Michael Michael

{{Short description|British supergrass (born 1957)}}

{{EngvarB|date=June 2017}}

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{{For|the Australian mayor|Mick Michael}}

Michael Michael (born 12 November 1957){{cite web|url=http://search.findmypast.co.uk/results/world-records/england-and-wales-births-1837-2006?lastname=+michael&eventyear=1957&eventyear_offset=0&mothersmaidenname=+%09konstondinou+|title=findmypast.co.uk|website=search.findmypast.co.uk}} is the ex-boss of a criminal empire called the Organisation which was involved in drug smuggling, prostitution and money laundering. Following his arrest, Michael turned supergrass/police informer, with his evidence leading to 34 people being jailed for a combined 170 years, and the dismantling of 26 different drug syndicates.

Among people he informed on were his wife Lynn, given a 24-month prison sentence suspended for two years for her role as a cash courier; and Janice Marlborough, his business lieutenant who ran his string of brothels. Michael's evidence led to drugs worth £49m being recovered from a distribution network that is thought to have smuggled more than 110 kg (250lb) of cocaine and 19 tonnes of cannabis into Britain.{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1365696/Supergrass-is-jailed-over-132m-drugs-ring.html|title='Supergrass' is jailed over £132m drugs ring|first=By John Steele, Crime|last=Correspondent|publisher=}}

Information about Michael's work as an informer remained secret until December 2001, when a judge at Woolwich Crown Court sentenced him to six years in jail. Reporting restrictions that had been in place for three years were lifted.{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2001/dec/19/drugsandalcohol.nickhopkins | location=London | work=The Guardian | first=Nick | last=Hopkins | title=Gangster supergrass jailed | date=19 December 2001}} Michael had admitted one count of conspiracy to import cocaine, a similar charge involving cannabis, and three conspiracies to launder the proceeds. He has also pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm. Michael, who lived in Radlett, Hertfordshire, is thought to have been given a new identity under the terms of the witness protection programme.

Born into a Greek-Cypriot family in Birmingham in the English Midlands, Michael's birth name was Constantine Michael Michael, but he decided to drop the use of the forename Constantine in adulthood.