Seven individuals connected with Penygroes, Gwynedd-based Express Motors have denied conspiring to commit fraud at Caernarfon Crown Court, the Daily Post reported.
During the 11-minute hearing the men spoke only to confirm their names and to enter their pleas.
The group includes the owner of Express Motors, Eric Wyn Jones, 77, who until last weekend operated a network of services in Gwynedd, Anglesey and Conwy, along with his three sons Ian (52), Keith (50) and Kevin (54).
Eric Wyn Jones and his sons denied a charge of conspiring to commit fraud by false representation. They each also denied an allegation that between June 13, 2012 and September 11, 2014, they conspired to conceal money by failing to account for all cash takings as business income, failing to pay any taxes due on the cash takings, and paying the takings into personal bank accounts without declaring this as income.
Ian Jones also denied a charge of possessing counterfeit currency, valued at £840, intending to pass it as genuine on July 30, 2014.
Three other men – Aled Wyn Davies (41), Michael Munson (51) and Rheinallt Williams (44) also denied a charge of conspiracy.
The seven will face trial, which is likely to last for six weeks due to the number of defendants, at Caernarfon on September 3.
Adjourning for trial, Judge Huw Rees told the men: “It may seem a long way away, but your trial date on September 3 is the first available. It will be here in Caernarfon.”
The judge extended the bail of each of the defendants until that date.
