Stiofan Ceitinn member of $2m boiler room scam denied early prison release

One of the “Irish Boys” who used fake software to scam more than $2 million has had his bid to be released early from prison denied. FULL DETAILS >>>

ONE of the ringleaders of the “Irish Boys” boiler room scheme which used fake software to scam more than $2 million has had his bid to be released early from prison denied.

Stiofan Ceitinn, one of the owners of the sophisticated fraud operation, went to the Queensland Court of Appeal to have his eight-year sentence reduced.

He claimed it was manifestly excessive.

But the Court of Appeal denied the request late last week.

Ceitinn was sentenced in June last year to eight years prison with parole release after he had served six months after pleading guilty to two counts of fraud. He and Aaron Colin East – with the help of Daniel Alan East and Neil John McKenny – set up a firm which sold dodgy software packages on the Gold Coast.

Stiofan Ceitinn, one of the owners of the sophisticated fraud operation, had his appeal to have his eight-year sentence reduced denied. Picture: iStock

They had more than 150 complaints from customers who purchased the first software package in 2014 and 2015.

They made more than $2 million.

The second dodgy software package was sold to 10 customers and made about $117,000.

Ceitinn got a cut of $230,726.61.

His co-owner Aaron East received about $301,460.

Ceitinn asked for a reduced sentence after Aaron East received the same sentence despite the fact Aaron East took the matter to trial.

He changed his plea to guilty in the early stages of the trial.

Justice David Boddice said in his reasons why he was not allowing Ceitinn’s appeal: “It does not … give rise to a justifiable sense of grievance, or create an appearance that justice has not been done.

“The sentence imposed on (Ceitinn) was not manifestly excessive.”

The group was busted after a Crime and Corruption Commission investigation into their operations throughout the Gold Coast.

They were dubbed the “Irish boys” after the nationality of the main players in the scam.

Daniel East and McKenny were also sentenced to jail time after they both pleaded guilty.

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Originally published as Stiofan Ceitinn member of $2m boiler room scam denied early prison release