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The US Surgeon, email scam & kilo of cocaine

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  • 03-05-2016 11:11pm
    #1
    Muahahaha
    Registered Users Posts: 19,620 ✭✭✭✭


    Anyone else see this story? A well known retired US surgeon was found with ikg of cocaine at Dublin airport. He has dementia and fell for an email scam when he thought he was getting a couple of million in inheritance but instead got tricked into becoming a drug mule from Columbia to Dublin. Judge believed his defence and he got a 5 year suspended sentence and sent back to the US.

    Dr Carlos Cruz Soriano (76) began responding to phishing emails after becoming isolated and depressed following his retirement from a “glittering career”, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court was told. The scammers told him a long lost relative had died and he was due to inherit US$2.3 million.

    They gained Soriano's trust over a number of years, including sending him on a “dry run” to Hong Kong, before flying him to Columbia where he was given the paperwork for his inheritance as well as a “gift” in a red bag for Irish banking officials who would facilitate the transfer of funds.

    Soriano, of Cove Circle, Riverview, Florida, pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine valued at €107,000 inside the red bag in the arrivals hall at Dublin Airport on September 1, 2015. He has no previous convictions and has been in custody here since his arrest.

    Judge Melanie Greally said Soriano's isolation and the deterioration in his mental health had contributed to him being susceptible to manipulation by “sinister forces.” She said she accepted he did not appreciate the serious nature of his conduct.
    http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/surgeon-fell-victim-to-scam-where-he-brought-100k-of-cocaine-into-dublin-airport-court-34672250.html

    Sometimes life truly is stranger than fiction


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    #2
    smash
    Closed Accounts Posts: 34,809 ✭✭✭✭smash


    Did he get his coke back?


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    #3
    Fr_Dougal
    Registered Users Posts: 9,167 ✭✭✭Fr_Dougal


    Keyser Söze


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    #4
    Vic_08
    Registered Users Posts: 3,050 ✭✭✭Vic_08


    If he had been caught exiting Columbia I bet he wouldn't have gotten sympathy and a plane ticket back to the US from the judge.

    I reckon using pensioners as mules is a great idea as they can seemingly get away with just about anything.


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    #5
    Pro Hoc Vice
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,087 ✭✭✭Pro Hoc Vice


    Muahahaha wrote: »
    Anyone else see this story? A well known retired US surgeon was found with ikg of cocaine at Dublin airport. He has dementia and fell for an email scam when he thought he was getting a couple of million in inheritance but instead got tricked into becoming a drug mule from Columbia to Dublin. Judge believed his defence and he got a 5 year suspended sentence and sent back to the US.



    http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/surgeon-fell-victim-to-scam-where-he-brought-100k-of-cocaine-into-dublin-airport-court-34672250.html

    Sometimes life truly is stranger than fiction

    Just one correction it's not a defence it is a plea in mitigation. You can not plead guilty and raise a defence. Also he has served 8 months.


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