Aspiring nurse Yohannes Justin Elia faces Ipswich court for laundering $27k defrauded by acquaintance

A wannabe Ipswich nurse unknowingly became caught up in a $260k fraud when the person responsible enlisted him to launder $27k — assuring him it was clean.

A young aspiring Ipswich nurse became caught up in a $260k money laundering scheme after an alleged fraudster assured him the dirty money was clean. Picture: Nicola McNamara

An aspiring nurse laundered more than $26,000 for another person alleged to have defrauded a company of 10 times that amount, after the person assured him the money was clean.

Collingwood Park resident Yohannes Justin Elia, 22, pleaded guilty in Ipswich District Court on August 1 to one count of money laundering.

The court heard the laundering occurred in Redbank between April 28 and May 13, 2020 when Elia was aged 19.

Crown prosecutor Amy Stannard said it was alleged another person had defrauded a company named M/s Argos Pty Ltd of about $266,000 by seeking payments through fraudulent emails.

That party allegedly distributed those funds into other bank accounts, including an account owned by Elia.

Ms Stannard said Elia received seven deposits throughout the offending period totalling $26,940.

Elia then transferred some of those funds into other bank accounts and withdrew what remained so that he could pass it on to the other party in cash.

The court heard he did not receive any financial benefit himself.

Yohannes Justin Elia, 22, leaving Ipswich Court on August 1, 2023. Picture: Nicola McNamara

Ms Stannard noted Elia told police he had questioned the other party about whether the money was clean and was assured that was the case.

She said Elia must have “at least had a suspicion that the money was not legitimate”.

But she conceded Elia was young and had limited criminal history.

Defence lawyer Gavin Webber tendered a letter from his client’s father, who said Elia had been “mixed up with the wrong crowd” and “led astray”.

“(Elia) accepted the assurance that the money was clean and he accepts that that was an unreasonable risk to take,” Mr Webber said.

He said his client was back on track now and had become involved with his local church again.

Elia had completed his schooling and had a good work record, the court heard.

He now hoped to attend university, with ambitions of completing a nursing degree.

Mr Webber argued that recording a conviction would harm Elia’s future employment prospects in that industry.

Judge Dennis Lynch sentenced Elia to 12 months’ probation. No convictions were recorded.