A once-promising footballer whose career “fell by the wayside” was detained at Manchester Airport after deciding to pursue a different professional path. Sean Calvert was a young midfielder on Tranmere Rovers’ books.
However, the 25-year-old was eventually identified as EncroChat user “Sound Dill” and found to be sourcing kilo amounts of heroin, cocaine, and cannabis over the encrypted messaging network. These substances were then divided into smaller quantities for sale on the streets
Calvert appeared in Liverpool Crown Court by videolink yesterday (September 18) after his offences were discovered, according to the Liverpool Echo. Calvert adopted the moniker “SoundDill” after his connections nicknamed him “Calv” after EncroChat was infiltrated by law enforcement agents in 2020, according to the court.
Prosecutor Nicola Daley told how Calvert, of Fairclough Road in Huyton, also provided the residences and birth dates of close family members and mentioned his time playing for AFC Liverpool and in China. Meanwhile, the account was used to send a snapshot of a hand, which allowed scientists to identify him using his fingerprints.
Prosecutor Nicola Daley told how Calvert, of Fairclough Road in Huyton, also disclosed the ad.He had 96 additional handles “covering a broad geographical reach” on his device and had communicated with 41 of them over the three-month period of data obtained by the attack. Calvert was discovered to have “worked alongside” fellow user “EmuVest” in obtaining kilogramme quantities of class A narcotics, which were subsequently broken down into smaller amounts and sold on the street using graft phones controlled on their behalf by others.
This allowed them to make roughly £5,000 per kilogramme of profit, while he pointed out that they might “make more money if they ran the phone lines themselves.” His conversations revealed that he was involved in the distribution of 23kg of cocaine, 3kg of heroin, and 110kg of cannabis, as well as the handling of £220,150 in dirty money. Calvert was detained on July 18, this year, at Manchester Airport.
At the time, he was discovered to be in possession of a Google phone with the programme “VLHAD” loaded on it, which Ms Daley described as “another encrypted platform, similar to EncroChat.” The defendant had already been convicted of violence and a public order violation in 2020, for which he was punished by magistrates.
Calvert came via Tranmere’s development system, where he was regarded as a “fluent ball-playing midfielder with an eye for goal,” and later played for Welsh second-tier team Flint Town United. Meanwhile, Michael Scholes, the defence attorney, mentioned his client had previously trained “young, underprivileged children in Inner Mongolia.”
“Clearly, this is a young man who has jumped in at the deep end,” he continued. He is fully aware of what fate has in store for him. It is heartbreaking to watch a young man who was clearly not just well thought of by others, but also a young man with family obligations and an extraordinarily gifted amateur football player who intended to pursue a professional career.
“For all those who appear in the press earning huge sums of money when exported to Saudi Arabia, there are those who fall by the wayside. Mr Calvert is one of those who fell by the wayside, but he is a committed footballer who was seduced to some extent by others who were more knowledgeable.”
“He makes no attempt to imply that he was subjected to undue pressure.” He assumed it was simple money. He was made aware of the game. EncroChat’s selling point was that “you will be invincible, no one will catch you.” If there was ever a failed advertising slogan, it was that one.
“He is adamant that this will be his one and only appearance before the courts, albeit in very serious circumstances.” He is adamant about learning his lesson. He is clearly a fit, capable, and intellectual young guy. This is not a large-scale, wholesale supply operation. It is dividing the amounts for street trading.
“It’s not appealing, but you’re not dealing with a hypermarket or even a large supermarket.” However, it is much larger than a small store. The defendant’s references speak well of him. He is the cause of his own misery, but he may have been swayed by the potential of what others gave him, of easy money, without offering a thorough and mature appraisal of what was truly at stake.”
Calvert guilty to conspiring to distribute heroin, cocaine, and cannabis, as well as conspiring to launder money. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison after appearing via video connection at HMP Altcourse.
“It is very sad to see someone of your potential finding yourself in this position,” Judge Garrett Byrne remarked before sentencing. References speak well of you and express your amazement at finding yourself in the position that you occupy. You were heavily involved in the distribution of these medicines. I’m not going to educate you on the societal harm that these substances create.”
