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'Utter desperation' - American working mom jailed for smuggling cannabis into Dublin
Summary
Hellasha Tingman (49), a single mother from New York, was sentenced to three years in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to having cannabis for sale or supply at Dublin Airport on July 6, 2025. Judge Orla Crowe imposed the sentence, backdating it to the date Tingman first entered custody. The court accepted that Tingman acted out of financial desperation to address rent arrears and an eviction notice in the US, having been promised €2,000 for the transport. She was stopped by customs with just over 20 kg of cannabis, valued at approximately €434,760. Although the judge acknowledged exceptional circumstances allowing a departure from the mandatory minimum term of ten years, she noted that Tingman deliberately took the risk. Separately, her son, Shawndell Gaston (31), was jailed for four years by Judge Martin Nolan last week after pleading guilty to importing the same cannabis at Dublin Airport on the same date. Both defendants admitted their respective charges. Tingman has no previous convictions and is currently an enhanced prisoner.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: 'Utter desperation' - American working mom jailed for smuggling cannabis into Dublin. Charges or matters: having the cannabis for sale or supply at Dublin Airport on July 6, 2025; importing the cannabis at Dublin Airport on the same date. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- July 6, 2025 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2026-03-04 Publication
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: having the cannabis for sale or supply at Dublin Airport on July 6, 2025; importing the cannabis at Dublin Airport on the same date (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Last week Tingman's son, Shawndell Gaston (31) was jailed for four years by Judge Martin Nolan after he pleaded guilty to importing the cannabis at Dublin Airport on the same date.
Convicted Person
Charges: importing the cannabis at Dublin Airport on the same date (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Shawndell Gaston (31) was jailed for four years by Judge Martin Nolan after he pleaded guilty to importing the cannabis at Dublin Airport on the same date.
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