Courts / Dublin / Report

Man with prior money laundering conviction gets community service over €50k invoice redirection fraud

Date
2023-06-26

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Lucan

County
Dublin

Summary

Francie Stokes, 23, of Lucan, pleaded guilty to possessing €52,355 as proceeds of crime in his AIB account. The money was fraudulently transferred from a German aviation company. Stokes had a prior money‑laundering conviction for €3,000 in 2020 and a one‑month probation in 2021. AIB recovered €28,000; about €24,000 remains withdrawn. Gardaí noted multiple ATM and internet withdrawals, but CCTV showed none of the accused. Stokes was arrested on suspicion of money laundering, had no legitimate source for the €52,000, and had been receiving pandemic unemployment payments. Judge Martin Nolan, after Probation Services' assessment, sentenced Stokes to 150 hours of community service instead of 18 months' imprisonment. The sentence reflects Stokes' reckless conduct, his family responsibilities, and his prior record of money‑laundering.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Man with prior money laundering conviction gets community service over €50k invoice redirection 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
2023-06-26 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: Judge Martin Nolan previously adjourned the case to allow the Probation Services to determine whether Stokes was suitable to carry out community service. Today Judge Nolan ordered Stokes to carry out 150 hours of community service in lieu of 18 months in prison.; Judge Martin Nolan previously adjourned the case to allow the Probation Services to determine whether Stokes was suitable to carry out community service.