Student allowed bank account to be used in moneylaundering

By Jessica Magee

A teenager who allowed his bank account to be used to hold over €31,000 in laundered money has been fined €500 and ordered to be of good behaviour, in lieu of a 12-month sentence.

Ogaga Ogheneyoma was aged 17 when the money was transferred into his AIB bank account as part of an invoice redirect fraud.

He pleaded guilty on the date of his scheduled trial at Dublin Circuit Court to handling the proceeds of crime on November 19, 2018.

The student is now 22 and in his fourth year studying accounting and finance at TU Dublin in Tallaght.

He lives with his parents at Earlsfort Park, Lucan, Co Dublin and has worked part-time throughout college up until this, his final year, the court heard.

At a hearing yesterday, Judge Orla Crowe invoked Section 100 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006, whereby a fine is imposed and sentence is deferred.

Judge Crowe said Ogheneyoma was a child at the time and has got on with his life to a very significant degree since this offence.

She noted that he has no previous convictions.

Garda Damian Reilly told Karl Moran BL, prosecuting, that the case came to light when AIB notified gardaí of fraudulent activity in one of their accounts.

Gardaí got a warrant and saw that the sum of €31,842 had been transferred into Ogheneyoma’s account from a legitimate US company, Universal Forest Products.

The firm, based in Georgia, is a trading partner with a company in Ireland, and the money was diverted as part of an invoice redirect fraud.

The court heard there was no evidence that Ogheneyoma had any involvement in the fraud.

Ogheneyoma met gardaí with his mother by arrangement and said he was aware of the money.

George Burns BL, defending, said his client was paid €500 for allowing his account to be used.

Mr Buns said the case was delayed by a number of factors, including the pandemic, through no fault of his client, who has been living a pro-social life since this offence.

The court heard that Ogheneyoma plays football with Celbridge Town and has a supportive network of family and friends.

A probation report placed Ogheneyoma at low risk of reoffending and said he does not require supervision by probation services going forward.

Judge Crowe ordered Ogheneyoma not to come to garda attention and to pay a fine of €500 before the case comes for mention next May 9.

If Ogheneyoma fulfils these conditions, he will be discharged from his indictment next May 16.