Former Scottish Footballer James Keatings Jailed for £400k Money Laundering in Lanarkshire

James Keatings, a former Scottish professional footballer who played for clubs including Celtic, Hearts, and Hibs, was sentenced to approximately 13 months in prison for possessing and transferring £400,000 of laundered money. The 33-year-old was caught by police moving boxes of cash from a van in Lanarkshire following a tip-off to the National Crime Agency. His defense highlighted that Keatings had been drawn into crime after a hip injury at age 27 left him in chronic pain, causing a decline in his football career and mental health, leading him to self-medicate with illicit painkillers. Keatings admitted that he moved the cash in exchange for pain medication, as prescription drugs were insufficient to manage his pain. The court acknowledged mitigating factors but deemed a custodial sentence necessary due to the gravity of the offense. Further legal actions are expected to seize the criminal proceeds under the Proceeds of Crime Act.