A 21-year-old athlete from Roscommon town has avoided jail for money-laundering, after €16,500 was transferred into his bank account through criminal means.
He immediately spent over €5,000 on luxury goods, including on an iPhone, TV, PlayStation, and three-piece suit.
Roscommon Circuit Court heard Newcastle Construction Limited, from Newcastle, Clonmel, Co Tipperary, engaged another company – JF Hanley – for fencing work.
The job finished in January 2025 and JF Hanley sought final payment.
Newcastle Construction got an email to say JF Hanley’s bank account details had changed.
They ultimately transferred €16,500 into this account on February 21, 2025.
But the court heard this account wasn’t connected to JF Hanley and was that of Ismail Magomayev, from Ard na Ri, Racecourse Road, Roscommon town.
The now 21-year-old immediately spent over €5,200 of the money, buying an Apple iPhone, a Samsung TV and a PlayStation and a three-piece suit.
The remaining €11,245 was recalled by the bank.
Four days later, on February 25, Magomayev went to the gardai and said he was a ‘money-mule’ for another party, from whom he said he was getting threats to his life.
Newcastle Construction outlined the stress of being the victims of cyber-criminal fraud.
Magomayev pleaded guilty to a money-laundering offence, apologised to Newcastle Construction, and said he’d repay the money in full.
Judge Kenneth Connolly said he was deeply unimpressed by his behaviour, saying he knew exactly what he was doing.
He said his culpability was relatively low, but it was aggravated by the spending spree.
He said he has no previous convictions and is very accomplished in mixed martial arts.
The judge set a sentence of 18 months in prison, but said he’d finalise sentencing in November.
He said he’d commute the prison term to 240 hours' community service if several conditions were met by next June, including paying €6,000 to Newcastle Construction.
