Judge expresses concern at volume of 'money mule' cases in Donegal

A Judge has expressed concern at the volume of students in Donegal being used as ‘money mules’.

Judge John Aylmer was speaking at the latest sitting of Letterkenny Circuit Court.

Two formers students in Letterkenny were given community service orders in lieu of prison sentences for money laundering offences.

In passing sentence, Judge Aylmer said Rachel Nyarko (22) and Tiwalde Yusuff (23) were ‘effectively used as money mules’.

“This type of offence is a problem,” Judge Aylmer said.

“These offences are quite common in this county, where students are sought out by criminals.

“Criminals identify a person who might make their accounts available for a small reward, a promise of financial gain.

“They are to make their accounts available for laundering money.”

Ms Patricia McLaughlin BL, prosecutor for the State, told the court that, in some circumstances, criminals gain control of a mobile phone through a cloned SIM card. 

Yusuff and Nyarko were flatmates in Letterkenny at the time and were studying at the then Institute of Technology.

Yusuff pleaded guilty to six money laundering charges, relating to a total of €10,315.

Gardai tracked purchase items, including air pods and a laptop, to an address where Yusuff was residing.

The items were passed onto a third party, Garda Gerard McCready told the court.

Yusuff told Gardai that the third party - who was described as being ‘manipulative’ - would come from time to time and she would pass on her cards to be used.

Nyarko was charged with using a false instrument and also three counts of money laundering.

Nyarko instructed a third party how to construct a false document, an ESB bill.

A search of her phone showed she had passed on her account log-ins to another person.

Monies were moved in and out of her account ‘very quickly’.

Mr Sean McGee BL, barrister for both women, said neither had benefited financially.

Yusuff now resides in London having qualified with a degree in pharmaceutical science.

Nyarko lives in Dublin and has an honours degree in business management.

Yusuff was sentenced to 200 hours of community service in lieu of 10 months imprisonment.

Nyarko was sentenced to 240 hours of community service in lieu  of 12 months imprisonment.