Twelve charged over iTunes scam

20 August 2010 Last updated at 10:32 ET

Twelve people are to face court accused of using stolen credit cards to buy their own songs on iTunes, police said.

A gang is alleged to have created about 20 songs and uploaded them to be sold on the iTunes and Amazon online sites.

They are alleged to have used stolen or cloned credit cards to buy songs worth �469,000 and cream off the royalties.

Raids took place in London, Birmingham, Wolverhampton and Kent. Twelve people are due at City of Westminster Magistrates Court on 15 September.

The suspects were questioned by members of Scotland Yards e-crime unit after the raids.

FBI assistance

The move followed a joint investigation with the FBI into claims that an international criminal gang targeted the two online music stores.

Eight men will appear at City of Westminster Magistrates Court charged with conspiracy to defraud.

They are:

• Denver White, 24, a care worker, of Helming Drive, Wolverhampton
• Rajan Aheer, 20, a librarian, of Wellington Road, Wolverhampton
• Craig Anderson, 23, unemployed, of Edwin Road, Dartford, Kent
• Arran Jassi, 20, a postal worker, of Denmore Gardens, Wolverhampton
• Sandeep Aheer, 22, unemployed, of Wellington Road, Wolverhampton
• Colton Johnson, 19, unemployed, of Deansfield Road, Wolverhampton
• Lamar Johnson, 19, of Birmingham; and James Batchelor, 27, a teacher, of Stone Hill Road, Derby

Four more suspects will appear alongside them accused of money laundering.

They are:

• Siobhan Clarke, 23, a hairdresser, of Limes Avenue, Carshalton, Surrey
• Sheahan Steele, 41, a drugs counsellor, of Pakfield Walk, Aston, Birmingham
• Matthew Clarke, 31, unemployed, of Cross Farm Road, Birmingham
• Leon Miles, 19, unemployed, of Brooklands Parade, Wolverhampton

All are currently on bail.

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