“Callous criminals will often trap young and vulnerable people with threats of violence and debt bondage”
A Liverpool crime gang used vulnerable teenagers to sell drugs in Cheshire, West Mercia and Scotland. James O’Keefe, 23, controlled multiple lines from his cell at HMP Risley, roping in children to carry out risky drug-running operations on his behalf.
Kerry Russell, 39, and Ruby O’Keefe, 19, were also involved in the far-reaching drug network and the exploitation of children. All three appeared at Liverpool Crown Court today, October 10, where they all pleaded guilty to four counts of Modern Day Slavery and conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.
James O’Keefe also pleaded guilty to being concerned about the supply of Class B drugs and possession of an item without authority in prison. Officers from Merseyside’s Project Medusa, the initiative to tackle county lines drug dealing and child criminal exploitation, began an investigation into James O’Keefe in November 2023.
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Despite being in prison for previous offences, detectives established that James O’Keefe was controlling multiple drug lines in Cheshire, West Mercia and Scotland.
All three defendants had been using vulnerable teenagers to run drugs to customers, with Ruby O’Keefe and Russell also assisting James O’Keefe by travelling around the country to facilitate drug supply. Detectives found four incidents of vulnerable children who had been subject to exploitation by the trio for Class A drug supply.
Officers executed warrants at the home addresses of Ruby O’Keefe and Russell on May 2 2024. At the same time, officers produced James O’Keefe from HMP Risley. Safeguarding measures were put in place for the young people involved and they continue to receive support, police said.
James O’Keefe, of no fixed address, was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Kerry Russell, 39, of Titherington Way, Liverpool was sentenced to four years and four months in prison, and Ruby O’Keefe, 19, of Colby Close, Liverpool was sentenced to eight months imprisonment, suspended for 12.
Detective Sergeant Shaun McNee said: “Callous criminals will often trap young and vulnerable people with threats of violence and debt bondage, forcing them to transport their drugs to other parts of the country. Through our investigation, we were able to prove that these three individuals were involved in the supply of Class A drugs and using vulnerable children, as young as 16, to run these drugs for them across the country.
“Drug dealers often turn to those they can easily exploit to sell drugs on their behalf – with those most vulnerable taking all the risk. We are working hard to ensure that victims of county lines exploitation are protected from dangerous drug dealers like James O’Keefe, Ruby O’Keefe and Kerry Russell.
“I hope their significant sentences act as a warning to those who exploit children to deal drugs in Merseyside and further afield that they will not go unpunished.
“I would also like to thank the CPS, OIC Phil Thomason and all the officers involved for conducting a thorough investigation and bringing those responsible to justice.”
District Crown Prosecutor Hannah Scott, of CPS Mersey Cheshire, said “The Crown Prosecution Service’s case here was that these defendants conspired together to supply Class A drugs across the country and used children to do their dirty work for them.
“The children, aged around 16 at the time, were beaten up and threatened if they tried to get away from their abusers and the defendants threatened to smash up the homes of their relatives too.
“The children had nowhere to turn but the careful investigative work of Merseyside Police, working alongside the CPS, has got to the bottom of the vicious exploitation being carried out by these ruthless drug dealers.
“These dealers drag vulnerable children into their web of crime but the children are victims rather than perpetrators and this case has brought those truly responsible to justice.”
Anyone who has any information about County Lines drug dealing in their area or anyone who is concerned about someone who may be being exploited by these gangs can contact @CrimestoppersUK completely anonymously on 0800 555 111 or contact 101. In an emergency always contact 999.
For more information, please visit: Give information 100% anonymously about organised crime in Merseyside | Crimestoppers (crimestoppers-uk.org)
