Drew Reynolds defrauded federal government flood relief grants

The brother of a former NSW Blues star defrauded the federal government’s disaster recovery fund of $5000, impersonating members of his family and bragging about his deposits.

The brother of a former State of Origin player has fronted court after swindling $5000 in disaster relief grants by impersonating his family and claiming on houses he didn’t live in or which weren’t damaged by flood water.

Drew Reynolds, 30, of Roselands, defrauded $5000 from the Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment (AGDRP) package by making false flood claims, later bragging about his “gift of the gab” to mates.

Reynolds is the brother of former Canterbury Bulldogs star Josh Reynolds.

“Lucky I’ve got the gift of the gab, son,” Reynolds would tell his friend and one co-offender after securing another tranche of relief payments.

“100 per cent success rate LOL,” he also said. “$500 in 40 minutes – not badddddddd.”

Drew Reynolds was sentenced for gaining financial advantage from a Commonwealth entity.

Reynolds was convicted both for receiving financial advantage from a Commonwealth entity and for gaining financial advantage for someone else at Burwood Local Court on Wednesday. He pleaded guilty and was slapped with a $5000 fine, the exact amount he defrauded, and a nine-month community corrections order (CCO).

Drew Reynolds (right) with his rugby league brother Josh Reynolds.

In total, Reynolds made five fraudulent claims to Centrelink for the payments, impersonating family members and two friends – the latter two were also sentenced for their role.

Reynolds made $3000 from his own claims and split the two other $1000 claims with the co-offenders.

Police facts tendered to court showed the extent of Reynolds’ fraudulent claims,

Between April 10 and April 19 2021 Reynolds made the first three claims, each time resulting in a $1000 relief payment.

He first claimed on a Belmore house he no longer lived in, claiming flooding was so bad “water was running down the walls”. Reynolds then impersonated both his father and one of his brothers on a damage-free property in Long Jetty, nominating his bank account for where the money should go to.

Reynolds told Centrelink staff over the phone the water at the property was “ankle deep” and that it “came through the front doors”. The Long Jetty property was not damaged by floods, court documents said.

After each time receiving the $1000 he bragged about it to friend Aaron Sowter where he revelled in his “100 per cent success rate, LOL”.

Reynolds then made claims on behalf of co-offenders Aaron and William Sowter.

“I’ll do it for you, (then we go) halfsies,” Reynolds said to Aaron.

Each of the Sowters would keep $500 of the $1000 payment, granted in full on both occasions, and give Reynolds the remaining half.

Reynolds called Centrelink no less than 22 times during the offending, court documents showed.

Aaron and William Sowter were both charged and convicted with one count each of receiving financial advantage from a Commonwealth entity, after pleading guilty. Aaron was given a $2500 fine, William received a $2000 fine and a nine-month CCO.