Bendigo businessman Mitchell Landry jailed for NDIS fraud charges

A Bendigo man rorted more than $340,000 from the NDIS and splashed it on investment properties and a flashy Merc after he was teased for being fat.

Mitchell Landry was jailed for rorting the NDIS. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

A Bendigo scoundrel who rorted the NDIS for $340,000 then splurged the dough on three properties and a flashy car has been jailed.

Mitchell Landry, 23, was sentenced in the County Court on Monday to 16 months’ jail after pleading guilty to dishonestly causing loss to a government agency.

Landry billed the NDIS for multiple bogus services he claimed had been provided by his legitimate business Mitchells Property and Mowing Services.

Landry pocketed $342,940 and attempted to rort a further $156,338 via his protracted scheme between June and September 2018.

The court heard the Ocean Grove man, who was living in Bendigo at the time, splashed the cash on real estate and a $64,000 Mercedes-Benz van.

Mitchell Landry said he was bullied for being fat in school. Picture: Supplied

Landry secured the purchase of two units in North Bendigo, worth $296,250 and $310,000, and a $536,750 property in White Hills, the court was told.

The court heard Landry committed other fraud in 2018 and 2019, for which he was already undertaking a community corrections order.

It was heard Landry scammed $25,000 out of the TAC and had also stolen $4500 by claiming insurance for falsified items he said had been lost by Australia Post.

The court heard Landry had managed to repay $321,940.51 to NDIS by March 12, with another $6000 payment pending.

Landry’s lawyer told the court his client had voluntarily chosen to repay the money and planned to repay the $15,000 as soon as possible.

It was heard the now unemployed man had refinanced a fourth property he already owned, sold the car and borrowed money from his mum to come up with the cash.

Landry’s lawyer said there weren’t layers of deception to Landy’s crime.

“He was going to be found out one way or another,” the lawyer submitted.

“It was really an absurd undertaking on his behalf.”

The court heard Landry has high-function autism, which had led to him being bullied at school, as had his weight.

Chief Judge Peter Kidd took into account Landry’s stress heightened by his autism after his offending was revealed.

“You did jump into the deep end,” Chief Judge Kidd said.

The court heard Landry moved away from Bendigo.

Landry, who also pleaded guilty to attempting to dishonestly cause loss to a government agency, was jailed for a maximum three years but will be released on a three-year good behaviour bond after serving 16 months.