Former detective Mick Featherstone, and his wife and son arrested over ‘boiler room’ fraud racket

UPDATE: A former police detective, his wife and son are among six people arrested over a $15 million boiler room scam which police allege had 660 victims. All seven people charged have been given bail.

Court

ALL seven people charged with fraud offences over an alleged $15 million to $20 million boiler room scam will be given bail, a court has been told.

Former detective Michael Featherstone, 52, has appeared in the Brisbane Magistrates Court along with his 32-year-old wife Zoei Charissa Keong.

His son Zach Michael Featherstone, 21, has also been charged along with Travis Charles Burch, 36, Robert John Doueihi, 34, Kirsty Maria Lester, 39 and Daniel Philip Webb, 32.

Police prosecutor Senior Sergeant Mark Gorton told the court the offences involved “multiple frauds” totalling between $15m and $20m.

“There’s about 600 victims at this point,” he said.

But police did not oppose any of the defendants being granted bail.

Their cases will return to court on March 9.

EARLIER

FORMER police detective Mick Featherstone, his wife Zoei Keong and son Zach are among six people arrested over a boiler room scam.

The four men and two women were arrested this morning following a 20-month investigation by the Crime and Corruption Commission and Queensland Police.

Police will allege the scam involved millions of dollars.

Zach Featherstone.

CCC executive director crime Kathleen Florian said the investigation team included detectives, financial investigators, intelligence officers and forensic computing specialists.

“It will be alleged that some of those facing charges were directors or senior employees of a private investigation firm and were involved in perpetrating frauds against members of the community via a number of different companies and schemes over an extended period of time,” she said.

“There was a substantial amount of financial analysis required during this investigation and the CCC’s expertise in this area has been critical in gathering evidence to put before the court.”

Taskforce Maxima Detective Superintendent Mick Niland said boiler room frauds had an enormous impact on many people.

“They have suffered substantial financial losses. This investigation has highlighted the lengths and complexity organised crime are prepared to engage in to facilitate their criminal activities,” he said.

“We will continue to target the facilitators of organised crime who enable these crimes to flourish. Queensland Police Service capability to tackle organised crime is enhanced through these ongoing strong partnerships with the Crime and Corruption Commission and Australian Taxation Office and national law enforcement agencies.”

The CCC said those arrested are a 52-year-old Upper Coomera man, a 32-year-old Upper Coomera woman, a 21-year-old Pimpama man, a 36-year-old Helensvale man, a 32-year-old Robina man and a 39-year-old Upper Coomera woman.

They are all expected to be charged with aggravated fraud offences later today at the Brisbane City Watchhouse.

Four of the people arrested today are also expected to be charged with money laundering.

Two of the group have previously been charged by the CCC with aggravated fraud and money laundering offences related to other companies during an earlier stage of the investigation.

Another two have earlier been charged with aggravated fraud.

PI FACING CRIMINAL CHARGES HAS FAILED TO STOP LICENCE SUSPENSION

EARLIER 8:47am: Former Queensland police detective Mick Featherstone, his wife and son have been arrested over what police will allege is a multi-million dollar fraud racket.

The trio were arrested this morning on the Gold Coast following a Crime and Corruption Commission investigation and are being brought to the Brisbane City Watchhouse.

More to come ...