30 year old Nigerian successful model Ben Fiberesima, skipped bail in
the UK, fled to Australia where he lived for seven years under a false
name, modeled for Calvin Klein, Tom Ford, boasted of jet set lifestyle,
wrote a self-help book, called himself a millionaire, claim
ed
he was in
the Great Gatsby and bragged about being an 11-time underground rap
battle
champion. The fugitive was arrested after police lured him to a fake
swimwear photoshoot in London. Read full story after the cut
From UK Evening Standard
A gangster who launched a successful career as a male model and
musician while on the run in Australia has been snared in an
extraordinary police sting.
Fugitive Ben Fiberesima, 30, appeared in campaigns by fashion
designers such as Tom Ford after skipping bail while facing trial on
fraud and weapons charges in London seven years ago. He also
performed as a critically-acclaimed rap artist under the name Roky
Million, releasing singles and videos downloaded by tens of thousands of
fans.
The gang member from South Kilburn was picked as one of the
first people to trial the “Google Glass” for a style magazine, and in a
self-help book published last year claimed he was “worth seven figures
by the age of 26”.
His jetset lifestyle - which he claimed also
included hanging out with supermodels and stars of Aussie soap Home and
Away - ended when Met detectives swooped last year using an elaborate
sting to detain him.
Officers from Brent’s Wanted Offenders Unit
received an anonymous tip-off that Fiberesima was back in London in
August living under a false name but were unable to locate him.
Then detectives discovered he was on the books of a respected models agency based in Covent Garden.
An
officer contacted the agency claiming to represent the fake company WOU
Photography and booked Fiberesima for a casting call to model a range
of luxury swimwear.
When he arrived for what he thought was his next assignment at the studio in Kentish Town, Fiberesima was arrested at the door.
Fiberesima
was jailed for three years and nine months after being found guilty of
two counts of theft, two counts of making false representation and
possessing an offensive weapon at Harrow Crown Court earlier this month.
He also pleaded guilty to three counts of making false representation and one count of possessing a prohibited weapon.
Fiberesima
was originally arrested in September 2008 after calling police claiming
someone was attempting to enter his flat in Christchurch Avenue,
Brondesbury, north-west London.
When officers arrived, there was
no intruder but they did find a stun gun, a can of CS gas and stolen
chequebooks belonging to a neighbour.
He was arrested and charged with fraud, theft and possession of an offensive weapon
The gang member from the South Kilburn estate was granted bail but
failed to appear at court and was subsequently discovered to have fled
the country.
Fiberesima’s Established Models biography claims:
“Raised in London Roky used his talent for rhyming to be crowned UK
Underground rap battle champion 11 times. He has travelled extensively
modelling for international brands including Calvin Klein, Nike, Tom
Ford and YSL.”
It also states that “Roky appeared in Baz Luhrman’s film, The Great
Gatsby” although the Standard was unable to find his name in the film’s
credits.
During his time on the run, Fiberesima published a
self-help book called Roky’s Power Gain 50 – Rules To Live By To Gain
Power, Money and Influence.
He said he had gone from “working
class to millionaire in 15 months”, writing: “I grew up in government
housing and have been for 80 per cent of my life. I am now worth seven
figures at age 26. I used my in depth knowledge of power to change my
fortunes.”
The last message on his Twitter feed, posted in
December last year, said: “To all: Roky’s in the 5% of rappers that can
genuinely be described as ‘real’ so as is life he’ll be away til further
notice #management.”
In one interview for an online fashion
magazine Fiberesima talks of how he started travelling the world at the
age of 23 and visited countries including France, Belgium, Spain and
Australia while he modelled for designers including Calvin Klein, Tom
Ford and Yves Saint Laurent.
He declares : “I have had ups and
downs, trials and tribulations, like everyone else” and said in his
youth he mixed with gang members but had since changed his life.
He added: “ I keep it as honest as I can.”
Detective
Inspector Pete Wallis of Brent CID said: “There is clear message here,
that we will not forget you if you offend, and we will explore all
options in tracing you and bringing you to justice.
“Mr Fiberesima
used false identities to evade capture for five years and developed a
very public persona in Australia and internationally as a rap artist and
model.
“Thankfully he is now paying for his crimes, due to the perseverance of Brent’s Wanted Offenders Unit.”
A
spokesman for Established Models said he had been on their books as Mr
Million for a few months two years ago. He said : “He was not working,
so we let him go. “
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