhaylov was arrested in June 2018 outside his Hackney workplace by the National Crime Agency (NCA). Officers caught him handing six forged ID cards to his middleman, 40-year-old Genadijs Kalinins, who lives in Essex.
Kalinins sourced fake documents for organised crime gangs, helping illegal immigrants secure jobs and properties in the UK. The NCA investigation revealed their criminal network’s extensive reach.
Heavy Sentences and Multi-Million Pound Confiscation Orders
Both men pled guilty to multiple fraud offences. They were sentenced at Blackfriars Crown Court in September 2018: Kalinins got six years and three months, Mykhaylov five years and six months.
At Southwark Crown Court this week, Mykhaylov admitted his crime earnings topped £1.14 million but had only £29,518 in assets to show for it. He must pay within three months or face another 18 months behind bars.
Kalinins confessed to making £559,520 and declared assets worth £313,539, including his home and a BMW. Failure to pay will see him locked up for another three years.
NCA Cracks Down on Crime Profits
“The forged documents produced by Mykhaylov and Kalinins fuel money laundering, fraud, and immigration crime. They aided organised criminals who exploit vulnerable people,” said Mark McCormack, NCA Branch Commander. “These two men will have no benefit from their crimes – we’re stripping every penny from them.” “This case proves that prison isn’t the only punishment. The NCA is relentless in chasing criminals for the full proceeds of their illegal gains.”
