Justin Stephen Millan sentenced in Rockhampton District Court for fraud
“Here we are in the Beef Capital of Australia and I have a case about fraud involving meat...” Judge sentences former pub chef for $40k fraud.
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A former head chef at a Rockhampton pub was having money troubles and using methamphetamine when he used his job to fraudulently obtain more than $40,000 worth of meat he then sold to another venue.
Justin Stephen Millan, 37, was sentenced in Rockhampton District Court on November 3 after pleading guilty on October 30 to fraud as an employee over $30,000.
It prompted Judge William Everson to state, “here we are in the Beef Capital of Australia and I have a case about fraud involving meat”.
Crown prosecutor Ken Spinaze said Millan was employed as the head chef at Park Avenue Hotel when he used his employment to fraudulently obtain $41,591 worth of meat.
The court heard Millan used the venue’s account to order the meat and then sell it privately to The Criterion Hotel.
Mr Spinaze said Millan made 19 transactions between February 10, 2022 and June 25, 2022.
The court heard after Millan was found out and sacked from his job, he bought more meat from another supplier on his former employer’s account.
Mr Spinaze said Millan sold the meat to The Criterion Hotel for between $25 to $28 per kilogram.
He said Millan made between $26,400 to $29,360.
“He was selling the meat at a discounted rate to The Criterion Hotel,” Mr Spinaze said.
“That’s how he enticed the owner, manager and chef at The Criterion Hotel to buy the meat from him as opposed to their usual supplier.”
He said the fraud was not sophisticated and that Millan was likely to be discovered for it.
Barrister Jordan Ahlstrand said his client, who was the father of two children, had no criminal history and an excellent employment history up until he was charged.
“Up until the point he starts committing the offence he had lived a very productive and normal life,” he said.
Mr Ahlstrand said his client was in a de facto relationship at the time he committed the fraud and had fallen into using illicit substances.
“As a consequence of his use of methamphetamine that’s why he finds himself in this situation,” he said.
He said his client was suffering from “considerable financial difficulty” and had been unable to find work as a chef in Rockhampton.
Judge Everson said it was hardly surprising Millan wasn’t able to find work as a chef in Rockhampton.
“Who’s going to employ someone who steals their money?” he said.
Millan was sentenced to 2.5 years prison, suspended after serving six months for 2.5 years.
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