'Colonel and a major' of a global money laundering ring jailed

By Eimear Dodd

A “colonel and a major” in a “worldwide highly sophisticated money laundering syndicate on a breathtaking scale” have been jailed for nine years and seven-and-a-half years respectively.

Ejike Francis Ogubefi (42) of Clonard Road, Crumlin, Dublin 12 and Steven Silvester (32) of The Paddocks, Morristown, Newbridge, Co. Kildare, were both convicted of directing the activities of a criminal organisation following a trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in February.

Ogubefi was also convicted of 32 counts of money laundering and seven of conspiracy to money launder.

The jury also convicted Silvester of five counts of money laundering, two of attempted money laundering, four of conspiracy to money launder and one of using a false instrument.

Both defendants have no previous convictions here or in another jurisdiction.

The court heard that both men are assessed to be above mule herders and money mules in the operation, with Ogubefi having a more active role.

During the sentence hearing, Judge Martin Nolan suggested to the investigating garda that the men were a “colonel and a major”, which Detective Garda Steven Kelly agreed with.

Imposing the sentence on Friday, Judge Nolan said both men were involved in the offending and played certain roles.

He noted that the scheme’s ambition was to “get accounts to launder illicit monies” which were “undoubtedly the product of criminal behaviour” and that third parties unknown to the court suffered as a result

“Both men were reasonably experienced in how the banking system works” and aware of its weaknesses, which they tested, sometimes successfully, the judge said.

The judge said he had considered the mitigation and there was a “good chance” the men would not re-offend in future, but that the court could not be certain.

Judge Nolan noted that money laundering is a “serious problem” and the court often dealt with cases of people who provided their bank details to be used in these schemes.

“These bank accounts are necessary for all fraud, because monies have to come to earth somewhere,“ the judge said, noting that the defendants’ main role was to procure bank accounts so that money could be sent to others who profited.

He handed Ogubefi a sentence of nine years and imposed a seven-and-a-half-year sentence on Silvester, whom he considered to be at a lower level.

The judge said this type of money laundering is prevalent and hard to detect, and that deterrence had to be a factor in sentencing. He also directed the men to get credit for any time served on this matter alone.