Dubbo fraud: Shania Schwerin took $187k from employer

A woman is ‘staring down the barrel at full time custody’ after she confessed to stealing a small fortune from the Dubbo business she worked for.

A 24-year-old Dubbo woman has confessed to stealing more than $187,000 from her former employer, however a court has been told she did not instigate the fraud.

Shania Schwerin pleaded guilty to one count of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception when she was arraigned in the District Court at Dubbo.

Dubbo woman Shania Schwerin is “staring down the barrel at full time custody”, a court heard. Picture: Facebook/Shania Schwerin

The court heard the fraudster collected $187,614 from her former employer, trucking parts business Neil’s Parts, between June 2019 and March 2020.

Defence lawyer Derek Buchanan said while the Crown alleged Schwerin acted alone, the defence contended she was not the instigator of the fraud and did not solely benefit.

“She’s a young person with no record as I understand it,” he said.

“She knows she’s staring down the barrel at full time custody.”

Mr Buchanan said a hearing was needed to determine the agreed set of facts Schwerin’s final sentence would revolve around.

The solicitor appearing for the Crown, Laith Hijazin, told the court it was his understanding a police investigation had already determined the extent to which Schwerin was responsible for the fraud.

Dubbo District Court Judge Nanette Williams adjourned the case. Picture: Jedd Manning

Judge Nanette Williams set a date in September for the disputed facts hearing.

Schwerin’s bail was continued.

The maximum penalty for dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception is 10 years in prison.