Mayo man used as ‘mule’ pleads guilty to money laundering
The accused was found to be the direct beneficiary of €1,000.
A ‘money mule’ who gardaí believe was targeted by criminals as part of a money laundering operation, has been ordered to engage with the Probation Services.
Ethan O’Hora, of 7 Rath Glas, Rehins Fort, Ballina, pleaded guilty to money laundering at Ballina District Court last week.
Sgt John O’Reilly said that on Sunday, March 22, 2022, Joseph Salitzer received a text message which he wrongly believed was from Bank of Ireland.
The text said his account was about to be blocked and Mr Salitzer followed the link and entered his 365 online details.
Sgt O’Reilly said Mr Salitzer subsequently noticed money had been withdrawn from his account and reported the matter to Sgt Chawke on April 1, 2022.
The court heard that on March 28, 2022, four cash amounts from four different parties and Bank of Ireland customers, equating to a total of €3,600, was lodged into O’Hora’s Bank of Ireland account.
Sgt O’Reilly said the next day O’Hora transferred €1,000 from his account into his Revolut account.
The court heard that Bank of Ireland managed to seize €2,600 from the defendant’s account and on April 12, 2022, the financial institution closed his bank account.
Judge Fiona Lydon heard all four injured parties were reimbursed by Bank of Ireland.
Sgt O’Reilly said O’Hora made a caution statement on January 1, 2023, at Ballina Garda Station and he made admissions.
The court presenter described how an account belonging to the defendant had been used as a holding bank account.
“Criminals do that, they pick bank accounts and lodge money in to be held. Money mules is the term,” said Sgt O’Reilly, adding that O’Hora “had made admissions in relation to the transfer of €1,000 from his bank account to his Revolut account for his sole purpose and for himself and that is the charge before the court.” O’Hora has no previous convictions.
Judge Lydon said O’Hora was clearly the direct beneficiary of €1,000, however, solicitor Peter Loftus stated there was no suggestion his client had any involvement other than being the receiving party.
“There is no evidence he set up the arrangement or he had any part in the sending of the email or the text message to the party whose account the money was withdrawn from,” Mr Loftus added.
Judge Lydon also queried what the relationship was between O’Hora and the person who set up the link and scam.
Mr Loftus replied that his client was working in Sweden when the money entered his account and he did not know where it was from, and the court heard it stayed for a short period of about two hours.
“When it was not moving, he took the €1,000 and put it into his Revolut account,” the legal representative added.
O’Hora, an apprentice electrician, told Judge Lydon he realises he “should have reported it (noticing the money) at the time but he was not thinking straight”.
Mr Loftus stated that his client lost his job because of his involvement in this matter and that O’Hora’s family are currently not speaking to him, and he has moved to Letterkenny.
O’Hora told Judge Lydon he is suffering from anxiety, depression and mental illness since the incident and the issues with his family have “not helped”.
The court heard the defendant has not yet paid back the money but he is willing to do so if he is given time.
Judge Lydon requested a Probation Report on the defendant and adjourned the case until June 14.
