Simon Rooney, of Burnley in Lancashire, used the handle “Luxuryfall” on the Encrochat encrypted messaging service platform to supply cocaine and other illegal drugs to his criminal associates.
The 39-year-old was unaware that his messages had been recovered by French law enforcement and shared with the National Crime Agency (NCA).
Thinking his use of Encrochat gave him complete anonymity, Rooney shared images of his cars, his garden and his house, and described the extensive work he was having carried out at his home.
Simon Rooney has been jailed for 20 years following a joint investigation between us, the @NCA_UK and Border Force
Full details in the thread below https://t.co/nGmYIUB8HY
— Thames Valley Police (@ThamesVP) April 12, 2024
One message read: “Mate I gutted this house. It’s a nice area but looks like footballers moved in had it all k renders, knocked walls out open plan, massive kitchen, dug all garden out on front, made a massive drive, fits 10 cars on…”
In June 2020, Thames Valley Police (TVP) officers investigating a fatal road traffic collision executed a search warrant at Manor Park in Kidlington.
They recovered 60kg of amphetamine with a street value of around £600,000.
Evidence was uncovered that suggested Rooney had supplied the amphetamines to an organised crime group operating in Thames Valley and south east of England.
This was confirmed when subsequent forensic analysis of the drugs identified Rooney’s DNA on the drugs and packaging.
Together, TVP and NCA officers executed a warrant at Rooney’s home address in Burnley on October 7, 2021, before he was arrested at his home and subsequently charged.
Rooney was convicted on Tuesday, April 9, following a four-week trial at Oxford Crown Court in which a jury found him guilty of five offences relating to the supply of cocaine, mephedrone and amphetamines and conspiracy to acquire and supply cutting agents.
NCA senior investigating officer, Andrew MacGill, said: “Together, the NCA, Border Force and Thames Valley closed the net on Rooney. By gathering irrefutable evidence of Rooney’s crimes we ensured he faced justice.
“We’ve also taken a large quantity of drugs and cutting agents out of circulation, so they cannot cause harm to communities or money from their sale be used to line the pockets of criminals.”
TVP investigating officer PC Adam Taylor said: “This is a fantastic result for everyone involved. My thanks go to everybody who has helped in this case. It has not been an easy trial, but I am grateful to the jury for their deliberations which has led to the convictions.
“Rooney is now serving a lengthy custodial sentence and a significant quantity of drugs have been removed from the supply chain.”