A \u201ccolonel and a major\u201d in a \u201cworldwide highly sophisticated money-laundering syndicate on a breathtaking scale\u201d have been jailed for nine years and 7\u00bd years respectively.<\/p>\n
Ejike Francis Ogbuefi (42) of Clonard Road, Crumlin, Dublin 12, and Steven Silvester (32) of the Paddocks, Morristown, Newbridge, Co Kildare, were both convicted of directing the activities of a criminal organisation following a trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court<\/a> in February.<\/p>\n Ogbuefi was also convicted of 32 counts of money laundering and seven of conspiracy to launder money. The jury also convicted Silvester of five counts of money laundering, two of attempted money laundering, four of conspiracy to launder money and one of using a false instrument.<\/p>\n Both defendants had no previous convictions here or in another jurisdiction.<\/p>\n The court heard that both men were assessed to be above mule herders and money mules in the operation, with Ogbuefi having a more active role.<\/p>\n During the sentence hearing, Judge Martin Nolan<\/a> suggested to the investigating garda<\/a> that the men were a \u201ccolonel and a major\u201d, which Det Garda Steven Kelly agreed with.<\/p>\n Imposing sentence on Friday, the judge said both men were involved in the offending and played certain roles.<\/p>\n He noted that the scheme\u2019s ambition was to \u201cget accounts to launder illicit monies\u201d which were \u201cundoubtedly the product of criminal behaviour\u201d and that third parties unknown to the court suffered as a result.<\/p>\n \u201cBoth men were reasonably experienced in how the banking system works\u201d and aware of its weaknesses which they tested, sometimes successfully, the judge said.<\/p>\n The judge said he had considered the mitigation and there was a \u201cgood chance\u201d the men would not reoffend in future, but that the court could not be certain.<\/p>\n The judge noted that money laundering is a \u201cserious problem\u201d and the court often dealt with cases of people who provided their bank details to be used in these schemes.<\/p>\n \u201cThese bank accounts are absolutely necessary for all fraud, because monies have to come to earth somewhere,\u201c the judge said, noting that the defendants\u2019 main role was to procure bank accounts so that money could be sent to others who profited.<\/p>\n He imposed on Ogbuefi a sentence of nine years and imposed a 7\u00bd year sentence on Silvester, whom he considered to be at a lower level.<\/p>\n Kelly told Seoirse \u00d3 D\u00fanlaing, prosecuting, that the Garda investigation looked at various bank accounts, transactions and online communications.<\/p>\n