Man who made nearly €350k selling drugs from him family home jailed for six years

By Sonya McLean

A man who made almost €350,000 selling drugs from the apartment he shared with his wife and two young children has been jailed for six years.

Diego Dos Santos Carvalho (33) of Goldsmith Street, Phibsborough, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to having €80,165 worth of cannabis and being in possession of cash knowing it to be the proceeds of crime at his home on March 11, 2023.

The cash, €341,000, was found in a shoebox hidden behind a kickboard underneath a wardrobe in a small bedroom that was being used as an office in the apartment.

Carvalho also admitted to possession of a smaller amount of the drug, €3,933 worth of cannabis, which was found in his vehicle on the same day.

Judge Elva Duffy said Carvahlo accepts that he was dealing drugs and was doing so “from a small bedroom in an apartment”.

She said this was a drug dealing business “being carried out in the family home in the presence of his very young children.”

Judge Duffy accepted that Carvahlo co-operated with the garda investigation, telling officers where they could find the drugs and admitting that the money came from selling drugs.

She further accepted that he had no previous convictions and had been working in Ireland from the time he arrived here, 10 years previously, from his native Brazil.

“He realises the consequences of his actions have put his young family in a difficult situation,” Judge Duffy said.

She set a headline sentence of eight years before imposing a sentence of six years for the drug offence and a concurrent term of four years for the money laundering.

Shane O’Callaghan BL, prosecuting, told the court that Carvalho co-operated with the garda search and showed officers where to find the drugs. The money was found in a shoebox behind the kickboard underneath a wardrobe. The drugs were found in individual street deals.

Mr O’Callaghan said Carvalho took responsibility for the drugs in an attempt to exonerate his wife.

Garrett Casey BL, defending, submitted that his client is “deeply ashamed to be before the courts today” and knows he is “paying a high price” for his mistakes.

He acknowledged it was a very serious case when Judge Duffy commented that it was “a very profitable business” his client was engaged in.

Mr Casey asked the court to take into account his client’s “considerable co-operation” with the investigation and his remorse for his involvement.