The Court of Economic Affairs, confirming the deal reached on the penalty in the so-called money mules network criminal case, sentenced 12 people on the accused bench to conditional prison sentences. One was sentenced to a real prison sentence, as reported by the prosecution office.
The prosecution commenced criminal prosecution for money laundering against 14 people. One of them is a citizen of Germany. The rest are all Latvian citizens.
The entire group had more than 90 members.
Members in Latvia provided money laundering for money illegally acquired abroad using a network of «money mules». Other members of this criminal group – the money mules – have a prior criminal record and were punished in accordance with the law.
The scheme employed by members of the organised group involved money laundering by using personal accounts of Latvian citizens members of the group. After the money was transferred to their accounts, it was quickly withdrawn in cash, then transferred into crypto and then finally added to crypto accounts controlled by organisers of the group.
A deal was reached on the penalty between the prosecution and the accused. The latter admitted their guilt and have either fully or partially transferred illegally acquired funds to the state budget – approximately EUR 45 000.
The investigation was carried out in cooperation with EU Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation. Materials were later submitted to the State Police Cyber Crimes Enforcement Office.
Money mules are people used by criminal groups to move and launder illegally acquired money.
Also read: Dozens injured in train collision in Greece