A money mule will be sentenced later this year after he allowed his bank account to be used to launder cash stolen from a woman through a phishing scam.
Fabio De Oliveira Monteiro (28) of Park Rise, Tullow, Co Carlow came forward to Carlow Circuit Criminal Court on a signed plea of guilty from the District Court.
He pleaded guilty to having €9,650, knowing that or believing that or being reckless as to whether it was the proceeds of crime at Bank of Ireland, Carlow Town on June 26, 2025.
Detective Garda Kieran Shields told Brian O’Shea BL, prosecuting, that the victim had money taken from her account in June 2025 after a person, purporting to be from her bank, called her while she was away on holidays and told her that somebody was trying to access her account.
She was advised to delete her banking app on her phone and she did as instructed as she believed the caller was genuine.
On return from her holiday, she became suspicious and contacted her bank to discover that €19,300 had been taken from her account.
Det Gda Shields said €9,650 of those funds were later transferred to Monteiro’s account.
The garda investigation established Monteiro’s bank account has been used and he came voluntarily to the station the following December.
He admitted he had provided his account details in return for a payment. He said he was in financial difficulties at the time due to his mother’s medical bills and a small drug debt he had run up. He said he got €400 for allowing his account to be used.
Det Gda Shields said Monteiro has nine previous convictions for road traffic offences and gardaí are satisfied that he is on the “bottom rung of the ladder” in the operation.
He agreed with Sean Rafter BL, defending, that people like his client are relied on by others and preyed upon by others higher up the chain.
He accepted that these people “use somebody desperate for cash in a hurry” and they, in turn, are usually given a small amount of cash to allow their account to be used.
Det Gda Shields further agreed that the victim was later fully compensated by her bank.
He accepted that Monteiro has since secured new employment and he agreed with a suggestion from Mr Rafter that he does not expect the defendant to come to further garda attention in the future.
Mr Rafter said his client, who has been living in Ireland for 11 years, took this opportunity to make cash quickly.
“He might not be the shrewdest man or have the best judgement,” Mr Rafter said, before he suggested that this was “a case of recklessness”
“It was a decision made without regard to the consequences rather than a decision deliberately made knowing that it will aid a criminal organisation,” Mr Rafter said.
He asked Judge Mary Morrissey to show “clemency and mercy” to his client.
Judge Morrissey remanded Monteiro on continuing bail for sentence next November.