Courts / Dublin / Report

Money mule to be assessed for community service over €52k invoice fraud

Date
2023-03-16

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Lucan

County
Dublin

Summary

Francie Stokes, 23, of Lucan, pleaded guilty to possessing €52,355 in his AIB account as proceeds of crime linked to an invoice redirect fraud. The money was fraudulently transferred from a German aviation company. Stokes had previously received a one‑month probation in October 2021 for laundering €3,000. He is currently on the Pandemic Unemployment Payment and has no legitimate source for the €52,000. AIB recovered €28,000; about €24,000 remains withdrawn. Gardaí found multiple ATM withdrawals, but CCTV showed none were made by Stokes. He exercised his right to silence during questioning. Judge Martin Nolan adjourned the case for ten weeks to allow Probation Services to decide if Stokes is suitable for community service. If suitable, he would be ordered to carry out 150 hours of community service within one year in lieu of an 18‑month prison term. The hearing was held on 16 March 2023.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Money mule to be assessed for community service over €52k invoice fraud. Charges or matters: possessing €52,355 as the proceeds of crime in his AIB bank account on Main Street, Lucan, Co Dublin on June 2, 2020. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

June 2, 2020 Adjournment
October 2021 Hearing Or Sentence
April 2020 Hearing Or Sentence
June 15 Incident
2023-03-16 Publication

Case subjects

Francie Stokes

Defendant

Charges: possessing €52,355 as the proceeds of crime in his AIB bank account on Main Street, Lucan, Co Dublin on June 2, 2020 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: At a hearing today, Judge Martin Nolan adjourned the case for ten weeks to allow the Probation Services determine whether Stokes is suitable to carry out community service. If suitable Judge Nolan said that he will order Stokes to carry out 150 hours of community service within the period of one year, in lieu of 18 months in prison.; At a hearing today, Judge Martin Nolan adjourned the case for ten weeks to allow the Probation Services determine whether Stokes is suitable to carry out community service.