Former Aide to Nigel Farage Implicated in Controversies
A past associate of Nigel Farage, who had a history of wire fraud conviction and was allegedly linked to an illicit cryptocurrency ATM, was captured on video alongside the far-right politician during an incident of being targeted with a milkshake.
George Cottrell, also known as ‘Posh George,’ appeared to be part of Farage’s group at the Reform Party’s campaign commencement in Essex when a bystander threw a milkshake at the former UK Independence Party (UKIP) leader. This encounter marked the second milkshake thrown at Farage.
Cottrell, appointed as an unpaid advisor to Farage in his early 20s, engaged in co-directing fundraising efforts related to Brexit for UKIP. However, his involvement took a dark turn in July 2016 when he was arrested and charged with multiple offenses, including conspiracy to commit money laundering, wire fraud, blackmail, and extortion.
An operation by the FBI exposed Cottrell’s agreement to launder a significant sum of drug trafficking proceeds monthly. He reportedly resorted to threatening to expose fake drug traffickers to the authorities as a means of extorting 130 bitcoins valued at $80,000.
While facing prosecution in the United States, Cottrell struck a plea deal, pleading guilty to one count of wire fraud, leading to the dropping of 20 other charges. His sentence of eight months ended in March 2017.
In a separate development in 2023, Montenegro’s finance minister accused Cottrell of unlawfully owning a cryptomat, a physical cryptocurrency trading outlet akin to an ATM. Allegations also emerged regarding Cottrell’s purported financial support for the political group Evropa Now Movement (PES) in Montenegro.
Despite denials from Cottrell’s legal representatives, claims by politicians from Montenegro’s ‘Movement for Change’ highlighted the illegal nature of cryptocurrency trading and cryptomat operations in the country, raising suspicions about Cottrell’s activities.
Reports revealed Cottrell’s establishment of a ‘Private family office’ in Tivat, Montenegro, in 2020, coinciding with his reported financial setback of £16 million in a local casino.
While his involvement in Farage’s recent campaign kickoff remains ambiguous, Cottrell asserts on his LinkedIn profile that he maintains collaborations with financial entities, politicians, and political advisory firms.
