Shania Schwerin: Dubbo fraudster took $187k from Neil’s Parts

Shock details showing how a Dubbo fraudster managed to take a small fortune from her employer can now be published for the first time after she was sentenced.

A Dubbo woman has been spared jail despite ripping off her employer to the tune of $187,000 and declining to say what she blew the money on.

Shania Schwerin was employed as a bookkeeper at trucking parts business Neil’s Parts in Dubbo between June 2019 and March 2020 when she processed 108 fraudulent refunds, court documents state.

Shania Schwerin has been ordered to pay some compensation to Neil’s Parts. Picture: Facebook/Shania Schwerin

The 24-year-old brazenly used an eftpos machine to refund various amounts to her bank accounts and threw away the receipts afterwards.

After swiping her various eftpos cards to claim the small fortune, Schwerin logged into the Neil’s Parts invoicing system and manually altered entries to make previously issued legitimate customer invoices look like they were subject to refunds.

She was sacked in March 2020 and when police interviewed her in November 2020 Schwerin claimed she acted with other Neil’s Parts employees to commit the frauds.

Court documents state police investigated the claim and were unable to support “some” of the allegations.

No other person was charged or accused of any wrongdoing by police.

According to court documents, Ashley Conn was manager of the Neil’s Parts Dubbo office when Schwerin made off with the money.

Mr Conn trained her in the process of conducting refunds, court documents state.

The process involved Mr Conn being notified of all refund credits so they could be authorised.

Shania Schwerin must undertake 250 hours of community service. Picture: Facebook/Shania Schwerin

During their investigation, police spoke to Terrisa Lang who was a bookkeeper at the Neil’s Parts office in Corowa.

Ms Lang confirmed told police if any refunds were conducted the manager would be notified via email for authorisation.

Once the manager had authorised the refund the email would be sent to head office for further approval and onto Scott Hosking the Neil’s Parts corporate account manager.

Court documents also stated police spoke to the Vivienne Evans, the bookkeeper at the Neil’s Parts head office in Toowoomba.

Ms Evans confirmed that if any refunds are conducted they first must be authorised by the branch manager.

Shania Schwerin was sentenced in the District Court at Dubbo. Picture: Jedd Manning

Schwerin pleaded guilty to a dishonestly obtain financial advantage by deception charge when she was arraigned in the District Court at Dubbo in March this year.

The court was told a disputed facts hearing would be needed to sort out specific details of what Schwerin would plead guilty to.

The hearing was abandoned this week when Schwerin returned to court.

Judge Dina Yehia said because there was no evidence to show what Schwerin spent the money on, it had to be assumed she used it to fund her lifestyle.

While the court heard Schwerin lived with depression, Judge Yehia said the evidence before her did not establish a link between Schwerin’s mental health and the fraud.

Schwerin had no criminal record and used her prior good character to her advantage by processing the fraudulent transactions while she was in a position of trust, Judge Yehia said.

Schwerin was convicted and sentenced to a two-year term of imprisonment to be served in the community in the form of an intensive corrections order.

She was also ordered to undertake 250 hours of community service work, continue to engage in counselling and pay $10,000 in compensation to Neil’s Parts.

The court heard the $10,000 was the excess amount the business paid when it lodged an insurance claim after Schwerin’s crimes came to light.

Judge Yehia adjourned the case to a date in June to discuss potential further compensation Schwerin could be ordered to pay.