Named and shamed: South Australian beauticians who have gone bad
From aspiring hairdressers to cosmetic injectors, these beauty gurus went from hair appointments to court appointments.
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From aspiring hairdressers to cosmetic injectors, these beauty gurus went from hair appointments to court appointments.
These are the South Australia beauticians who have ended up on the wrong side of the law.
Danika Karotos
A beautician who pivoted to commercial drug dealing was found with methamphetamine, fantasy and a tick list during a raid.
Danika Karotos turned to an illegal side hustle after her business collapsed because of the Covid pandemic.
The Adelaide District Court heard police found 31.11g of mixed methamphetamine, 1.23kg of GHB and $2270 during a raid of an Edwardstown property on August 6, 2020.
The methamphetamine was valued between $8000 and up to $37,000 if sold in points, and the fantasy was valued at up to $3000 if sold in litres.
Police also found digital scales, numerous plastic resealable bags, three mobile phones, a vacuum sealing machine and a CCTV system.
The court heard when the entries on a tick list found in Karotos’ bedroom were tallied up, it revealed up to $25,000 in past sales.
The court heard Karotos had worked consistently in the beauty industry from 2009, including running her own salon in Renmark and providing eyelash extensions.
“You had difficulties with paying for commercial rent and you exhausted your savings,” Judge Timothy Heffernan said during sentencing.
“Your counsel submitted that your business actually continued until about 2019 but that it was going downhill and that it eventually ceased as a result of Covid-19.”
Karotos pleaded guilty to trafficking methamphetamine and trafficking a commercial amount of fantasy.
Judge Heffernan sentenced Karotos to four years and six months jail, with a non-parole period of two years and three months.
Cindy Lee Crane
A former beautician and dog groomer cried as her solicitor argued she deserved one more shot to rehabilitate herself, after stuffing stolen goods behind a vending machine.
Cindy Lee Crane pleaded guilty to a number of charges including possessing a controlled drug and dishonestly taking property.
The court heard Crane, who was out on bail relating to an arson charge, entered Myers and
David Jones in Oaklands Park on January 14, 2021 and began helping herself to a number of items, including a suit valued over $1000 as well as purses and handbags.
“They were very expensive items,” Magistrate Teresa Anderson said in her sentencing remarks.
“Your behaviour was odd on that occasion … you left behind a shopping trolley.
“The facts revealed that most of the items were found either under vehicles or behind a vending machine.”
The court heard police spoke to Crane on the day, telling them she wasn’t aware of what happened.
A few weeks later on January 22, police found an ice pipe, a controlled drug as well as prescribed medication that did not belong to Crane.
On January 29, Crane attended Aldi at Noarlunga Centre where she proceeded to steal a TV and air purifier. The TV was recovered.
The court also heard later on in September, Crane tried to steal over $1000 worth of power tools from Bunnings but was stopped in the car park.
Magistrate Anderson sentenced Crane to six months imprisonment, partially suspended after three months.
Crane was also ordered to pay $299 compensation for the air purifier.
Convictions were recorded.
Emma Louise Tassell
A former opiate-addicted beautician and mother from Para Hills was fined $1000 for stealing goods from Target and stating false information to police on two occasions.
Emma Louise Tassell pleaded guilty to a raft of charges including giving false or misleading information to a police officer, driving disqualified, unlawful possession of an ANZ bank card and possessing prescription drugs.
The Elizabeth Magistrates Court heard Tassell was caught driving on Amanga Street at Gepps Cross without a licence on January 27, 2020.
However, a police prosecutor said Tassell gave officers a different name and date of birth when questioned.
Then, on May 26 in Elizabeth, she was caught exiting a Target store with several items in a shopping trolley worth about $291 without paying, including children’s toys, a Barbie doll and a football.
Police also claimed she was in possession of an ANZ bank card in her handbag which was believed to have been stolen and gave the name of another female with a different date of birth.
She was also found with a prescription drug Comfarol Forte, with the prescription box made out in somebody else’s name.
Tassell’s lawyer Mr Stiles said the 25-year-old had gone through some “really tough times recently”, losing her beauty business due to COVID-19.
He also said his client had been addicted to opiates from about 2016 when a partner was “locked up”.
Magistrate Briony Kennewell gave Tassell an 18-month good behaviour bond, several convictions and a total fine of $1000.
Cristina Evdochim
A beautician played a central role in growing marijuana plants worth thousands of dollars at two properties.
Cristina Evdochim used fake names to help establish her sophisticated enterprise.
The Adelaide District Court on Friday heard 18 marijuana plants were found growing hydroponically at the Lockleys and Kidman Park properties.
The court heard the likely value of the crops was estimated between $6,000 and $12,000 and had been growing between May to September, 2016.
The court heard Evdochim signed tenancies for the Lockleys and Kidman Park properties with her co-accused under fake names.
Evdochim, of Seaton, was found guilty by a jury in December of two counts of cultivating cannabis plants for sale.
She was found not guilty of large commercial drug trafficking.
The court heard Evdochim had operated a beautician business from her home since 2017, as well as working at a Tony and Mark’s supermarket.
Judge Barklay sentenced Evdochim to 18 months jail, with a non-parole period of 11 months.
Due to Evdochim’s lack of criminal history and good work history, the sentence was suspended on a two-year good behaviour bond.
Aldina Ederlina Fanning
An Adelaide beautician and real estate agent was jailed for stealing her best friend’s identity and taking out a loan for a new car.
Aldina Ederlina Fanning pleaded guilty to one count each of producing prohibited material and deceiving another to benefit herself in 2016.
Fanning, who was serving a good behaviour bond for larceny and unlawful drugs possession charges in New South Wales, was jailed for stealing the identity of ex-roommate.
When sentencing her to one year and four months in jail with a non-parole period of 10 months, District Court Chief Judge Geoffrey Muecke described her crimes as a “breach of trust in a serious way”.
Fanning, a former heroin addict, faced a maximum 10 years in jail for her crimes, which had left her victim, who was not in court, “traumatised” by her actions.
“Many of her emotions resulted from having deceived, manipulated and taken advantage of by someone she looked up to as a sister and that she loved,” Judge Muecke said.
Fanning, of Northgate, shook her head as Judge Muecke described how her victim struggled to socialise and deal with the consequences of her betrayal.
She had been entrusted with her best friend’s personal details to plan a holiday to Hawaii, but instead used them to obtain a bogus driver’s licence and a $35,413 loan for a new car.
Her guilty pleas relate to the finance company losing $12,000.
Fanning then compounded her betrayal by redirecting her friend’s mail and phone to ensure the woman would not know about the fraudulent use of her name.
Judge Muecke said he took into account Fanning’s remorse, her stable employment at Michael Kris Real Estate, how she had started her own business, Le Lash Beautique, with her unnamed partner, and that she had repaid the money.
However, he was “not confident” she posed a low risk of reoffending.
In February of 2015, she attempted to use her then-housemate’s expired driver’s licence to secure finance for a GT Mazda car because she “wanted to look the part” in her new job as an estate agent.
When that failed, she used Ms Curnow’s identity papers to have a new driver’s licence issued — one featuring Ms Curnow’s name and Fanning’s photograph.
Fanning then redirected Ms Curnow’s mail, changed her phone plan and created email accounts in her name so she would never be contacted about the loan.
Her scheme came undone when, in May, Ms Curnow received a customer service call from Optus and was alerted to the changes.
“It was submitted that matters quickly spiralled out of control when you panicked thinking you had been found out and that caused you to cover your tracks,” said Judge Muecke.
He reduced Fanning’s sentence from two years imprisonment by giving her the “full discount” of 30 per cent for her early guilty pleas.
Janetta Bauman
A hairdresser who punched a woman in the face told her she was going to get her raped and bashed if she kept running her mouth, a court has heard.
Janetta Elizabeth Ivy Bauman, 29, was high on drugs when she committed the violent home invasion that left the victim and her partner traumatised.
The Adelaide District Court heard Bauman and a man attended the victim’s Elizabeth East house on November 3, 2021 at 11pm.
The victim saw them approaching on CCTV and immediately called the police.
The victim’s partner saw Bauman carrying a crowbar and the man carrying a baseball bat kicking at the front door.
“The man used the weapons to forcefully jemmy open the door, which enabled you both to enter the house,” Judge Geraldine Davison said during sentencing.
“You walked straight up to the victim and aggressively demanded $500.”
The court heard the victim told Bauman she had nothing she could take.
Bauman then punched the victim in the face.
The Elizabeth Downs mother-of-five pleaded guilty to serious criminal trespass and assault.
“Your counsel Mr Hill submitted that your methamphetamine use was at the heart of this offending and that drugs had affected your judgment on that evening,” Judge Davison said.
The court heard Bauman had undertaken a TAFE hairdressing course at 16 but hadn’t had any significant employment since then.
Judge Davison sentenced Bauman to two years and 11 months jail, with a non-parole period of one year and six months.
The sentence was backdated to January 7.
Yulia Vaks
Two weed growers having financial struggles were hoping to dive into the world of criminal activity and “easy money” by selling drugs, a court has heard.
Eisa Abdoinabi Khayami, 40, and Yulia Vaks, 36, were growing a commercial amount of marijuana in their house in exchange for free rent.
The Adelaide District Court heard police located 24 marijuana cuttings in a growing room at a Dernancourt address in May, 2018.
Police also found eight “relatively mature” plants being grown hydroponically in another room.
“I’m satisfied the intention of the cultivation was to grow cannabis to be sold for – at the very least – $10,000,” Judge Ian Press said during sentencing.
The court heard Vaks agreed to grow some of the plants in her beauty treatment room so she could live rent free.
Khayami, of Semaphore, was found guilty at trial of cultivating a commercial quantity of plants for sale, while Vaks, of Woodville, pleaded guilty to the same charge.
The court heard Vaks, who is a mother-of-two, moved to Australia with her partner.
Vaks moved in with Khayami after her relationship with her partner ended.
She has since moved out and runs a business providing cosmetic and massage services.
Judge Press sentenced Vaks to one year and two months jail, with a non-parole period of eight months.
Due to Vaks limited role in the offending, he suspended the sentence on an 18-month, $100 good behaviour bond, with supervision.
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