Part-time construction worker pocketed just €200 from scam that saw victim loose €5,000
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A part time construction worker received just €200 for his role in handing over his bank details to a complete stranger on social media platform Snapchat in a money laundering ruse that saw over €5,000 being fraudulently withdrawn from his victim's account.
Twenty-two-year-old John Mulvihill, Rindoon Park, Coosan, Athlone, Westmeath pleaded guilty at a sitting of Athlone District Court to money laundering on January 25 and 26 last year at Permanent TSB, Athlone, Westmeath.
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Sunday World
2 days ago
- Sunday World
Man hired to burn down warehouse for Wagner Group wanted to link ‘Kinahans' in with Russia
The Old Bailey heard how Dylan Earl had grand ambitions to 'build a link' between the IRA, the Kinahans and Russia, as he declared: 'We have direct connection to the Kremlin, we can do something big' A court has heard how a man hired by the terrorist Wagner Group to burn down a warehouse linked to Ukraine boasted about linking up the IRA and the Kinahan crime cartel with Russian agents. Leicestershire man Dylan Earl has admitted orchestrating an arson attack on the warehouse in east London last year, as well as plotting to burn down Mayfair businesses and kidnapping their Russian dissident owner. Described as the 'architect' of the scheme, the Old Bailey heard how 20-year-old Earl had grand ambitions to 'build a link' between the IRA, the Kinahans and Russia, as he declared: 'We have direct connection to the Kremlin, we can do something big.' Earl, who had been recruited by the terrorist group that was conducting a sabotage campaign on behalf of Russian intelligence, has admitted aggravated arson on behalf of the Wagner Group on the warehouse in Leyton, East London. The fire destroyed over £100,000 worth of equipment, including generators and vital satellite equipment destined for Ukraine. Jurors at the Old Bailey were shown chats between Earl, of Elmesthorpe, near Hinckley, and a Wagner Group contact identified by the handle Privet Bot, on Telegram. Dylan Earl News in 90 Seconds - 6th June 2025 The day before the arson attack, Privet Bot instructed Earl to watch the television series The Americans, about KGB agents undercover in the US, "in order to understand (the) work". The court was told how Earl allegedly roped in Jake Reeves (23) from Croydon, south London, to help recruit people to carry out the arson attack on the warehouse. Earl also revealed his plans to Ashton Evans (20) from Newport, Gwent, on Signal, Snapchat and mobile phone messages, it is alleged. Four men accused of carrying out the arson attack, Jakeem Rose (23), Ugnius Asmena (20), Nii Mensah (23) and Paul English (61) were told to live stream it to Earl so he could report back to the Russians on the success of the 'mission'. The four have denied aggravated arson relating to the warehouse fire. Jake Reeves (23) from Croydon, south London The blaze at 11.40pm on March 20 last year started with a jerry can of petrol and caused more than £1 million in damage to the premises, which was targeted because of its connection to Ukraine, with the warehouse being used to store StarLink satellite equipment and humanitarian aid bound for the war zone. However, Russia refused to pay the arsonists because the blaze wasn't up to the Wagner Group's 'standards', the court heard, as the arsonists made a series of errors, forgetting to film the attack and having to return to the scene where they were captured on CCTV. Reeves, from Croydon, South London, who has already admitted his part in the conspiracy, later complained: 'They were supposed to make it burn.. but they just ran in there.' Two days after the attack, Earl admitted he was 'waiting on payment still, apparently it'll land today but it's nowhere near the amount because they didn't burn the whole thing'. The following day, the court was told Evans had asked Earl: "Did you light it up?" before discussing the plot to burn down Hide restaurant and Hedonism wine shop in Mayfair, snatch the owner and hand him over to Russia. On April 1 2024, Earl asked Evans to delete their chats and asked if he could make connections with the IRA or the Irish Kinahan crime family. Earl suggested he wanted to "build a link" between the Kinahans and Russia, saying: "We have direct connection to the Kremlin, we can do suin (something) big." After his arrest, Evans claimed he did not take the chat seriously, having jokingly told Earl: "And this is all in Minecraft (the computer game) right?" He also claimed in a police interview that he was just stringing Earl along to get a refund for £300 of fake cocaine he had bought. Both Earl and Reeves have pleaded guilty to aggravated arson of the east London warehouse and an offence under the National Security Act. Prosecutor Duncan Penny, KC, told jurors: 'This was deliberate and calculated criminality - at the behest of foreign influence. 'In the case of these defendants at the time of the fire they may have been ignorant of that influence and the motive may have been financial - good old-fashioned greed. 'For others, however, it appears to have been both political and ideological.' The case continues.
The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Teaching assistant sent naked pictures of herself to teen on Snapchat after calling him ‘good lad' in X-rated messages
A PAEDO teaching assistant sent naked photos of herself to a teen boy on Snapchat after calling him a "good lad". Chelsey Knox also asked the schoolboy, who is aged under 16, to send pictures of his privates after she began messaging him. 4 Chelsey Knox sent X-rated photos to a teen boy Credit: Facebook The mum, 33, sent him a video of herself in the shower and shared two topless photos with him. Knox then sent a picture of herself using a sex toy to the teen, She is now facing prison after pleading guilty to engaging in sexual communication with a child. The teaching assistant also admitted two counts of causing a child to watch an image of sexual activity and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity. Read more news Sevenoaks Magistrates' Court heard she carried out the vile offences between March 24 and April 5 last year. She first started messaging the boy in February that year but the texts were not "sexual". Rajni Prashar, prosecuting, said: "She then sent a message asking him to come to her house, and she sent a picture of a bottle of alcohol and said there was a party. 'She also sent a message saying he was a good lad and she had her legs on show, but she then sent a topless photo and a video of her in the shower and she asked him to send a picture of his penis.' Most read in The Sun Knox was bailed on the condition she signs on to the sex offenders' register. The mum, from Kent, will be sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court on a date to be set. Knox previously found herself in court after she chased and attacked a woman she had followed in her car. JPs heard the victim was left with cuts to her left ear and lip, as well as severe bruising to her face. Knox was handed a suspended 24 week sentence after admitting actual bodily harm. 4 Knox began messaging the boy in February last year Credit: Instagram 4 She sent him naked photos and a video in the shower Credit: Instagram 4 Knox is now facing jail Credit: Instagram
The Irish Sun
6 days ago
- The Irish Sun
‘Thugs go after the vulnerable, I got convicted but saw no cash' says blackmailed money mule as teens targeted by gang
THOUSANDS of teenagers in Ireland have been targeted by one of the world's most violent cyber crime gangs, we can reveal. A special investigation by The Irish Sun today tells how young people — aged between 17 and 22 — have been used by the Black Axe crime gang as part of their efforts to launder €84million through Irish 6 Young people have been used by the Black Axe crime gang Credit: Garda Info 6 Funmi Abimbola was a facilitator for the gang Credit: COLLECT 6 Giuseppe Diviccaro posed as a fashion photographer in Ireland to help run a Europe-wide fraud scam Credit: COLLECT Those in the sights of the mob include people with addiction issues, individuals who are homeless and those who come from broken homes. But others include those who have to pay off drug debts, the children of millionaires and top students. They have blackmailed kids to act as money mules after obtaining intimate images of their targets. The online criminals — classified as 'master manipulators' by READ MORE IN NEWS Once interest is shown, the fraudsters outline how the money will be paid if they can have full access to the target's bank account. And that's exactly what happened to 'John', not his real name, when he agreed to act as a 'money mule' for the infamous Investigators believe the money mule was recruited by one of the gang's main 'herders' in Ireland. The top criminal has since been arrested by the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau and remains a key target under 'Operation Skein'. Most read in Irish News At present, the mob is classified by Interpol as an 'ultra violent cyber crime gang' with more than 30,000 members. 'John' spoke exclusively to The Irish Sun after he received an 18-month suspended sentence for money laundering. Inside France's brutal crypto crime wave with chopped off fingers, delivery van street kidnaps & £10million ransoms He told us: 'I was duped by these people and wish I could turn back the clock. 'I was homeless at the time and got this Snapchat message offering me €500 in exchange for my bank account details, and I thought it was easy money. 'I have never been in trouble in my life and never once thought that doing something like this was a form of money laundering. 'I was vulnerable and that's why they targeted me — and I never received any payment. 'I WAS DUPED' 'I was duped by these people and I would urge anyone not to respond to requests of this nature.' John was contacted on Snapchat and agreed to hand over his personal bank details. Once obtained, €49,500 then landed in his account. Two other young men were also targeted by the same 'herder' and laundered €14,900 in one account and €7,500 in another account. He also handed over his bank card and PIN number after he was instructed to meet one of the gang's associates in Dublin. SPENDING SPREE One week later, the cash was gone as the criminals went on a spending spree, buying designer clothes and electronic devices. But it wasn't until the following year when details of the huge cash lodgement was uncovered by Gardai. A probe was launched by investigators from the DMR South Serious Crime Unit at Sundrive Road Garda Station after they were contacted by Interpol. On that occasion, Interpol suspected that the cash had been stolen from a machinery company in Hungary using an 'Invoice Redirect' fraud. HOW SCAM OPERATES The scam operates by fraudsters cloning the emails of legitimate companies and asking the firm in Hungary to send payments to a different account in Ireland. But, after identifying the fraud, the firm supplied Interpol with the bank account details of where the money had been sent. The information was later passed to Gardai. Once Gardai received details of the bank account, they established John's identity and then analysed the account, identifying any other transactions. ADMITTED GUILT John was arrested by Garda detectives on August 8, 2023 and admitted his guilt. He later pleaded guilty to a money laundering offence and received a fully suspended 18-month sentence, on March 14 of this year. John added: 'I am now in a good place and just want to get on with my life. 'I would also have no hesitation in going into schools and telling the young people there about my own experience. 'STAY WELL AWAY' 'If young people engage with these fraudsters then it could seriously affect their future — my message is to stay well away.' Det Supt Michael Cryan confirmed money mules were an 'integral part' of the major crime gang. The senior officer said: 'Individuals need to realise that if they act as a money mule, they are interacting with vicious transnational organised criminals. 'You owe them and they control you. If the money is frozen by the bank, they have been known to demand that you pay up yourself — like drug dealers. US HAS 'HARSH SENTENCING' 'The money mules have no idea what their account will be used for, how much or where it was stolen. If stolen in the USA, they may look to extradite you there to charge you and sentencing is very harsh there. 'They also need to realise that they are helping organised crime gangs who traffic humans, who run brothels, as well as funding their lavish lifestyles. 'People who get involved in this are destroying their own futures because they could go to jail, end up with a criminal record and be prevented from getting jobs.' As part of 'Operation Skein', Gardai have identified 1,100 people connected to the Black Axe gang in Ireland. OPERATION SKEIN They have also made 565 arrests, prosecuted 300 people and cautioned 39 juveniles. Over 50 senior members of the gang have also been arrested here. Our revelations on the gang come after Innocent 'Lucky' Aigbekaen, 31, from Dundalk, Co Louth, became their latest member to be jailed here in November 2024. The conman — who used the name 'Nino Blanti' — recruited money mules and laundered €331,623 through Irish accounts. Bank worker Funmi Abimbola, 26, from Rosse Court Terrace in Lucan, Dublin, who was a facilitator for the gang, was jailed for three years in October last year. Also caged was Italian conman Giuseppe Diviccaro, 48, who was locked up in 2021 after he posed as a photographer in Ireland to launder €200,000 through Irish accounts. 6 Detective Superintendent Michael Cryan said money mules were an integral part of the crime gang Credit: Brian Lawless/PA 6 Some €84million has been laundered through Irish banks Credit: Getty 6 The mob has blackmailed kids to act as money mules Credit: Paul Sharp - Commissioned by The Sun Dublin
