Judge jails Kildare graduate for money laundering
Photo for illustrative purposes only
A SOFTWARE graduate from Kildare “with a bright future” was jailed for a total of 22 months this week (24 February) after being found guilty of allowing his bank account to hold over €5,000 of money defrauded from the Department of Social Protection (DSP).
Joshua Famose (24), with an address on Barrow Way, Dun Bhroin, Athy was appearing in the local dstrict court for sentencing.
He had previously pleading guilty to two counts of the fraud under the criminal justice (Money Laundering and Terrorism) Act.
The court heard how detectives from the gardaí’s specialist fraud division had uncovered a case where a number of stolen PPS numbers were used to defraud the Department of Social Protection, resulting in the loss of €5,250 from the state.
This was then accessed by the defendant on dates between 15 May and 18 May 2021 from his bank account in Athy.
“He claimed he was contacted via Snapchat telling him he would be offered a fee for allowing his bank account to be used,” said Detective Garda Giblin in his evidence.
“Has anybody been held accountable at the department yet?” asked Judge Desmond Zaidan.
“It’s still under investigation,” said the detective.
“”We are all aware of the increase of cyber-fraud, and it’s very seldom nowadays that you will see an armed robbery with balaclavas,” noted the judge.
“How can we prevent this from happening in the future?” he asked.
“People want to know because it’s people’s taxes. I live in the real world,” he added.
“My client has no previous convictions, and the first time he was contacted he was only 20,” said defending barrister Hugo Mills.
“Anything recovered?” asked the judge.
“Some of it,” conceded the detective, without specifying how much.
“Mr Famose is a software graduate in Maynooth, and has attested his desire to atone,” said Mr Mills.
“All I can say is that I’m glad he co-operated…he has a bright future in front of him, and he is willing to pay back €5,400,” revealed Mr Mills.
“He would like to be able to travel, so I’m asking the court if it would be willing to offer the Probation Act,” he said.
“The guilty plea has to be put in context; he has no previous, and was only 20 at the time,” said the judge.
“Some people are colourful, but not this colourful … you couldn’t make it up that an unknown stranger contacts Mr Famose by Snapchat and he duly obliges.
“I do not accept your instructions,” said the judge to Mr Mills.
“This man knew exactly what he was doing, and he perpetrated a fraud on the Irish State and that is unacceptable … it’s not the norm and there are victims.
“This court has got to put out a strong message.
“If you’re going to be that gullible and give your account details to a total stranger, I don’t accept that.
“Only this morning I got a text message saying ‘hi mum or dad, I lost my phone. Can you send me money?’,” shrugged the judge, alluding to a common modern fraud attempt.
“On two separate dates he did allow the proceeds of criminal activity to be lodged to his account in his bank in Athy.
“I’m going to jail him for 22 months, that’s 11 months on each of the two counts, to be served consecutively,” said the judge, before setting an appeal bond at €500.
