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'Fam, at the end of the day it's free money': member of global crime gang laundered €1m
Summary
Sodiq Jimoh (30) of Rossfield Close, Rossfield, Tallaght, Dublin 24, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to contributing to the activities of a criminal organisation and nine charges of money laundering on dates between May 2019 and August 2020. Jimoh admitted to laundering €1,000,065 from various individuals and small Irish companies. The court heard that some of the victims' money was reimbursed and some of the cash was recovered. Detective Garda Ester Devally stated that Jimoh was involved in a global investigation into invoice redirect fraud and compromised email scams, known as Operation Skean. Gardaí found suspicious activity in accounts with Bank of Ireland and Allied Irish Bank, with various lodgements totalling €26,000 into accounts linked to Jimoh over a 16-month period. Analysis of his phone revealed WhatsApp conversations with others involved in the fraud, including a comment from Jimoh stating, "Fam, at the end of the day it's free money." Jimoh was arrested and questioned multiple times, but no evidential value was gained from the interviews. Victim impact statements were submitted but not read out. Defence counsel highlighted Jimoh's background, including his early arrival in Ireland and a promising football career, and his role as a family breadwinner during the pandemic. Judge Martin Nolan acknowledged Jimoh's mitigation but stated that the wrongdoing was serious and sentenced him to five years and four months, with credit for six weeks spent on remand in custody.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: 'Fam, at the end of the day it's free money': member of global crime gang laundered €1m. Charges or matters: contributing to the activities of a criminal organisation and nine charges of money laundering on dates between May 2019 and August 2020. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- May 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
- August 2020 Hearing Or Sentence
- September 26, 2022 Incident
- 2025-03-18 Publication
Why: He noted that it was Jimoh's job to withdraw money from the bank accounts of various money mules and also to access the online banking of many of the victims in order to move cash. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: contributing to the activities of a criminal organisation and nine charges of money laundering on dates between May 2019 and August 2020 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: He acknowledged that Jimoh had "good strong mitigation" with family support, good testimonials and a lack of serious convictions but he added "the wrongdoing is serious" before he jailed Jimoh for five years and four months having given him credit for six weeks he has spent on remand in custody.
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