George Cottrell (born 7 October 1993)[1] is a British financier and convicted felon. He was a senior advisor to Nigel Farage and formerly served as head of fundraising for the UK Independence Party (UKIP) until his arrest in the USA following the 2016 Republican National Convention.[2]
George Cottrell | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 7 October 1993 London, England |
| Education | Malvern College |
| Occupation(s) | Former political aide, financier |
| Relatives | Alexander Fermor-Hesketh, 3rd Baron Hesketh (uncle) Rupert Watson, 3rd Baron Manton (grandfather) |
Early life and family
editCottrell was born in London, England, to an aristocratic family. His father, Mark Cottrell, a businessman and landowner from Gloucestershire, attended Gordonstoun School with Prince Andrew, Duke of York.[citation needed] George Cottrell's mother, The Honourable Fiona Watson, a daughter of Rupert Watson, 3rd Baron Manton (d.2003), is a former glamour model and girlfriend of Charles III when he was Prince of Wales.[3] On 12 September 2024 it was reported that Fiona Watson had donated £500,000 to Reform UK.[4]
Cottrell's maternal uncle Alexander Fermor-Hesketh, 3rd Baron Hesketh, a former hereditary peer, was the Government Chief Whip in the House of Lords.
Cottrell was raised and educated on the private island of Mustique, before attending Malvern College, from which he was expelled for illegal gambling.[5]
Cottrell was reported to be a high-stakes poker player, once losing $20 million in one night.[6]
Career
editCottrell was listed as a director in a number of businesses from a young age, both in the UK and overseas. Starting in 2013, Cottrell assumed a number of roles at banks, including Credit Suisse, JP Morgan, and Banca Privada d'Andorra (BPA). Following the 2015 UK general election, Cottrell was appointed deputy treasurer of the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP).[7]
While head of fundraising for UKIP, Cottrell became the chief of staff to Nigel Farage, who was then UKIP leader.[8]
In May 2019, Cottrell was reportedly serving as a fundraiser for the Brexit Party.[9]
Arrest and conviction
editOn 22 July 2016, while attending the Republican National Convention with Farage, Cottrell was arrested by IRS Criminal Investigation special agents at Chicago O'Hare International. Cottrell was federally indicted on 21 counts for conspiracy to commit money laundering, wire fraud, blackmail, and extortion. Denied bail by a judge who branded Cottrell a "serious flight risk," he was detained in custody at Metropolitan Correctional Center, Chicago.[10]
Cottrell's indictment states how in 2014, he met with undercover federal agents in Las Vegas, where he conspired to launder millions of dollars' worth of drug money using offshore bank accounts. However, following a plea agreement in December 2016, prosecutors agreed to dismiss 20 counts in return for a guilty plea to a single count of wire fraud in which Cottrell admitted to explaining various ways criminal proceeds could be laundered.
In March 2017, Cottrell was sentenced and released by Judge Diane Humetewa, having served eight months in prison.[11]
References
edit- ^ "UK Companies House".
- ^ Hines, Nico (28 December 2017). "Meet 'Posh George': The Shady Money Man Tangled Up With Brexit, Russia, and Trump". The Daily Beast.
- ^ Wilson, Christopher (10 November 2013). "Prince Charles and his relationships".
- ^ Mason, Rowena; Mason (12 September 2024). "Mother of Nigel Farage's aide George Cottrell gives £500,000 to Reform". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
- ^ Cash, William (14 July 2017). "Nigel Farage's fixer and convicted fraudster, George Cottrell, on how he survived US prison". The Telegraph.
- ^ "All In! Financier Loses $20m In Night Of Poker Pain". Business Plus. 20 May 2024.
- ^ Hines, Nico (28 December 2017). "Meet 'Posh George': The Shady Money Man Tangled Up With Brexit, Russia, and Trump". The Daily Beast.
- ^ "Nigel Farage aide sentenced to eight months in prison". The Independent. 1 March 2017.
- ^ "Brexit Party fundraiser is 'Posh George', once jailed in US after money-laundering sting". The Times. 19 May 2019.
- ^ "U.K. right-wing party adviser George Cottrell, jailed in Phoenix, admits _targeting IRS agents in 'dark web' scam". azcentral.
- ^ Kirchgaessner, Stephanie (7 June 2017). "Former Farage aide gave US information in plea deal, court files show". The Guardian.