Australian Federal Police
31 Mar 2023, 11:34 GMT+10
This is a joint media release between the Australian Federal Police, Australian Taxation Office and Australian Securities and Investments Commission.
A Canberra man has been jailed for his role in an elaborate $13 million fraud with links to transnational and serious organised crime groups and after receiving $136,535 for his role in the scheme.
The Kingston man, 43, was sentenced to two and a half years' imprisonment in the District Court of NSW today.
In July 2020, AFP investigators executed search warrants at locations in New South Wales, Queensland and the ACT as part of Operation Bordelon - a coordinated investigation of a transnational and serious organised criminal syndicate allegedly using labour hire and payroll companies associated with the building and construction industry to defraud the Commonwealth.
The joint investigation began in December 2018 as a result of AFP investigators following up intelligence identified through a number of other organised crime investigations. The principals of this syndicate were identified and an innovative whole-of-government approach to the investigation was adopted.
The AFP and the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) partnered through the Serious Financial Crime Taskforce (SFCT) to target the activities of the syndicate that siphoned off monies that companies it controlled dishonestly failed to remit to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) as payment of tax. The proceeds of that criminal activity were allegedly funnelled into bank accounts controlled by syndicate members and their associates.
Following the efforts of the SFCT investigation and the commencement of a prosecution conducted by the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions, the man pleaded guilty in November 2022 to:
One count aiding, abetting, counselling, or procuring the conduct of another person to commit an offence of dishonestly causing a loss to the Commonwealth, contrary to section 135.1(5) of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth).
He was sentenced to two years and six months' imprisonment with a non-parole period of one year and three months.
Twelve other people charged in relation to the investigation remain before the court.
AFP Detective Superintendent Kristie Cressy said defrauding the Commonwealth was a serious offence, which undermined the Government's budget that is available to fund policy objectives including the provision of community services and social welfare that many people rely on.
"Law-abiding Australians earning an honest day's living pay their taxes and contribute as good community citizens, while organised criminals seek to steal public money without regard for its impact on the community." Detective Superintendent Cressy said.
"The AFP will continue to target organised crime where it hurts them the most, taking away their proceeds of crime."
ATO Deputy Commissioner and SFCT Chief John Ford said this sentence highlights that the SFCT has a determined and continued focus on those who engage in financial crime.
"Criminals who engage in deliberate tax fraud and evasion activities like this are committing fraud against the entire community."
"This outcome sends a clear message to those who think they can get away with financial crime. The Serious Financial Crime Taskforce has a dedicated team of experts across multiple agencies - we will find you, and hold you to account."
Media enquiries:
AFP Media: (02) 5126 9297
ATO Media: (02) 6216 1901
ASIC Media: 1300 208 215
Connect with us:
Follow our Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube pages to learn more about what the AFP does to keep Australia safe.
Get a daily dose of Breaking Property News news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Breaking Property News.
More InformationCINCINNATI, Ohio: Facing global economic headwinds and mounting tariff pressures, Procter & Gamble announced plans this week to cut...
AMSTERDAM, Netherlands: Tesla saw a sharp decline in sales across several major European markets in May, marking its fifth consecutive...
BERLIN/FRANKFURT: Some car parts factories in Europe have stopped production, and companies like Mercedes-Benz are making backup plans...
CHICAGO, Illinois: McDonald's is bringing back its much-loved Snack Wrap in the U.S. starting July 10. The wrap, which includes chicken,...
GOODLETTSVILLE, Tennessee: Dollar General reported record sales of US$10.44 billion for the latest quarter and raised its full-year...
SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vermont: Beta Technologies has become the first U.S. company to land an all-electric aircraft at an airport in the...
Brescia [Italy], June 5 (ANI): India on Thursday proposed establishing an 'Italy Enclave' within one of its industrial towns, offering...
Readers Write- Trump and Musk fight, Truth Social, trans athletes, Alpha News, Burl Gilyard
Sheletta- Black women are still being blacked out of history
Brown- The forest takes care of itself, but we can help
Colorado comes for religion again, this time targeting a summer camp (Opinion)