Once living the high life in Dubai’s luxury penthouses, Jerome Samuels is now penniless and behind bars. The former drug dealer, who raked in over £89,000 by supplying heroin and cocaine, was recently ordered to pay back a mere £5—yet he can’t even afford that! This comes after a dramatic turn of events when Samuels was stopped by police in Newport, leading to the discovery of cash and drugs worth nearly £50,000.
At 31, Samuels had already admitted to two counts of possession with intent to supply Class A drugs. His once lavish lifestyle, filled with stays in high-end hotels, came crashing down as he sobbed in court during his sentencing.
Judge Celia Hughes highlighted that Samuels, a ‘high-level and wholesale supplier,’ had indulged in luxury but was fully aware of the risks involved in dealing drugs. Now, he’s serving a 56-month prison sentence, with an additional week if he fails to pay the £5 ordered under the Proceeds of Crime Act. It’s a stark reminder of the fleeting nature of a life built on crime.