Almost €5,000 in prostitution proceeds in six weeks

Almost €5,000 transferred under a false name by a woman in Bettystown into her partner's account during the first Covid lockdown two years ago was the proceeds of prostitution, Trim Circuit Court heard.

Thirty-four year-old Florin Geana, The Anchorage, Bettystown, pleaded guilty to possession of €4,950 which was the proceeds of crime on diverse dates between 4th April 2020 and 16th May 2020 inclusive.

A detective garda told prosecutor Carl Hanahoe BL that following a search of the couple's apartment on that date gardai found that money from a Revolut account opened by the woman under a fake name was transferred into the defendant's Revolut account.

The detective said that information downloaded from a lap top found in a bedroom at the apartment showed 220 men had transferred money into the woman's account in sums ranging from €20 to €370 between 4th April 2020 and 16th May 2020.

The garda added that messages on seven short-life burner mobile phones found in a sittingroom drawer were consistent with prostitution.

The court heard that when questioned by gardai the defendant insisted that he thought the money came from his girlfriend's work as a beauty therapist and had not realised its true source.

Judge Martina Baxter said there was 'ample evidence of where the money came from' and noted that the sums had been transferred 'in the midst of the worst lockdown when no beauty salons were open'

Judge Baxter imposed a sentence of 12 months with the final six months suspended on the defendant entering a bond to remain under the supervision of the Probation Service for six months after his release.