Courts / Dublin / Report

Jail for fraudster who made €84k in social welfare claims

Summary

Marius Cristea, 56, was sentenced to 20 months in jail for fraudulently claiming €84,099 in jobseeker's allowance over seven years. He worked at a golf club under a false identity while claiming benefits under his own name from 2013 to 2020. Cristea pleaded guilty to eight counts of social welfare fraud at Dodsboro post office between December 2013 and March 2020 and one count of producing a false instrument at Naas Golf Club on 14 January 2019. Garda Anna Masterson explained that after his business failed during the recession, he assumed the identity of a former employee to work at the club and continued to claim benefits. He received cash in hand and claimed an additional €11,000 until March 2020. He has repaid €3,482 to date. Cristea has no prior convictions in Ireland but has historic convictions in Romania.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Jail for fraudster who made €84k in social welfare claims. Charges or matters: eight sample counts of social welfare fraud at Dodsboro post office in Lucan between December 2013 and March 2020 and one count of producing a false instrument at Naas Golf Club on January 14, 2019. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• December 2013 Hearing Or Sentence
• March 2020 Hearing Or Sentence
• January 14, 2019 Other
• 2013 and 2020 Other
• 2022-07-12 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Fraud Stage Sentence

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Read the original CNI report