Courts / Dublin / Report
Romanian national who claimed Social Welfare under false name 463 times is jailed for three years
Summary
Stefan Onofrei, a 34-year-old Romanian national from Balbriggan, was sentenced to three years in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to six sample charges of theft. The charges related to the fraudulent claiming of job seeker's benefit, job seeker's allowance, supplementary welfare allowance, emergency means payment, rent property supplement allowance, and family income supplement between January 9, 2009, and February 10, 2015. Prosecution evidence indicated Onofrei used a false identity to claim social welfare payments 463 times, with the State alleging a total loss of €97,207.24, although his defense disputed the figure, suggesting it was closer to €85,000. Judge Martin Nolan described the conduct as a serious fraud committed over a protracted period, noting that Onofrei engaged in a pattern of behavior to deceive the social welfare system. While acknowledging Onofrei's cooperation with the Garda investigation and his status as a hard-working family man, the judge imposed the custodial sentence. The matter was finalized with this sentence, concluding the proceedings.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Romanian national who claimed Social Welfare under false name 463 times is jailed for three years. Charges or matters: six sample charges of theft of job seeker's benefit, job seeker's allowance, supplementary welfare allowance, emergency means payment, rent property supplement allowance and family income supplement on dates between January 9, 2009 and February 10, 2015. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- January 9, 2009 Hearing Or Sentence
- February 10, 2015 Other
- 2015-07-15 Publication
Why: He said because of this the system needs to be user friendly and this makes it easy to defraud. CNI source report
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: six sample charges of theft of job seeker's benefit, job seeker's allowance, supplementary welfare allowance, emergency means payment, rent property supplement allowance and family income supplement on dates between January 9, 2009 and February 10, 2015 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: social welfare under a false name 463 times has been jailed for three years.
Defendant
Charges: six sample charges of theft of job seeker's benefit, job seeker's allowance, supplementary welfare allowance, emergency means payment, rent property supplement allowance and family income supplement on dates between January 9, 2009 and February 10, 2015 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Places mentioned
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