Daniel Di Domenico: IdenticalYou conman jailed for fraud

A conman has been jailed after pocketing more than $500,000 from innocent victims who invested in a scam 3D printing business.

A man defrauded people in a bizarre business venture which he ran with the help of a serial con artist.

Daniel Di Domenico, 51, has pleaded guilty to five counts of dishonestly causing financial disadvantage to several victims who bought into his business, ‘IdenticalYou’ – a company which would supposedly allow people to make 3D-printed models of people, animals and objects.

Court documents reveal Di Domenico’s descent into fraud began in 2014, when he was approached by convicted fraudster Daniel Albert.

The innocent victims of this fraud lost over $500,000

According to agreed police facts, Di Domenico and Albert had known each other socially since 2004.

But it took a decade before Albert approached Di Domenico and “asked him to become part of a business venture in Australia.”

Court documents revealed the venture was to provide 3D photographic equipment to investors which was to be used to sell printed 3D figurines of people, animals and objects.

When Di Domenico agreed, IdenticalYou was established.

2014 marketing for IdenticalYou’s 3D printer

But even though this company was set up by Albert, agreed police facts state it was Di Domenico who paid to set up the business.

When the company was not able to pay for 3D photographic equipment, Albert suggested Di Domenico should invite others to invest in the company.

He did so and started receiving money from the victims in early 2014, many having come across the ‘IdenticalYou’ via the website Seek.

Di Domenico attained these funds through various promises: one person signed an agreement to be the Inner City and Bayside partner and four people were offered fulfilment partnerships.

The court heard one of these investors were among the worst affected by Di Domenico’s fraud. 

Court documents reveal Di Domenico “provided technical insight and advice to (this victim) … (he also) corresponded with (them) via email and met with them on more than one occasion.”

On June 27 2014, this victim signed a partnership agreement with Di Domenico for $225,000.

Albert escorted by police at Sydney International Airport in 2017. Picture: Richard Dobson

When IdenticalYou failed to launch on August 1 2014, as had been promised, the scheme began to fall apart.

And yet, in 2014, between May 14 and July 15, IdenticalYou had managed to rack up $666,600 from the five victims.

But by December 1, 2015, the company’s accounts didn’t contain a single dollar.

Judge Jane Culver described Di Domenico’s actions as “fraudulent enterprises”, adding the gravity of his crimes didn’t fall at the low end of the spectrum.

She told the court Di Domenico’s victims “were not large and profitable companies” but rather “individuals aiming to set up a small business”.

The court heard some of these victims lost their superannuation, life savings, and were forced to sell a family home.

However, Judge Culver also acknowledged that Di Domenico appeared to express genuine remorse and an intention to repay the victims.

Judge Culver described Albert as the “ringleader” and “the mastermind of the deception”, adding “he was the far more serious offender”.

The court heard Albert defrauded one additional victim involved with ‘IdenticalYou’ and was sentenced to 32 counts of financial fraud – many of these counts involving separate business ventures and dishonest schemes.

For this, Judge Culver concluded Albert “was found to be motivated by greed, as proved beyond a reasonable doubt.”

The court heard that Albert received a ten year prison sentence, with a non-parole period of six years and nine months.

For Di Domenico’s crimes, Judge Culver sentenced him to three years jail to be served in the community, by way of an intensive corrections order.

As part of his sentence, Di Domenico must complete 250 hours of community service work.

He must also pay a total of $644,100 to the various victims of this fraud.