Flagrant fraudster: Conmen Neil Wright and Philip Fitzherbert plead guilty to fraud scheme
A County Court judge has branded “revolting” a heartless fraudster who stole more than $700,000 from several victims, among them a dying man who was unable to pay for vital medication. ARE YOU A VICTIM?
Inner South
Don't miss out on the headlines from Inner South . Followed categories will be added to My News.
A conman posing as a fake billionaire swindled cash from multiple victims including a dying man who needed money for vital medical treatment, a court has heard.
Neil Wright “masterminded” a complex fraud which left several families in financial ruin and unable to pay for food.
Wright and his criminal lackey, Philip Fitzherbert, stole $678,617 from seven victims between 2007 and 2015.
Wright claimed he needed cash for a fantasy legal battle to access his non-existent $4 billion trust fund.
The victims – who were promised big money returns on their “investments” – paid cash into accounts held by Wright and Fitzherbert.
None of the cash – the bulk of which was swallowed up by Wright – has been recovered.
The conmen strung their victims along with a series of lies including how the Reserve Bank, politicians, lawyers, judges and bankers were holding up the cash.
One victim, who did not wish to be named, told Leader News Wright claimed he needed to keep hold of the money to fund his bogus cancer treatment.
Another victim lost his business, others fell into financial ruin, and some got in strife with the Australian Taxation Office.
One victim – who lost almost $75,000 to Wright – died while waiting for his money to be returned.
Wright then asked the victim’s son for more money after the man died.
Another man, whose victim impact statement was read out at court, said he had “born witness to their victim’s pain, suffering, humiliation and even death”.
“I watched as one victim (name removed) pleaded for the return of his money which was needed to support his failing health.
“(The victim) died having not received the level of care he would have been able to afford had either Neil of Phillip not chosen to withhold money from a dying man.”
Wright, 69, from Albert Park, and Fitzherbert 74, from Mentone, were arrested in February 2015 after a victim uncovered their dirty deeds.
Both conmen pleaded guilty at the County Court on February 10 to multiple counts of obtaining financial advantage by deception.
A forensic accountant found Wright had an “inflow” of almost $3 million stretching back two decades. Almost $100,00 was splashed on Tattslotto tickets but the bulk is unaccounted for.
A Victoria Police fraud investigator told the court budget constraints meant several “unidentified” deposits remained a mystery.
Barrister Charles Morgan, for Wright, was mowed down mid-sentence by a Judge McInerney while attempting to downplay his client’s involvement.
“Rubbish, rubbish, rubbish,” Judge McInerney said.
“He set the whole thing up, he’s a svengali … it’s a joke.
“(Wright) is a flagrant fraud … and he’ll be sentenced accordingly.”
Judge Michael McInerney said their offending was “callous and revolting” and contained an “element of almost cruelty”.
“This is such a callous scheme, a lot of people want to make money but this so callous.”
MORE SCAM DUNK: AUSSIE NBA STAR TARGETED IN MOVIE FRAUD PLOT
SOCIALITE STOLE MILLIONS TO LURE HOLLYWOOD A-LISTERS
DEALER FREED AFTER SWAPPING DRUGS FOR BOGUS BAIL REPORTS
The court heard Fitzherbert – who claimed his physical and mental disabilities would make prison more “onerous” – was not a “patsy” but rather an “active participant”.
Fitzherbert was warned to be not “deluded” that a community correction order was in range.
“Prison is very much on the horizon,” Judge McInerney said.
Wright’s smug look was wiped out after Judge McInerney unexpectedly revoked his bail.
Both men will be sentenced on April 2 after Judge McInerney gets over the “revolting” facts.
“I want to recover from the revulsion of the scene,” Judge McInerney said.
ARE YOU A VICTIM OR DO YOU KNOW MORE: