A former professional footballer with significant ties to Scottish clubs, including a stint at Perth’s own St Johnstone, is facing a potential prison sentence after admitting his involvement in a substantial money laundering operation valued at nearly £400,000. James Keatings, 33, who also played for teams like Celtic, Dundee United, Forfar, Montrose, and Raith Rovers, was sternly warned by a sheriff at Falkirk Sheriff Court that custody is a very real possibility given the gravity of his offence.
The intricate details of the illicit financial activity came to light following a meticulous investigation by the National Crime Agency (NCA) in 2024. The court heard how the sophisticated operation led authorities to uncover a significant cash handover that was slated to take place in Wishaw, Lanarkshire, leading to Keatings’ eventual arrest. The Web Unravels: A Coordinated Operation
The prosecutor detailed how law enforcement and NCA officers strategically positioned themselves, patiently awaiting the orchestrated exchange on June 28, 2024. At approximately 2:30 PM, a white Mercedes van arrived at the designated location, its sole driver parking and awaiting a connection. Shortly thereafter, Keatings appeared in his own white Ford Transit, parking adjacent to the Mercedes. Without hesitation, Keatings was observed transferring two notably heavy boxes from his van into the rear of the Mercedes. Both vehicles then promptly departed the scene, their drivers likely believing their mission accomplished.
However, the surveillance continued. The Mercedes van was tracked to Station Road in Dollar, a tranquil village in Kinross-shire, a stone’s throw from Perth and Kinross. The driver of the Mercedes briefly entered a nearby house before emerging and transitioning to a third vehicle, a black Mercedes van. This third van then travelled to High Street in Glasgow, where it collected a woman carrying a suspiciously weighty polythene bag. The black Mercedes subsequently made its return journey to Dollar, where its driver was apprehended by waiting officers. Incriminating Evidence: DNA and Fingerprints
The arrest proved pivotal. A key to the white Mercedes van was discovered in the driver’s possession, leading to a thorough search of the vehicle. Inside, investigators found two ordinary-looking office boxes, but their contents were anything but ordinary: 78 bundles of cash, each estimated to contain around £5,000, totalling an astonishing £390,040 in illicit funds. Crucially, elastic bands found among the cash bundles bore Keatings’ DNA, directly linking him to the dirty money. Furthermore, his fingerprints and palm prints were recovered from multiple locations on the exterior of both boxes and, tellingly, from within the second box. His fingerprints were also found on several of the banknotes themselves, solidifying the evidence against him. A Stark Warning from the Bench
Appearing before Falkirk Sheriff Court, Keatings formally entered a guilty plea to the charge of possessing and transferring criminal property – an offence commonly known as money laundering. His solicitor, Brien Grieg, presented arguments in his defence, highlighting that Keatings was a first-time offender, a father, and actively employed as a “working man.”
Despite these submissions, Sheriff Maryam Labaki left no ambiguity regarding the potential consequences of his actions. She deferred sentencing until September 19 to allow for the compilation of background reports. While Keatings’ bail was continued, Sheriff Labaki issued a stark warning, stating: “This is a very significant sum and it’s an insidious crime in many ways. You must prepare yourself for every eventuality – you have crossed the custody threshold.” This judicial pronouncement indicates that the court views the offence with extreme seriousness, suggesting a custodial sentence is a primary consideration.
For the Perth and Kinross community, this case serves as a powerful reminder that the reach of organised crime extends far beyond major urban centres. The involvement of an individual once connected to a beloved local football club like St Johnstone underscores how serious financial crimes can intertwine with everyday life. Money laundering operations facilitate a wide array of other illegal activities, from drug trafficking to fraud, ultimately undermining the fabric of legitimate economies and impacting the safety and well-being of communities across Scotland. Law enforcement agencies remain steadfast in their commitment to dismantling such networks, ensuring that those who engage in these harmful practices are brought to justice.
Keatings, a Scotland international at under-19 level, enjoyed a notable career in football before this legal entanglement. After progressing through the Celtic youth system, he made his senior debut during a loan spell at St Johnstone in 2012. His career highlights include winning the Scottish Cup with Hibs in 2016 and a season at Dundee United before he moved to other clubs further down the league system. The outcome of his sentencing will undoubtedly be closely watched by those who remember his time on the pitch.
The intricate details of the illicit financial activity came to light following a meticulous investigation by the National Crime Agency (NCA) in 2024. The court heard how the sophisticated operation led authorities to uncover a significant cash handover that was slated to take place in Wishaw, Lanarkshire, leading to Keatings’ eventual arrest. The Web Unravels: A Coordinated Operation
The prosecutor detailed how law enforcement and NCA officers strategically positioned themselves, patiently awaiting the orchestrated exchange on June 28, 2024. At approximately 2:30 PM, a white Mercedes van arrived at the designated location, its sole driver parking and awaiting a connection. Shortly thereafter, Keatings appeared in his own white Ford Transit, parking adjacent to the Mercedes. Without hesitation, Keatings was observed transferring two notably heavy boxes from his van into the rear of the Mercedes. Both vehicles then promptly departed the scene, their drivers likely believing their mission accomplished.
However, the surveillance continued. The Mercedes van was tracked to Station Road in Dollar, a tranquil village in Kinross-shire, a stone’s throw from Perth and Kinross. The driver of the Mercedes briefly entered a nearby house before emerging and transitioning to a third vehicle, a black Mercedes van. This third van then travelled to High Street in Glasgow, where it collected a woman carrying a suspiciously weighty polythene bag. The black Mercedes subsequently made its return journey to Dollar, where its driver was apprehended by waiting officers. Incriminating Evidence: DNA and Fingerprints
The arrest proved pivotal. A key to the white Mercedes van was discovered in the driver’s possession, leading to a thorough search of the vehicle. Inside, investigators found two ordinary-looking office boxes, but their contents were anything but ordinary: 78 bundles of cash, each estimated to contain around £5,000, totalling an astonishing £390,040 in illicit funds. Crucially, elastic bands found among the cash bundles bore Keatings’ DNA, directly linking him to the dirty money. Furthermore, his fingerprints and palm prints were recovered from multiple locations on the exterior of both boxes and, tellingly, from within the second box. His fingerprints were also found on several of the banknotes themselves, solidifying the evidence against him. A Stark Warning from the Bench
Appearing before Falkirk Sheriff Court, Keatings formally entered a guilty plea to the charge of possessing and transferring criminal property – an offence commonly known as money laundering. His solicitor, Brien Grieg, presented arguments in his defence, highlighting that Keatings was a first-time offender, a father, and actively employed as a “working man.”
Despite these submissions, Sheriff Maryam Labaki left no ambiguity regarding the potential consequences of his actions. She deferred sentencing until September 19 to allow for the compilation of background reports. While Keatings’ bail was continued, Sheriff Labaki issued a stark warning, stating: “This is a very significant sum and it’s an insidious crime in many ways. You must prepare yourself for every eventuality – you have crossed the custody threshold.” This judicial pronouncement indicates that the court views the offence with extreme seriousness, suggesting a custodial sentence is a primary consideration.
For the Perth and Kinross community, this case serves as a powerful reminder that the reach of organised crime extends far beyond major urban centres. The involvement of an individual once connected to a beloved local football club like St Johnstone underscores how serious financial crimes can intertwine with everyday life. Money laundering operations facilitate a wide array of other illegal activities, from drug trafficking to fraud, ultimately undermining the fabric of legitimate economies and impacting the safety and well-being of communities across Scotland. Law enforcement agencies remain steadfast in their commitment to dismantling such networks, ensuring that those who engage in these harmful practices are brought to justice.
Keatings, a Scotland international at under-19 level, enjoyed a notable career in football before this legal entanglement. After progressing through the Celtic youth system, he made his senior debut during a loan spell at St Johnstone in 2012. His career highlights include winning the Scottish Cup with Hibs in 2016 and a season at Dundee United before he moved to other clubs further down the league system. The outcome of his sentencing will undoubtedly be closely watched by those who remember his time on the pitch.