Debra Keane, Susan Hicks, Danielle Hicks plead guilty to roles in Gold Coast fraud scheme

Three women – including a mother and daughter – involved in a Gold Coast fraud plot selling fake horse racing memberships to investors have learned their fate.

Three women involved in a Gold Coast fraud scheme peddling fake horse racing membership plans to several investors have been sentenced in court.

Mother and daughter Susan Hicks, 70, and Danielle Hicks, 36, faced Southport District Court on Monday alongside their third co-accused Debra Keane, 65.

The court was told the trio worked for a Gold Coast company set up to defraud investors – selling them horse racing membership plans with promises of “unattainable” income – from March, 2018 to the beginning of 2020.

Crown prosecutor Joshua Francis said Keane and the older Hicks were salespeople “on the frontline” of the scheme, while Danielle Hicks filled a secretarial role.

It was heard Keane ripped off about $31,000 from five victims and received close to $23,000 in benefits, while Hicks defrauded $44,050 and personally took home more than $21,000.

The court was told the two saleswomen each went on to become “architects” of their own similar plots, with Hicks also recruiting her daughter to build a website and other administrative tasks.

Mr Francis said Keane’s start-up was significantly more profitable than Hicks’ – collecting $72,000 from which she took more than $39,000 – and that she also hired and trained other salespeople to bolster her scheme.

He said all three women had clean criminal histories and had largely co-operated with police.

Keane’s defence barrister Penny White said the mother of five had battled depression and anxiety for most of her life – which could make her more impulsive – and was only following instructions in her initial sales role.

The court was told Susan Hicks was had struggled with debt since her husband’s death years earlier, and was so ashamed of her conduct that she had lost several close personal relationships rather than tell people.

Her barrister Matt Hynes said she also suffered acute physical pain each day that would make time behind bars extremely difficult for her.

Judge Nicole Kefford said the younger Hicks was the only one not directly involved with customers and had the least financial gain, though would benefit from ongoing supervision to ensure she was not again adversely influenced by others.

Keane pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud – dishonestly inducing delivery of property worth $30,000 but less than $100,000. She was sentenced to three years’ jail with parole release on September 10, 2024.

Susan Hicks pleaded guilty to one count each of fraud – dishonestly inducing delivery of property worth $30,000 but less than $100,000 and fraud. She was sentenced to two years’ jail, wholly suspended for two years.

Her daughter pleaded guilty to one count each of fraud and money laundering. She was sentenced to two years’ jail, wholly suspended for two years, and placed on a two-year probation order.