A self-confessed drug addict yesterday pleaded guilty in Magistrates' Court to laundering upwards of $80,000 on behalf of drug dealers.

Cordell Simmons admitted two counts of making dozens of wire transfers to various countries on behalf of at least three unnamed drug dealers and traffickers.

The 59-year-old, who currently resides at the Salvation Army Harbourlight Facility, said he used the money he was paid for making the transfers to feed his drug habit.

Crown counsel Carrington Mahoney told the court that the first of two charges against Simmons occurred between July 15, 2008 and November 30, 2009.

Mr. Mahoney said Simmons laundered $63,703 during that period to assist drug traffickers in avoiding prosecution.

The court heard that the money was laundered through 56 wire transfers through several local money transfer agencies. The money was allegedly sent to Europe and Jamaica.

The second charge against Simmons stated that he had also laundered a sum of approximately $20,000 between June 20, 2008 and August 18, 2009.

In this instance Simmons transferred the funds through 16 wire transfers to Jamaica, New York, Pennsylvania and the Philippines using the same local agencies.

In a video-recorded Police interview, Simmons admitted to the transactions but said they were for three to four persons whom he would not name. Simmons confessed to transferring the money to feed his drug addiction and said he had struggled with addiction for some time.

Mr. Mahoney told the court that Simmons was unemployed at the time of the offences and had been living at the Salvation Army Shelter at 5 Marsh Lane Pembroke.

Simmons claimed to have since turned his life around. He said he is currently living at the Salvation Army's long-term residential treatment centre, Harbour Light.

"At the time of those transactions I was in active drug use," Simmons told the court. "Since that time I have cleaned up my life and am in rehab. It will not happen again but the choice is up to you sir."

A counsellor from Simmons' drug treatment programme asked Mr. Warner for leniency on Simmons' behalf.

He told the court that Simmons had become an example for the younger members of the programme and has been enthusiastically participating in his rehabilitation.

Despite the pleas for leniency, Mr. Warner imposed an immediate custodial sentence.

Under the Proceeds of Crime Act 1997 Simmons faced a maximum penalty of five years' imprisonment and a fine of $50,000.

But taking into consideration his efforts to change his life, his immediate guilty plea and the praise from his addiction counsellor, Mr. Warner handed Simmons a two-year sentence for each count of money laundering, to run concurrently.

He was also ordered to serve two years' probation and comply with drug treatment.