Courts / Dublin / Report

Immigration scammer was claiming PUP, court hears

Date
2022-01-17

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced Ethan Zeitman and Levani Shavgulidze to two years' imprisonment each after both pleaded guilty to charges related to an immigration fraud organisation. Zeitman, 46, admitted to money laundering, possession of fraudulent documentation, and organising or facilitating the entry of illegal immigrants or asylum seekers between 2017 and 2019. Shavgulidze, 24, pleaded guilty to stealing €5,950 in pandemic unemployment payments, money laundering, possession of fraudulent documentation, and facilitating illegal entry between 2018 and 2020. Judge Martin Nolan described the men as "gofers" at the bottom of a hierarchy that caused a surge in Georgian nationals arriving in Ireland. The judge noted Zeitman's involvement ended over a year before his arrest when he became drug-free, while Shavgulidze had no previous convictions. Both men have been in custody since late 2020. The court heard the investigation began in 2018 following international referrals, with the accused distributing false documents via post or courier. Defence counsel highlighted Zeitman's addiction-driven involvement and Shavgulidze's lack of profit, but the judge imposed the two-year sentences, considering their foreign national status and roles in the organisation.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Immigration scammer was claiming PUP, court hears. Charges or matters: money laundering, possession of fraudulent documentation and organising or facilitating the entry into the State of an illegal immigrant or person intending to seek asylum on dates between 2017 and 2019; stealing Covid 19 pandemic unemployment payment, money-laundering, possession of fraudulent documentation and organising or facilitating the entry into the State of an illegal immigrant or person intending to seek asylum. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

November 2020 Incident
December 2020 Incident
2017 and 2020 Other
2017 and 2019 Other
2018 and 2020 Incident
2022-01-17 Publication

Why: He outlined that an end user seeking to travel but who is unable to because of visa requirements would make contact with a members of the organisation by text, WhatsApp or Facebook messenger and they would be sent a price list. CNI source report

Case subjects

Ethan Zeitman

Defendant

Charges: money laundering, possession of fraudulent documentation and organising or facilitating the entry into the State of an illegal immigrant or person intending to seek asylum on dates between 2017 and 2019; stealing Covid 19 pandemic unemployment payment, money-laundering, possession of fraudulent documentation and organising or facilitating the entry into the State of an illegal immigrant or person intending to seek asylum (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: He also took into account the men were foreign nationals and imposed a sentence of two years imprisonment on both men. He said Zeitman's involvement in the offending had ended over a year before his arrest when he became clean of drugs as he served a sentence for another offence.

Levani Shavgulidze

Defendant

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: He also took into account the men were foreign nationals and imposed a sentence of two years imprisonment on both men.