Professional drug dealers Brian Maxwell, 54, and Brian Thomas Maxwell, 35, clashed with a rival organized crime group that threatened violence. Today, the Liverpool Crown Court heard how the rival gang suspected that Maxwell junior was involved in the theft of drugs that belonged to them.
On May 27, 2020, the father and son received official warnings about Osman from Merseyside police, which meant their lives were in danger. Prosecution Nicola Daley told the court how Maxwell junior tried to buy high-powered weapons from criminal contacts in the underworld to defend himself from the threat. READ MORE: EncroChat dealer “Lemonisland” shares photos of cocaine blocks and χι 16,000 in cash Ms Daley described how Maxwell junior used the Encrochat telephone network to try to obtain what is believed to be an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle, an AK47, a Glock 17, a Grand Power pistol, a Walther PPK pistol and ammunition. Ms Daley said Maxwell junior offered two Rolex watches to pay for guns and ammunition and told his father he would need a locker to store the weapons. The court also heard that Maxwell junior already had two firearms to defend himself. In a message to a colleague he said: “I have 2 straps for me lad can get me a 5 or a 7 for f *** all lad.” And Maxwell junior sent a message to his dad saying, “If they stick a piece to me, I’m in jail and these bags are still out there listening to everyone give sticks. I just get a chance to get one of them and not put “None of us are in danger, trust me to find it.” In another message, Maxwell junior said he had resorted to “holding a knife on me” because of the threat to his life. At one point Maxwell junior asked his dad if he had any “acid”. The court heard that father and son were in charge of a drug wholesale business across the country and both were using the EncroChat encrypted telephone network to organize their affairs. Maxwell Senior used the “RetiredVermouth” handle and his son used “MediumRose” and “Dior-Note”. The two men were arrested in September 2021 as a result of information obtained from the penetration of the EncroChat telephone network. Brian Maxwell Senior was sentenced to 13 years and four months in prison. (Image: Merseyside Police) Damian Nolan, defending Maxwell junior, told the court that the police operation “probably saved his life”. Mr Nolan said there was a conspiracy to “kill Maxwell Junior and his family”. He said a rival criminal group “had acquired grenades to attack Maxwell junior’s family, killing him and his family”. The court also heard how the infiltration of the Encrochat network exposed Maxwells’ roles as a professional drug dealer. Ms Daley described how the father and son were operating at the wholesale level of Class A drugs. Maxwell Senior appeared to be using an adulterer called a “ghost” to mix cocaine. At one point, Liverpool’s dad was waiting for the delivery of 250 kilos of ghosts. Ms Daley said only 10kg of adultery could produce 25kg of cocaine at street level. The two men also controlled a major cannabis company. Maxwell Senior ran a real estate network used to house their drug farms. Maxwell junior became more involved in cannabis production, purchasing equipment, plants and nutrients to help plants grow. Maxwell senior of Stockswell Road, Tarbock Green and Maxwell junior of Ditchfield Road, Widnes, have pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply diamorphine, cocaine, cannabis, amphetamine and cannabis production. Maxwell jnr admitted to conspiring to possess, purchase or acquire prohibited firearms between 27 March 2020 and 6 June 2020. He also admitted to possessing prohibited firearms. Judge David Aubrey, QC, told the father and son that they had assumed they were protected by law through the use of Encrochat phones. He said: “Phones have proven to be your downfall.” He imprisoned Maxwell junior for 18 years and four months and Maxwell senior for 13 years and four months. He told both men that they would serve half their sentences before being released on bail. Read more related articles Read more related articles
