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Man from Cork jailed for laundering €80k in crypto through cybercrime site.
A 43-year-old man living in Cork has been sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty to laundering cryptocurrency and cyber-related offences following a joint investigation by Irish and US authorities.
Cybercrime network uncovered in Cork
According to RTE, Suleman Mazhar, who lived in Douglas, Cork, was arrested in May 2022 after a probe by the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau (GNCCB), with assistance from the FBI. Officers discovered Mazhar had been selling fake bank accounts, credit cards, malware, and ransomware designed to disrupt IT systems via a website.
Detective Sergeant Wes Kenny told Cork Circuit Criminal Court that Mazhar made no comment during interviews. The investigation into his online activity began in 2021 and revealed the extent of his international cybercrime dealings.
The GNCCB, based in Walter Scott House in Dublin, investigates serious cyberattacks and often works alongside global law enforcement. FBI officers were present in Cork when Mazhar was arrested, underlining the cross-border nature of the case.
€80,000 laundered in crypto
Mazhar pleaded guilty last month to laundering cryptocurrency, which was valued at €80,000 at the time of his arrest but has since risen to €200,000. The funds have now been forfeited to the State.
He also admitted to dishonestly using a computer to receive payments for goods and services listed on his website, with the intent to profit or cause financial harm to others.
Judge Helen Boyle described Mazhar’s actions as a “deliberate criminal enterprise” focused on financial gain. She acknowledged that his early guilty plea spared the State the expense of a complex trial but emphasised the need for a strong sentence to deter others from engaging in cybercrime. Mazhar was sentenced to two years in prison.
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