Latest news with #Andrei
The Journal
14-05-2025
- The Journal
Judge gives gardaí 10 weeks to prepare evidence in €14m 'darknet' crypto case
A JUDGE HAS granted gardaí 10 weeks to complete the book of evidence for the trial of a Dublin man accused of aiding a 'darknet' criminal organisation to launder €14m in cryptocurrency. Kevin Daniel Andrei, 24, of Drynam Avenue, Swords, was charged in August with three counts of possessing close to €600,000 in crime earnings under section seven of the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering & Terrorist Financing). It follows a Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau (GNCCB) probe. Last week, Andrei was further charged with two extra offences: money laundering involving €13,745,756 proceeds of criminal conduct and facilitating 'darknet market' organised crime. Detective Ciaran Byrne said the Director of Public Prosecutions had also directed trial on indictment. He has been granted bail and appeared again at Dublin District Court today when defence solicitor Kate McGhee consented to a prosecution request for an adjournment. Advertisement Judge Kelly ordered the accused to appear again on 25 July to be served with the book of evidence and sent forward for trial to a higher court. He has yet to indicate a plea. In the original three charges, he was accused of 'concealing and disguising the true nature and source of 65 Wirex transactions' totalling €22,049 between 3 March 2021 and 5 September 2022, at various locations. According to another charge, between 26 February 2021 and 26 February 2024, he engaged in 'concealing and disguising the true nature and source of 1,822 Revolut transactions that were the proceeds of criminal conduct,' valued at €227,429. The third claims he disguised the true nature and source of 422 separate Binance transactions worth €341,959 between 21 March 2021 and 20 December 2023 at various places in Ireland. He has surrendered his passport and has to sign on three days a week at his local garda station. He must not apply for a replacement passport or new travel documents, and has to reside at his current address, and always be contactable. Andrei has also been warned 'not to carry out any cryptocurrency transactions' or comment about the case on public forums, including social media.
The Irish Sun
07-05-2025
- The Irish Sun
Dubliner, 24, set for trial accused of helping ‘darknet market' gang launder €14m in cryptocurrency criminal proceeds
A DUBLIN man is to stand trial accused of aiding a 'darknet' criminal organisation in laundering €14m in cryptocurrency crime proceeds. Kevin Daniel Andrei, 24, of Drynam Avenue, Advertisement It follows a Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau (GNCCB) probe. In January, a judge set today as the deadline for the investigation team to obtain directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions. Mr Andrei, who had been on bail, appeared before Judge Miriam Walsh at Cloverhill District Court. He was charged with two extra offences: Advertisement Read more in News Detective Ciaran Byrne said the DPP had also directed trial on indictment. Mr Andrei was briefly remanded in custody because the District Court can't grant bail for the organised crime-related charge. Defence solicitor Kate McGhee moved an immediate application in the Cloverhill High Court bail list. There was no Advertisement Most read in Irish News Prosecutors must complete a book of evidence and serve it on him before he can be returned to the Circuit Court for trial. He has yet to indicate a plea. In the original three charges, he was accused of 'concealing and disguising the true nature and source of 65 Wirex transactions' totalling €22,049 between March 3, 2021, and September 5, 2022, at various locations. According to another charge, between February 26, 2021, and February 26, 2024, he engaged in 'concealing and disguising the true nature and source of 1,822 Advertisement The third claims he disguised the true nature and source of 422 separate Binance transactions worth €341,959 between March 21, 2021, and December 20, 2023, at various places in Ireland. He has surrendered his passport, has to sign on three days a week at his local garda station, not to apply for a replacement passport or new travel documents, reside at his current address, and always be contactable. Mr Andrei has also been warned 'not to carry out any cryptocurrency transactions' or comment about the case on public forums, including 1 Kevin Daniel Andrei was charged in August with three counts of possessing close to €600,000 in crime earnings Credit: Advertisement
The Irish Sun
04-05-2025
- The Irish Sun
Urgent search for missing man who vanished from Kildare home as family and gardai ‘concerned for well-being'
GARDAI have launched an urgent plea for the public's help - in a bid to find a man who went missing in County Kildare. Andrei Puflea was reported missing from his home in Leixlip, Co. 3 Andrei Puflea is missing from his home in Kildare Credit: Garda Info 3 Gardai are appealing for information Credit: Garda Info The 30-year-old is described as being 5' 10 with a heavy build. Andrei has black hair and brown eyes. It's not known what Andrei was wearing at the time he went Cops and his family are both 'concerned for his well-being'. READ MORE IN NEWS A garda spokesperson said: 'Gardai are seeking the public's assistance in tracing the whereabouts of Andrei Puflea, 30, who is reported missing from his home in Leixlip, Co. Kildare since earlier today, Saturday 3rd May 2025. 'Andrei is described as being approximately 5 foot 10 inches in height, with a heavy build, black hair and brown eyes. 'It is not known what Andrei was wearing at the time. Most read in The Irish Sun 'Gardai and Andrei's family are concerned for his well-being. 'Anyone with information on Andrei's whereabouts is asked to contact Leixlip Garda Station on (01) 6667800, the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.' Secret Garda spy truck catches 100 drivers for bad behaviour behind wheel on bust Irish roads amid 'real risk' alert Separately, gardai are also seeking the public's assistance in tracing the whereabouts of a man who has been missing for weeks. James Aherne was reported missing from his home in Dublin 8 on March 31, 2025. The 53-year-old man is described as being approximately six foot in height and of slim build. He has closely shaved mousey brown hair and brown eyes. James was last seen at Grand Canal Place in Dublin 8. When last seen, he was wearing a black and green jacket, black trousers and black and white runners. He was also carrying a blue backpack. James' family and gardai are both concerned for his well-being. Cops are asking anyone with information on Jame's whereabouts to make contact with them. A garda spokesperson said: 'Anyone with information on James whereabouts is asked to contact Kilmainham Garda Station on 01 666 9700, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.' 3 James Aherne was also reported missing at the end of March Credit: Garda Info
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
A Move to Moldova and Affair Drama! '90 Day Diaries' Season 6, Episode 5 Recap: Libby, Andrei and More
90 Day Diaries season 6, episode 5 was filled with big decisions for members of the 90 Day Fiancé universe, from couples making international moves to discussing the possibility of expanding their family. Of course, it wouldn't be 90 Day Fiancé without a little drama, as one couple struggled with accusations of infidelity. In Touch shares everything that went down in the April 28, 2025, episode of the spinoff series. During episode 5, Elizabeth 'Libby' Castravet (née Potthast) and Andrei Castravet, who first appeared on 90 Day Fiancé season 5, decided to move their family back to Andrei's native Moldova. 'Recently, the past few months, Andrei has really been pushing for us to move back to Moldova, where he's from originally. I wasn't really excited about the idea initially, but now I have agreed to the move,' Libby explained, although she admitted that she was hesitant to leave her life and family in the U.S. behind. Andrei feared that Libby would change her mind after telling her family about their decision, but she met with them to share the big news. 'I've grown apart from my family recently due to how they feel about my husband, but we have been making strides and I'm just hoping that it won't ruin the progress that we've already made,' she said. Libby met with her dad, Chuck Potthast, and sister Becky Lichtwerch (née Potthast), who were both shocked when they heard about the move. 'It's not what she wants to do,' Becky said, calling it 'bulls--t.' She added, 'She's brainwashed by his desire to move to another country.' However, Libby said they had already made up their minds and would be moving. Chuck said he would support them, while Becky said she was 'always here' for Libby. Libby and Andrei told their kids, Winston and Elle, about the move one week later. 90 Day Diaries caught up with 90 Day Fiancé season 3 couple Loren Brovarnik (née Goldstone) and Alexei Brovarnik while their sons, Shai and Asher, were getting haircuts. It was Asher's third birthday and the time to get his first-ever haircut, per Jewish tradition. The couple didn't do the tradition with Shai, so they decided to get haircuts for both boys at the same time. One week later, it was time to prepare for their daughter Ariel's second birthday. Loren admitted to her mom that she didn't know if she wanted this to be their last second birthday party and questioned if she and Alexei should have another child. 'I don't know if I'm done,' she admitted. The next day, Loren told her husband, "We're very blessed that I just feel like, do we go for one more baby?" Alexei replied, 'No, I don't know. I don't think we can do more kids.' He also brought up the medical complications that Loren experienced during her pregnancy with Ariel, as her uterus was almost ruptured at the time. 'Do you want me to get a doctor and to get checked if you can have another baby safely?' Alexei asked. The couple ultimately agreed to get checked out. 'I don't know what the future holds, but right now we're just going to celebrate Ari's second birthday and appreciate the family we have,' Loren said at Ariel's birthday party. 90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days star Veronica Rodriguez revealed on 90 Day Diaries that she's enjoying the single life following her split from Jamal Menzies. She and her daughter, Chloe, were preparing to go to the Florida Keys together and discussed the big changes that were about to happen in their lives. 'I'm not currently dating. I'm not currently trying to date. I'm really just focusing my energy and my attention on Chloe. She's about to go off to college. She's going to be a senior next year, and then I'm going to be an empty nester,' Veronica explained. Veronica asked her daughter, "So do you think you and your boyfriend are going to stay together when you go to college?" Though Chloe said she thought they would, Veronica admitted that it seemed like a 'horrible idea.' She also warned her daughter not to get pregnant. Meanwhile, Chloe feared that she wouldn't be around to protect her mom from a bad relationship. "I think if I go off to college, you're going to find one of these rascally little North Carolinian boys and I won't be able to save you,' Chloe said. "Being in a committed relationship with yourself is the best thing that you can do for you, and I love that for you." However, it seems Veronica has since found someone new. In January 2025, Veronica shared photos on Instagram of herself kissing a mystery man, and a source exclusively identified him to In Touch as a 37-year-old Charlotte, North Carolina, man named Seth. He works in the tech space as a software developer, according to the insider. '[They] met on a dating app in 2021 while [her] foot was broken and dated briefly before parting ways,' the source shared. '[They] stayed in touch over the years and reconnected last year and realized [they] were both in a very different place and decided to pursue a relationship.' 90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days season 3 couple Rebecca Hakimi (née Parrott) revealed on 90 Day Diaries that her marriage to Zied Hakimi has struggled ever since they discovered that they would not be able to have any more children. She explained that she was suspicious of Zied when he claimed that he was going to hang out with a male friend, so she and her daughter-in-law followed him and 'found him hanging out with a woman.' Zied claimed that the woman was his friend's wife, but Rebecca struggled to trust him and asked to see his phone. She didn't find anything, and Zied promised that he never cheated on her. He told her, "Don't do it again next time. It's not going to be good if you follow me." The following day, Rebecca explained that she and Zied talked for a bit, and he reached out to his friend to ask about having a double date with him and his wife. This gave Rebecca a chance to ask the woman, Kristen, what really happened. Kristen tells her, 'I was out with friends and he told me to come by. So, when I came over, he was going to go smoke, and he's like, he's in the bathroom. We talked, and then he came out a few minutes later, but that was it. Like nothing happened.' Zied said that Rebecca is often 'a jealous person and [can sometimes be] paranoid." Rebecca still felt uneasy, admitting the next day that she thought there were inconsistencies in his story.
Yahoo
16-02-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists Reveal "Artificial Leaf" That Turns Carbon Into Sustainable Fuels
Using an ingenious method inspired by the photosynthesis of living things, scientists have developed a new "artificial leaf" that removes CO2 from the air and turns it into sustainable fuels. For years, scientists at various institutions have experimented with similar artificial leaves that can absorb light and CO2 in similar ways to the real thing. Now, researchers at the prestigious University of Cambridge and the University of California—Berkeley have designed a system that uses that nature-inspired technology alongside microscopic copper "nanoflowers" to create cleaner hydrocarbons, which like fossil fuels are derived from hydrogen and carbon. In a new paper published in the journal Nature Catalysis, the scientists detailed how they build on prior Cambridge research into artificial leaves made with perovskite, a crystalline compound that might make solar panels cheaper and more efficient in the future. Despite their success in making carbon-scrubbing artificial leaves in the past, Cambridge chemist Virgil Andrei, the paper's lead author, said that he and his fellow researchers wanted to take the technology further. "We wanted to go beyond basic carbon dioxide reduction and produce more complex hydrocarbons," he said in the school's press release, "but that requires significantly more energy." To make that happen, the Berkeley and Cambridge scientists used the light absorption power of the perovskite-based artificial leaves and the copper nanoflower as a catalyst to synthesize complex hydrocarbons like ethane and ethylene with just CO2 and water. The researchers then tacked onto their device some electrodes made of silicon nanowire, which allowed them to add in the chemical compound glycerol and make their device a reported 200 times more efficient and produce valuable chemical byproducts like glycerate, lactate, and formate. "Glycerol is typically considered waste," Andrei explained, "but here it plays a crucial role in improving the reaction rate." Right now, this fascinating (and still unnamed) device is still in its infancy and needs work to be scaled up. The team behind it is quite optimistic, however, about its future applications — and with climate change-causing carbon emissions increasing unabated, there's no better time for such inspired scientists to get to work. More on alternative fuel production: Chinese Astronauts Create Rocket Fuel in Space Using "Artificial Photosynthesis"
