56 year old Chilimbar Vasile of Eagle Valley, Sarsfield Road, Wilton, Cork city was arrested in January 2021 after being found in possession of bank lodgement slips and a bank card in someone else's name.
Cork Circuit Criminal heard that Vasile had previously pleaded guilty to a charge that on the 24th of September 2019, proceeds of criminal conduct was credited to an AIB account in another name, knowing or being reckless as to whether it was the proceeds of crime.
It was determined during the course of the investigation that over €228,000 had passed through the account between 2017 and January 2021.
Detective Garda David Kelleher told the court that the accused owned an extensive property in Romania on which there was no mortgage.
Vasile was receiving €455 a week in disability allowance and had also been in receipt of €164,000 in rent allowance over a number of years while living in Cork.
He has previous convictions including one for stealing from church collection boxes in Cloyne, Carrigtwohill, Shanagarry and Dungarvan.
During sentencing, Judge Colin Daly said it was an aggravating factor that Vasile was claiming social welfare payments for the duration of his offending.
He was jailed for four years with the final year suspended.
