Justin Pilon pleads not guilty to alleged Jobseeker fraud and drug charges
One of two men charged following an investigation into an alleged criminal syndicate fraudulently claiming Covid grants and supplying drugs on the Central Coast has pleaded not guilty.
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One of two men charged with allegedly ripping off the JobSeeker scheme by $90,000 and allegedly supplying drugs has pleaded not guilty to all allegations.
Justin Pilon, 30, of Mardi, faced Wyong Local Court via video link on Tuesday where his solicitor entered pleas of not guilty to all 14 offences, including seven counts of dishonestly obtaining property by deception, five counts of supply prohibited drug, supply prohibited drugs on an ongoing basis and deal in identification information and use it to commit fraud.
Police will allege in court that he lodged multiple fraudulent Covid-19 JobSaver and business grant applications and submitted fraudulent applications on the behalf of others to the Service NSW app.
Mr Pilon is also accused of supplying methylamphetamine and gamma-Hydroxybutyric (GHB) across the Central Coast in September.
He did not apply for bail and it was formally refused.
His arrest came after police established Strike Force Orielton in June to investigate an alleged criminal syndicate accused of conducting multiple frauds worth $90,000 against the state government through Covid-19 grant schemes and allegedly supplying drugs online across the coast.
The investigation led detectives to conduct a search at Mr Pilon’s Mardi home on October 19 where detectives allegedly seized nearly 2.4kg of cannabis leaf, documentation and electronic devices, which will undergo forensic examination.
On the same day police also raided a home on Del Lisle Drive at Watanobbi where they arrested horse trainer Brendan David Jordan.
The 39-year-old was also taken to Wyong Police Station where he was charged with dishonestly obtain financial advantage by deception and giving false information, which he knew to be false and would cause fear in another person.
Police will allege in court he falsely claimed he tested positive for Covid-19 and forced the closure of his workplace, Emeran Park horse training facility at Dooralong Valley, for four days in September when four employees allegedly missed out on $11,000 worth of pay.
In charge sheets tendered to court police allege the closure of the facility cost the stud’s owner a further $9000 and left staff in fear of contracting Covid.
Mr Jordan was granted conditional bail and did not have to appear at Wyong Local Court on Tuesday if he was legally represented.
His lawyer told the court Jordan “intended to plead guilty” but pleas were not formally tendered.
Both men were adjourned to reappear in the same court on January 14.
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