Sydney woman fronts court over alleged luxury goods fraud syndicate
A glamorous woman accused of being a member of a luxury goods fraud syndicate which stole more than $2 million has fronted court. Rachel Jim allegedly used fraudulent credit cards to buy jewellery, shoes and booze.
NSW
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A glamorous woman accused of being a member of a luxury goods fraud syndicate which stole more than $2 million has fronted court.
Rachel Jim, 40, appeared in Downing Centre Local Court on Tuesday after she was caught using allegedly fraudulent credit cards in other people’s names to buy jewellery, shoes and booze between February and September last year.
One of Jim’s co-accused was 29-year-old Amy Holden, who was killed when she was hit by a bus in Bondi two months ago before she could be sentenced over her role in the ring. Holden had indicated she would plead guilty before her death.
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Police say the syndicate stole people’s identity details and created more than 300 fraudulent accounts online before applying for credit and loans to the value of more than $2 million.
The fraudulent credit cards were allegedly used to buy furniture, clothing, cars, jewellery and also to pay for everyday expenses.
Court documents allege Jim used fraudulent credit cards in other people’s names to buy luxury items including jewellery from Parramatta’s Eternity Jewellers and shoes from Myer.
She has been charged with participating in a criminal group contributing to criminal activity, seven counts of dishonestly obtaining property by deception and dealing with identity information to commit an indictable offence.
Jim’s partner Joseph La Hood, 56, Dean Ryan, 46, and his partner Linda Loriz, 42, were also arrested in the raids in September, 2018.
During the raids police seized a Mercedes Benz, a BMW and $250,000 in cash.
Last month, La Hood was jailed for seven years and Ryan was jailed for five years and 10 months over their roles in the syndicate.
Jim and Loriz remain before the courts.
John Killick, who escaped a Sydney jail in a helicopter almost 20 years ago, was also charged in connection to the syndicate.
In court on Tuesday, Jim’s defence lawyer Bryan Wrench asked for an adjournment so facts surrounding her case could be resolved with prosecutors before she enters a plea.
She will return to court on September 19.