Dublin Man Jailed for Role as ‘Money Mule’ in €300,000+ International Laundering Scheme

Dublin, Ireland — A 37-year-old man has been sentenced to one year in prison for his role as a “money mule” in a wider money laundering network after allowing his personal bank accounts to be used to facilitate the movement of tens of thousands of euros in criminal proceeds.

Ifeanyichukwu Nwaneri, of Donore Avenue, Dublin 8, was convicted by a jury at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court earlier this year on four counts of money laundering occurring between February and October 2017. Nwaneri, who had no previous convictions, pleaded not guilty but was found guilty following trial.

Gardaí investigating the case interviewed Nwaneri, who admitted ownership of the accounts but claimed he had handed control of them to another individual. That individual allegedly told Nwaneri he needed the accounts to pay for his brother’s education. At the time, Nwaneri was a student of accounting and finance.

Judge Elva Duffy, while noting Nwaneri’s right to a trial, said his background in finance should have provided him with some understanding of the illegality of the transactions. She pointed out that Nwaneri continued to permit his accounts to be used even after suspicious transactions led to one account being frozen by the bank.

“In excess of €34,000 was initially lodged — an amount that should have prompted serious concern,” Judge Duffy said. “Yet he proceeded to facilitate further lodgements, opening a new account after the first was frozen.”

Nwaneri received a three-year sentence, with the final two years suspended under strict conditions.

The court also heard that Nwaneri was recruited by 31-year-old Innocent Aigbekaen of Mary Street North, Dundalk — described as the “mule herder” behind the laundering operation. Aigbekaen previously pleaded guilty to laundering sums of €75,816 and €60,989 during an 18-month period in which more than €331,000 was processed through various accounts.

In sentencing Aigbekaen earlier, Judge Pauline Codd imposed a four-year term with three years suspended, noting that he had used multiple individuals, including his wife and co-workers, to launder illicit proceeds from fraudulent schemes.

Prosecuting counsel Garrett McCormack BL outlined that Nwaneri allowed a total of nearly €70,000 to be moved through two of his bank accounts. Withdrawals of €10,000 each were made over three consecutive days from his AIB account, which was eventually frozen. A subsequent account with Permanent TSB was then used for further lodgements. Much of the money was later funneled into what was described in court as a “high-volume account,” which reportedly moved approximately €4.2 million through rapid international transactions.

The case highlights the increasing use of individuals as conduits in sophisticated laundering schemes, and the courts have reiterated the accountability of such actors, regardless of their level of involvement.