Ireland Two men in Donegal human trafficking case to be sentenced together
Georgijs Poniza (37) and Armen Pogosyan (30), both men, face charges of people trafficking for labour exploitation, relating to people brought in to work at a business in south Donegal; the dates of the alleged offences are not given. Both were arrested in October 2023 and have been in custody since, and they face 34 charges between them, including money laundering, forgery and participating in a criminal organisation. On 19 February 2026, at Letterkenny Circuit Court, both men pleaded guilty when arraigned and the State applied for their sentencing to be dealt with together. The latest development is that Pogosyan was remanded in custody to the May sitting of Letterkenny Circuit Court.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court19 Feb
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Georgijs Poniza (37) and Armen Pogosyan (30) face a total of 34 charges, 17 each.
- Each man faces seven charges of people trafficking for the purpose of labour exploitation.
- Where
- The people allegedly trafficked were brought into the country to work at a business in south Donegal.
- When
- The article does not give the dates of the alleged trafficking.
- Investigation
- Europol officers were in Donegal during an international operation with a Joint Investigation Team established with Latvian law enforcement.
- Charges
- The men are also charged with money laundering and forgery, and with participating in the activity of a criminal organisation.
- Poniza is charged with possessing €51,100, the proceeds of criminal conduct.
- In court
- Judge John Aylmer heard the case at Letterkenny Circuit Court, where both men entered guilty pleas when arraigned.
- The State applied to vary an order that the men be dealt with separately, so that their sentencing is dealt with together.
- Pogosyan was remanded in custody to the May sitting of Letterkenny Circuit Court.
- Sentence
- A people trafficking charge carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
- Other details
- Both men have been in custody since their arrest in October 2023.
- There are seven injured parties of different nationalities, and all have prepared victim impact statements.
- The victims cannot be identified under section 11 of the Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Act 2008.
15 statements extracted from the articles
- whatGeorgijs Poniza and Armen Pogosyan face a total of 34 charges, 17 each, including seven apiece of people trafficking. (donegallive.ie)
- whatThe men are charged with people trafficking for the purpose of labour exploitation. (donegallive.ie)
- whereThe people trafficked were brought into the country to work at a business in south Donegal. (donegallive.ie)
- investigationEuropol officers were in Donegal during an international operation with a Joint Investigation Team established with Latvian law enforcement. (donegallive.ie)
- chargeThe men are also facing charges relating to money laundering and forgery. (donegallive.ie)
- chargeThe men have been charged with participating in the activity of a criminal organisation. (donegallive.ie)
- chargePoniza was charged with possessing €51,100, the proceeds of criminal conduct. (donegallive.ie)
- courtBoth men entered guilty pleas when arraigned. (donegallive.ie)
- courtJudge John Aylmer heard the case at Letterkenny Circuit Court. (donegallive.ie)
- courtThe State applied to have the sentencing of both men dealt with together. (donegallive.ie)
- courtPogosyan was remanded in custody to the May sitting of Letterkenny Circuit Court. (donegallive.ie)
- sentenceA people trafficking charge carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. (donegallive.ie)
- otherThere are seven injured parties, all of different nationalities, and all have prepared victim impact statements. (donegallive.ie)
- otherThe men have been in custody since their arrest in October 2023. (donegallive.ie)
- otherThe victims cannot be identified under section 11 of the Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Act 2008. (donegallive.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 19 Feb2026Men at centre of human trafficking probe in Donegal now to be sentenced together
First report on this case in the list. Covers the court hearing at Letterkenny Circuit Court where the State applied to have the two men sentenced together, and Pogosyan was remanded to May. Both men had entered guilty pleas when arraigned. Trafficking dates are not given in the article.
accused, Georgijs Poniza, 37, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Georgijs Ponizaaccused, Armen Pogosyan, 30, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Armen Pogosyan