Accountancy Matters boss James Mavrokokki pleads guilty to drugs and fraud offences

A Prahran accountancy boss who ran a fraud racket with a cocaine kingpin left staff and clients stunned after police raided his firm’s office.

Accountancy Matters boss James Mavrokokki pleaded guilty to growing weed at his Prahran firm. Google.

A shyster accountant who ran a scam with a prolific cocaine trafficker was nabbed with drugs and steroids at his firm’s Prahran office.

James Mavrokokki, 37, was sentenced in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Thursday to a 12-month good behaviour bond after pleading guilty to cultivating cannabis and obtain a financial advantage by deception.

Police raided Mavrokokki’s Prahran firm Accountancy Matters in front of stunned staff and clients in June last year.

An employee told the court she was with a client when police stormed the Malvern Rd firm.

Police seized cannabis plants Mavrokokki had growing in a room and seven vials of human growth hormone steroids.

Investigators also seized a phone, a laptop, pay slips and fraudulent documentation linking Mavrokokki to prolific Melbourne coke dealer Bronson Interlandi.

Interlandi was jailed earlier this year after he was exposed as the mastermind behind a Melbourne-wide dial-a-deal cocaine racket.

Interlandi paid Mavrokokki a monthly fee in return for a weekly wage for a bogus Accountancy Matters role as “business development manager”.

Interlandi, who had been a client of Mavrokokki since 2015, received $627 a week for a total of $7531 between March and June last year.

Interlandi then repaid the money in cash which Mavrokokki used for “personal expenses”.

Bronson Interlandi

Mavrokokki, who also pleaded guilty to making a false document, lodged false pay slips with the tax office to mask the skulduggery.

Mavrokokki profited $1100 via the scam, the court was told.

The court heard Mavrokokki volunteers at a gym coaching youth in boxing and kickboxing.

Mavrokokki had hoped to become a professional boxer until injury curtailed his career dreams, the court was told.

Multiple supporters including long-term employees, clients and friends gave the court references on Mavrokokki’s behalf.

The court heard Mavrokokki was a “hardworking” boss devoted to his clients and staff but many employees said they were “shocked” to learn of his criminal enterprise.

A friend said Mavrokokki was an “inspiration” and a “role model” who feared his reputation would be in tatters.

Magistrate Fiona Hayes asked why she shouldn’t see Mavrokokki’s fraud offending as “money laundering”.

“It’s not simply a tax dodge is it …,” Magistrate Hayes said.

“It seems like money laundering, I know he’s not charged as such …

“It’s hard to believe you would put your staff at risk by growing cannabis at your work premises.”

Mavrokokki, who also pleaded guilty to possessing steroids, was served the bond without conviction and fined $5000.

Interlandi was sentenced at the County Court earlier this year to six years’ jail with a minimum three years after pleading guilty to trafficking cocaine and various fraud offences.

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