Ireland Case No. 23495Fraud; money laundering; using false instruments · Co. Dublin · 1 Apr 2019
Two Romanians jailed for Irish role in €24 million cloned-website fraud network
Gheorghe Gherge, 35, and Daniel Semen, 32, both Romanian, were sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for their roles in a highly organised international crime network that cloned websites of genuine Irish companies to defraud customers of up to €24 million across Europe. Gherge received three and a half years for using false instruments and money laundering, while Semen received two years and eight months.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced20 Dec
2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports36 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe crime network cloned websites of Irish trading companies and sold phantom goods to customers in Ireland and abroad. (irishtimes.com)
- whatPayments for goods including tractors were made via cloned websites and marketplace sites, but the goods were never delivered. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe gang stole about €24 million from victims all over Europe, including in Ireland, between 2016 and 2020. (irishtimes.com)
- whatAbout €7 million of the proceeds had been laundered through the Irish banking system. (irishtimes.com)
- whatGherge opened 17 different bank accounts using false identification documents and some €670,000 passed through them. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe crime network stole up to €24 million from victims throughout Europe (gript.ie)
- whatThe gang operated five cells in Ireland (gript.ie)
- whatWebsites of genuine Irish companies were cloned to defraud customers in Ireland and abroad (gript.ie)
- whatThe gang advertised the sale of caravans, tractors, farm machinery, vintage cars and designer watches (gript.ie)
- whatAbout €7 million of the stolen money was laundered through Irish banks (gript.ie)
- whatGheorghe Gherge used false identification documents to open 17 different accounts using at least 8 different aliases (gript.ie)
- whatThe gang flew Romanians into Ireland for the purpose of opening bank accounts (gript.ie)
- whatIn one case a victim's personal details were used with false documents to open bank accounts to launder money stolen from other victims (gript.ie)
- whereThe gang established an Irish base organised in five cells in counties Dublin, Donegal and Cork. (irishtimes.com)
- whereGheorghe Gherge lived on Dargle Road, Drumcondra, Dublin (gript.ie)
- whenThe offences took place between June 2016 and April 2019 (gript.ie)
- investigationTo date 10 men involved in the frauds have been convicted and jailed in the Republic following a major investigation by the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau under Det Supt Michael Cryan. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe Garda operation closed down the gang's five Irish cells. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGherge was extradited from the UK the previous year to face charges in the Republic. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationSemen was extradited from Romania in January. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe men were targeted in Ireland under Operation Omena. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationIn about 2018, gardaí began receiving requests for assistance from other European police forces after victims paid for items online that never existed. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe investigation was conducted by the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau as Operation Omena (gript.ie)
- chargeSemen was initially charged with 12 counts, seven for money laundering and five for using false instruments, and pleaded guilty to the false instrument charges. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeGheorghe Gherge was convicted of two counts of using false instruments and two counts of money laundering (gript.ie)
- courtGherge was jailed by Judge Dara Hayes at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to two counts of using false instruments and two counts of money laundering between June 2016 and April 2019. (irishtimes.com)
- courtJudge Hayes said Gherge was not a money mule but filled a more senior role in the criminal enterprise. (irishtimes.com)
- courtJudge Dara Hayes sentenced Gherge at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court (gript.ie)
- sentenceGheorghe Gherge, 35, of Dargle Road, Drumcondra, Dublin, was jailed for three and a half years. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceDaniel Semen, 32, was imprisoned for two years and eight months. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceGheorghe Gherge was jailed for three and a half years (gript.ie)
- sentenceDaniel Semen was imprisoned for two years and eight months (gript.ie)
- otherBoth Gherge and Semen are from Romania. (irishtimes.com)
- otherEvery bank account opened was given its own shoebox containing a mobile phone, SIM card and related documentation. (irishtimes.com)
- otherRomanian money mules who opened accounts and then left received a once-off payment of €400 per account. (irishtimes.com)
- otherGheorghe Gherge is a father of one and a university dropout (gript.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 20 Dec2022Two Romanians jailed for Irish role in huge theft network which cloned websites of companies - Gript
Sentencing of two Romanian members of a five-cell international fraud network operating in Ireland; all five Irish cells closed and 10 men jailed under Operation Omena.
convicted, Gheorghe Gherge, 35, male, Romanian, named, non-irishGheorghe Ghergeconvicted, Daniel Semen, 32, male, Romanian, named, non-irishDaniel Semen - 20 Dec2022Two men jailed for Irish role in €22 million theft, laundering network
Provides full sentencing details (Gherge 3½ years, Semen 2 years 8 months), Judge Dara Hayes's comments, the judge's finding that Gherge was not merely a money mule, and extensive background on the Operation Omena investigation, the gang's methods, and the five Irish cells in Dublin, Donegal and Cork.
convicted, Gheorghe Gherge, 35, male, Romanian, named, non-irishGheorghe Ghergeconvicted, Daniel Semen, 32, male, Romanian, named, non-irishDaniel Semen