Judge fines woman deported from US by ICE over thefts in Cork

ICE had confiscated her $20,000 of savings, left her with $200 and deported her from Los Angeles to Cork to face two old shoplifting charges

Ciocolata Munteanu brought €380 compensation to court a fortnight ago, and pleaded guilty to the two theft charges. Picture: Larry Cummins

In the beginning, ICE — the US Immigrations and Customs Enforcement — confiscated a woman’s $20,000 of savings, left her with $200 and deported her from Los Angeles to Cork to face two old shoplifting charges and, in the end, her losses got a little worse as two €100 fines were imposed on her on Thursday.

However, it was a circuitous route to the end of the drama for Ciocolata Munteanu as Judge Mary Dorgan refused to finalise the case on one occasion because the 25-year-old was chewing gum and smiling while her solicitor was addressing Cork District Court on her behalf. She also could not understand why her case was not finalised on her next court appearance after that.

Finally, on Thursday Judge Dorgan concluded the case. She noted that full compensation for the thefts had been repaid and imposed a €100 fine on her for each of the two thefts.

Ciocolata Munteanu brought €380 compensation to court a fortnight ago, and pleaded guilty to the two theft charges. The defendant was deported by US Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE). 

Dennis Healy, solicitor, said that in mitigation the thefts dated back to a time before her family left Cork to live in Los Angeles. “ICE came along and decided they were removing foreigners, they took her savings of $20,000, they took her car, they left her with $200,” Mr Healy said. 

It was at that point that the judge put a stop to the sentencing hearing that day because the accused was smiling and chewing gum.

Garda Pat Costello originally testified at Cork District Court that he arrested Ciocolata Munteanu at Dublin Airport when she arrived on a deportation flight.

“The circumstances are that she was deported back by American authorities and we were alerted to her arrival. She was deported from the US after five years, on a flight from L.A. (on March 24). Her whole family were there for the last six years,” Garda Pat Costello said.

There was no objection to the accused being remanded on bail on conditions including that she would live at 50 Orchard Court, Blackpool, Cork, sign daily at Bridewell garda station, and not leave the jurisdiction. Back on November 27, 2018, she stole two hams valued €80, and on January 24, 2019, she stole €264 worth of cosmetics at Boots, Blackpool, Cork.

Before her five-year stint in Los Angeles, the young woman was described by solicitor Diarmuid Kelleher as “born and bred in Ireland”.