Former UFC fighter convicted of Heroin Trafficking!

[Wolf Hawkfield no1 NZ poster]

A LIVERPOOL cage fighter who rose to international success is facing a long prison sentence after being found guilty of trafficking heroin.

West Derby hard man Paul Kelly had denied being a major heroin dealer after an acquaintance of his was picked up with 1.5kg of import purity drugs in the footwell of his car.

But after a four day trial jurors returned unanimous guilty verdicts and he was remanded in custody to await sentence.

Kelly, 28, whose nickname is “Tellys”, fought in Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) matches from Abu Dhabi to Detroit before losing to an American in 2011 and being let go by the organisation. During his trial he claimed he earned £100,000 a year and did not need to deal drugs for money.

But prosecutor David McLachlan said the fighting money had dried up after he left UFC and ended up losing a “journeyman” bout in India.

The investigation centred around Kelly and his best friend Christopher St John McGirr, 28, and their movements at the time of police raids in December 2011 and May 2012.

The court heard the pair were known as Batman and Robin by one of their customers.

They were accused of using couriers to move their drugs because they did not want to get their hands dirty.

One of those couriers, school friend Paul Rogers, 28, was also found guilty during the trial.

McGirr, of Tollerton Road, West Derby, admitted conspiracy to supply class A drugs last year.

When the verdicts were announced Kelly raged from the dock, shouting: “I’ve got two kids!”, while a man believed to be his dad was thrown out by police after an outburst.

Judge Mark Brown told jurors they had made the right decision on the “clearest evidence”.

He had Kelly, of Cranstock Close, West Derby, and Rogers, of Smithfield Walk, Tarbock Green, taken into custody ahead of sentencing next month.

Judge Brown added he considered Kelly “the boss” in the organisation.

[SOR]

It amazes me how dumb some people who commit crimes are.

I understand running the whole courier thing but if I was a drug dealer (Which I am not) my couriers wouldn't even know my name or have met me. This guy was always going to get caught because as soon as the Cops grab one of his boys they're going to talk.

[molson5]

"When the verdicts were announced Kelly raged from the dock, shouting: 'I’ve got two kids!'”

That's a good reason maybe not to deal heroin next time.

[Wolf Hawkfield no1 NZ poster]

Figured I would bump this as I just saw this on the UFC section of the bleacher report.

Former UFC fighter Paul Kelly will spend the next 13 years in prison after being convicted and sentenced for heroin trafficking in his home country of England.

Kelly last fought in the UFC in 2011 in a losing effort to Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone. Since that time, he had been competing in regional shows, with his last two bouts taking place in England.

The British lightweight was arrested last year in connection with a drug dealing ring. Kelly was accused of being the mastermind behind it all.

In mid-May, Kelly was found guilty on heroin trafficking charges and now sits in a jail cell where he will spend the next 13 years of his life.

As reported by Gary Stewart of the Liverpool Echo, Kelly was sentenced by Judge Mark Brown, who took little pity on the father of two while laying out a multitude of charges in connection with his conviction. Judge Brown stated during the sentencing hearing:

You are an individual who has traveled widely in the course of MMA and as such would have contacts abroad. It is significant that the seizures involved large amounts of import quality heroin. In my judgment you decided to supply Class A drugs when your contract with UFC was terminated. You obviously enjoyed the high life and saw selling heroin as a way to make easy money.

According to the report, Kelly made up to £100,000 a year when he was fighting in MMA, but following his UFC release in 2011, he allegedly turned to a life of crime when the money dried up.

During his time with the UFC, Kelly went 5-4 overall while earning two Fight of the Night bonuses.

At 28 years of age, Kelly will now head to prison for the next 13 years, which will all but end his fighting career, unless his sentence is overturned or he makes parole in the next few years.

The report from the Liverpool Echo did not state if Kelly's attorneys were planning on filing an appeal or seeking other legal actions to try and fight the sentencing.

[zeez]

So they're implying that Paul turned to heroin trafficking as a result of getting cut from the UFC? Well, thanks Uncle Dana!