NOTORIOUS crime boss Eddie Lyons is to have £75,000-worth of assets seized under proceeds of crime laws.
Lyons, 53, is to lose the sum after racking up £259,000 in mortgage frauds by falsely claiming he was self-employed and earning well in excess of his actual salary.
He also admitted being involved in the transfer of criminal property after using some of the money he made through the frauds to give his daughter Ashley Lyons a gift of £30,000.
The gangster, head of the Lyons crime family, was sentenced to 300 hours' community service for the offences in April 2010.
At Glasgow Sheriff Court yesterday, Sheriff Andrew Normand made a £75,000 confiscation order against Lyons – a fixed sum made under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
Lindsey Miller, head of the Serious and Organised Crime Division (SOCD) at the Crown Office, said: "Edward Lyons committed two mortgage frauds and transferred criminal property, both of which are serious offences in themselves.
"Transferring criminal property is classed as a lifestyle offence under the Proceeds of Crime Act, allowing the Crown to investigate his income over the six years preceding his arrest.
"The court found £148,793.71 of his income during this time could not be accounted for legitimately. We are satisfied the £75,000 confiscation order represents the amount of money available to us from Lyons at this time.
"We can also apply to the court to vary the amount of the order should further funds become available, and we intend to make full use of this power."
The court earlier heard Lyons claimed he was self-employed and earning up to £48,000 a year when he was actually working at Chirnside Community Initiative earning just £20,000.
He then bought property in East Kilbride and Cumbernauld by self-certifying on mortgage applications, before selling the East Kilbride property and taking more than £74,000 in profit.
Lyons also admitted giving £30,000 of this profit to his daughter to buy a tanning salon in Dundee. He was eventually caught when he applied for a car loan and stated his correct salary.
However, prosecutors added there had been no loss to the mortgage providers as he had paid the mortgage on the East Kilbride house in full when he sold it and had kept up to date with payments on his current home in Cumbernauld.
At the time he was convicted, former Sheriff Robert Anthony told him he had only avoided jail because he had no previous convictions and had kept up to date with payments.
Lyons – reported to be in a feud with another crime family – was cleared of attempted murder in 2001. The community centre where he worked was closed down in 2006 after his nephew Michael was shot dead and his son was seriously injured.
Police also seized £63,000 from his home in 2004 for alleged drug dealing.
Ms Miller added: "Mortgage fraud and the subsequent laundering of the associated free proceeds is often seen by criminals as an easy way to make money.
"This case should act as a reminder that the Proceeds of Crime legislation is wide- ranging and, by committing lifestyle offences under Proceed of Crime, criminals throw open their entire financial dealings over six years to detailed investigation by forensic accountants, lawyers and ultimately the court."
SOCD works with the Civil Recovery Unit and other law enforcement agencies such as the Scottish Drugs Enforcement Agency, UK police forces, Revenue and Customs and the Department for Work and Pensions to identify and recover the proceeds of crime.
Money recovered under the Proceeds of Crime Act is invested by Scottish ministers in community projects aimed at alleviating the effects of crime.
To date, more than £60 million has been invested in a range of activities for young people through the CashBack programme.
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