James Pullen jailed for fraud of Dynamic Distribution Systems

A Logan man has been jailed for helping himself to hundreds of thousands of dollars over a four-month period.

A Logan man formerly employed as state operations manager for a family-owned transport and logistics company on Brisbane’s southside helped himself to $230,000, while only paying back a fraction, a court has heard.

Hillcrest man James Douglas Pullen, 50, pleaded guilty in Brisbane District Court on Monday to a single count of fraud by an employee causing a detriment greater than $30,000.

The court heard the victim business was Dynamic Distribution Systems, a family-owned company that has its Brisbane office in Cannon Hill and which employed Pullen as its Queensland operations manager.

Between September 23, 2015, and January 29, 2016, Pullen transferred $231,411.48 to his own and other people’s bank accounts.

He did so by registering non-existent drivers which the company would pay for services, not realising the money was going to Pullen.

Hillcrest fraudster James Kenneth Pullen, 50. Picture: Facebook

In total, 112 transfers were made.

The court heard when Pullen was confronted by his manager about irregularities in the payments, he transferred about $22,000 back to the company.

After DDS lodged a successful civil claim against Pullen an order was made for his wages to be garnished.

Only about $13,500 was repaid before Pullen lost his subsequent employment.

All up, DDS was left out of pocket by $196,072.88.

The court was told Pullen’s offending was a “gross breach of trust” and had an “element of sophistication” in that he created false documents.

It was submitted on Pullen’s behalf that he was “manipulated” into committing the fraud by others he owed money to.

Judge Vicki Loury QC slammed that suggestion.

“I find it hard to believe,” she told the court.

“You were motivated by greed.”

Pullen was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment, suspended for a period of four years after serving nine months behind bars.