Two car dealers have been ordered to pay just under £116,000 by Luton Crown Court, after successful prosecutions by Luton’s Trading Standards Service.
Sahaire Ramzan and Mikhail Sturki were taken to court under the Proceeds of Crime Act to prevent them from benefiting from their illegal trading.
Mr Ramzan, of Conway Drive, was sentenced to 20 months suspended prison sentence plus 300 hours of unpaid work and was ordered to pay £67,854.
One victim was compensated £3060, after his money was found during their investigation.
Mr Sturki, of May Street, received a eight-month suspended sentence and 250 hours unpaid work, he was ordered to pay £48,125.
Councillor Aslam Khan said: “We want to ensure that crime does not pay and these cases send a clear warning to any businesses that the Council can and will pursue criminals who rip of consumers, to the full extent of the law.
“Not only have these traders been punished but we have ensured that they can not reap the benefits of their criminal conduct.
“Money received by the council from these awards will be put back into reducing crime and investigating criminals who con or endanger consumers in Luton.”