Ireland Keith Smyth (28) jailed for two years for money laundering of retired Limerick teacher's €24,750
Keith Smyth, 28, of Castleblayney, Co Monaghan, was sentenced to two years in jail with the final year suspended for three years at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to money laundering €24,750, the life savings of a retired Limerick teacher, through a sophisticated fake Citibank investment scam. The money was transferred from his bricklaying business bank account to accounts in Turkey.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced30 Jul
Key facts
consolidated from all reports16 statements extracted from the articles
- whatKeith Smyth pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering on 27 February 2023 (limerickleader.ie)
- whatThe victim was a retired female teacher in County Limerick who lost her life savings of €24,750 (limerickleader.ie)
- whatThe victim was defrauded through a fake Citibank investment website (limerickleader.ie)
- whatThe conman assumed the identity of a named account manager on the authentic Citibank website (limerickleader.ie)
- whatThe victim received a phone call from a well-spoken man with an English accent on a Dublin landline number (limerickleader.ie)
- whatThe fraudster had rented a call answering service with the Dublin phone number (limerickleader.ie)
- whatThe victim was promised a 3.5% return guaranteed by the Central Bank Deposit Scheme (limerickleader.ie)
- whatSmyth transferred the €24,750 to bank accounts in Turkey (limerickleader.ie)
- whatSmyth allowed the unnamed fraudster to use his bank account and received €500 per transfer (limerickleader.ie)
- whatSmyth had a cocaine habit of between €400 and €600 per week (limerickleader.ie)
- whatSmyth has 32 previous convictions including public order, road traffic, assault of a police officer, drink driving, possession of drugs, and aggravated burglary (limerickleader.ie)
- whereSmyth was serving a separate sentence in Midlands Prison when interviewed by gardaí (limerickleader.ie)
- whereThe case was heard at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court (limerickleader.ie)
- sentenceJudge Colin Daly sentenced Smyth to two years in jail with the final year suspended for three years (limerickleader.ie)
- otherThe victim was left distressed and embarrassed about being deceived (limerickleader.ie)
- otherSmyth's bricklaying business was in Monaghan (limerickleader.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 30 Jul2025Fraudster scams life savings of 'distressed and embarrassed' retired Limerick teacher
Sentencing: two years with final year suspended for three years. Judge Colin Daly described Smyth as a 'money mule' who 'turned a blind eye'. He had 32 previous convictions and was serving a separate sentence in Midlands Prison at the time of interview. The unnamed fraudster used Smyth's Bank of Ireland business account and paid him €500 per transfer.
victim, female, irish (judged from name)convicted, Keith Smyth, 28, male, named, irish (judged from name)Keith Smyth