Two men jailed for directing criminal organisation and laundering money

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Two men convicted of directing a criminal organisation have been jailed for nine years and seven and a half years. Ejike Francis Ogbuefi, 42, received nine years, while Steven Silvester, 32, received seven and a half years. The court heard they were assessed as being above money mules and mule herders, with Ogbuefi having the more active role.

A jury convicted both men after a trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Ogbuefi was also convicted of 32 counts of money laundering and seven counts of conspiracy to launder money. Silvester was convicted of five counts of money laundering, two attempted money laundering counts, four counts of conspiracy to launder money and one count of using a false instrument. The court heard the scheme moved more than €6 million through accounts and involved scams including romance fraud and smishing.

Judge Martin Nolan said the men were involved in the offending and played distinct roles. He considered Silvester to have been at a lower level and said there was a good chance the men would not reoffend, though the court could not be certain. Both had no previous convictions in Ireland or elsewhere.