Steven Rootsey: Jeremadra man sentenced for role in ‘sophisticated’ puppy scam

A South Coast small business owner who unwittingly found himself involved in a nefarious, statewide puppy scam that netted thousands of dollars has been sentenced. Find out what happened in court.

A South Coast labourer and small business owner who unwittingly found himself involved in a nefarious, statewide puppy scam that netted thousands of dollars has been sentenced at Batemans Bay Local Court.

Steven Rootsey pleaded guilty to four charges of recklessly dealing with the proceeds of crime after he was contacted by a man via Snapchat in mid-2021, asking for help from the Business Concrete Solutions’ owner.

According to police documents, the person claimed to be unable to deal in cryptocurrency and wished to use Rootsey as a conduit to convert money into near-untraceable, web-based currency for him.

In return, Rootsey was promised 10 per cent of the exchange, which he admitted sounded “too good to be true”, according to the documents. Nonetheless, Rootsey is said to have found the man “very persuasive”.

At the time, Rootsey’s lawyer said the father of three had been struggling with his finances having been made redundant by his previous employer, and then trying to use his exit package to start the concreting business.

“Rootsey spent $13,000 on advertising, but not having any links in the concreting industry, struggled to secure work,” the lawyer stated.

Steven Rootsey pleaded guilty to four charges of recklessly dealing with the proceeds of crime after he was contacted by a man via Snapchat in mid-2021.

“When he did receive work, it came in dribs and drabs. He had to chase some people for six months for payment, as well. The debts began to pile up, and Rootsey made a spontaneous and very poor decision.”

On July 24 2021, Rootsey created a Westpac bank account in his own name and provided the details to the person via Snapchat, according to the documents.

A few days earlier, a Griffith woman had been searching the internet for Staffordshire puppies when she came across a website called www.activestaffordshirebullterrierpuppies.com on July 16.

She contacted the website via email inquiring about puppies for sale, and received an email back from a man identifying himself as “Danny Wilson”.

The woman agreed after a number of emails to purchase a puppy named Kenzo for a total of $1650.

“The victim was directed to deposit the money into the previously mentioned Westpac account in the name of the accused. The victim never received the puppy and received no further communications from the website,” the documents state.

“The victim reports as well as the financial stress the loss of money caused, her 10-year-old son suffered significant emotional distress after never receiving the puppy he had been promised.”

Batemans Bay Local Court.

At least three more women were identified in court documents as having been defrauded, including residents in Blacktown, Mortdale, and Middleton Grange.

An application by police to produce one of the bank accounts used revealed as many as 20 transactions had been received over a three-day period from July 26 to 28, with amounts varying from several hundred to several thousand.

“The total value was $20,470. They were all from different account holders with reference to dogs and city permits,” the documents state.

“The accused converted 90 per cent of the total value into cryptocurrency as directed and transferred it into the person’s online accounts which are untraceable to local authorities.”

According to Rootsey’s lawyer, the labourer did not direct the scam nor was he aware of its scale.

He further stated that the scam itself was sophisticated in nature, and that Rootsey, in using his own business’ bank accounts and information, did not demonstrate the same ability.

“Dishonesty type offending is something Rootsey is unlikely to fall back on,” he said.

In sentencing, Magistrate Dick Doug heard from Rootsey’s lawyer that the Jeremadra man had sustained a significant period of non-offending after engaging in “serious criminal behaviours” for a short time earlier in his life.

“You have closed the door on community service,” Magistrate Dick said.

“These matters will be a test as to whether you can be trusted in the future.”

Magistrate Dick sentenced Rootsey to $6000 in fines for the scam, as well as an intensive corrections order period of two years during which Rootsey is ordered not to reoffend.