Elissa Carricato sentenced after defrauding government of more than $20,000

A Shepparton woman submitted fake claims that she was impacted by the NSW floods, defrauding the government of more than $20,000.

Elissa Carricato plead guilty to making fraudulent claims to Services Victoria and using a stolen debit card at a Shepparton store.

A Shepparton woman has been busted submitting fake claims that she was impacted by devastating floods interstate, defrauding the government of more than $20,000.

Elissa Carriato was sentenced at the Shepparton Magistrate’s Court on Monday after she pleaded guilty to obtaining property by deception, theft and dishonestly undertaking in retention of stolen goods.

The court heard she submitted fraudlent claims to Services Australia for pandemic leave disaster payments throughout Covid and disaster recovery allowance for the New South Wales flooding event in 2022.

Between January 30, 2022 and August 8, 2022, Carricato received $22,600 from Services Australia.

Carricato made 14 fraudulent applications for disaster recovery payments for various levels of damage to cars, fencing and sheds.

She also made five applications for pandemic leave payments, claiming she had tested positive to Covid and therefore was unable to work.

The payments ranged between $740 and $1400 for each claim.

Carricato also pleaded guilty to paying for two bottles of alcohol using a stolen debit card at a Shepparton BWS, before returning to the store and receiving a $138 refund on a savings card.

Elissa Carricato was sentenced to a community corrections order for charges of theft and dishonesty.

The court heard an out of control relationship, drug use and fragile mental health were contributing factors to Carricato’s behaviour.

She has already started restitution and owed about $19,000.

The court heard her former employer described her as a successful and honest person.

Magistrate Olivia Trumble said it was a “good thing” Carricato did not have any prior dishonesty convictions as she would have been looking at a term of imprisonment, with the money defrauded “not (an) insignificant” amount.

She said Carricato’s type of offending did not help the financial pressure facing Victoria post Covid.

Ms Trumble said it was clear Carricato was prepared and motivated to address the difficulties that led to the offending, including drug use and mental health challenges.

She said given the matters were dated, an early plea, remaining offence free for 14 months, having no priors and incarceration would cause deterioration of mental health, a term of imprisonment would not be imposed.

Ms Trumble sentenced Carricato to a 16-month community corrections order which included treatment for drug abuse and mental health and 100 hours of unpaid community work which could include hours spent receiving those treatments.

She said her preference was for Carricato to receive treatment as that was the “best way to protect the community”.

“I accept this offending is out of character,” Ms Trumble said.

“You obviously have a good work ethic and hopefully going forward you get back in the workforce and address the issues that have given rise to it.”