Courts / Dublin / Report
Crime gang's 'budgie' is jailed over €1.5m money laundering operation
Summary
Calin Scintei, aged 28, was sentenced to four and a half years' imprisonment by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for his role in a €1.5 million money‑laundering scheme run by a Romanian organised‑crime gang. He pleaded guilty to 25 charges covering the period August 2018 to January 2020, including participation in organised crime, fraud, criminal damage, theft and possession of the proceeds of crime. Scintei helped defraud Tesco of €12,400 through a gift‑card scam and caused €18,000 of damage to AIB ATMs while stealing €7,690 in cash. He also set up 27 bank accounts with false documents and five fake companies, laundering about €780,000. The court noted he was paid a modest reward and was not a master criminal, but a busy participant in the gang's operations. The judge, Martin Nolan, considered mitigating factors before imposing the sentence. The case involved 12 prior convictions for theft and fraud.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Crime gang's 'budgie' is jailed over €1.5m money laundering operation. Charges or matters: 25 charges, including participating in organised crime, fraud offences, criminal damage, theft and possessing the proceeds of crime on dates between August 2018 and January 2020. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- August 2018 Incident
- January 2020 Incident
- February 2020 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2021-05-10 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: 25 charges, including participating in organised crime, fraud offences, criminal damage, theft and possessing the proceeds of crime on dates between August 2018 and January 2020 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Judge Nolan handed down a four-and-a-half year sentence, noting that but for mitigating factors, he would have considered a headline sentence of eight to nine years, given the nature of the crimes involved.
Places mentioned
Topics
Related court reports
- Judge rejects Gill's arguments against extradition for Robbie Lawlor murder
- Sligo man Barry Young wanted in NI for gangland murder of Robbie Lawlor
- Court hears of 'thuggish' attack on bus passenger who objected to social distancing breaches
- Robbie Lawlor murder accused argues UK trial would breach his rights
- Gill has CAB liability of €860k, bail application told
- Gill's lawyers served with documents covering 'every interaction' with State, court hears
If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.
Email a correction request