Melbourne’s most devious fraudsters and scoundrels to go down in 2021
Another ragtag bunch of bunco artists, fraudsters and scoundrels got their comeuppance in 2021. Here are some of Melbourne’s most devious.
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Victoria’s courts saw no shortage of villainous and devious bunco artists, conmen, scoundrels and fraudsters in 2021.
A jetsetting bogus broker who ripped off family, a granny grifter that almost ruined a small business, a dirt bag gold digger who drained her friend’s bank account and a shrewd swindler who siphoned cash from a motor racing identity are just some of the worst to fall on their sword last year.
THE GOTHAM CITY BUNCO QUEEN
Former Gotham City girl Cindy De-Waij committed a prolonged and sophisticated identity theft racket which left a slew of victims in her wake.
De-Waij was sentenced in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court in August to 12 months’ jail after she pleaded guilty to multiple fraud and theft offences.
De-Waij used fake and stolen identities and ill-gotten credit cards to leave her victims, which included multiple Melbourne women, in debt.
Police alleged De-Waij obtained her victims’ identities to rort cash and splash-out on high-end accommodation, drugs and designer clothes and accessories.
De-Waij’s alleged modus operandi included devious methods she told police she learned from the dark web which included carefully doctoring photo IDs and falsifying documents.
De-Waij allegedly used a Melbourne woman’s identity to take out a $17,000 bank loan and order a $4500 Citibank credit card.
The alleged rorts were uncovered after police were led to an Aladdin’s Cave of fraud material which contained “hundreds” of passports, driver’s licences and Medicare cards at a South Melbourne storage facility.
Folders containing tax statements, foreign bank statements and multiple names and documents doctored with false Victoria Police stamps were also located.
De-Waij also allegedly used bogus credit cards and IDs to book herself into luxury accommodation in Richmond, St Kilda, South Yarra, Prahran, South Melbourne and the city.
De-Waij, whose alleged offending occurred between October 2019 and April 2021, left discarded identity documents, photographs, pay slips and fake credit card templates at her various short stay apartments.
An owner also allegedly found various printing tools including erasers, markers, drawing and drafting pencils, rulers and A4 foam boards and assorted bank statements in an apartment vacated by De-Waij.
Police also found a diary which allegedly outlined where De-Waij planned to stay under a particular stolen identity.
The accused fraudster’s lengthy racket came to an abrupt halt after an alleged victim initiated a sting operation to snare De-Waij at a Windsor post office.
The alleged victim, who hunted De-Waij after discovering $11,500 had been run up on her credit card, traced a Jadore Hair products order to the post office.
The woman inquired but was told the order had already been collected, however the post office manager said another delivery for knee high boots, a Michael Kors watch and Saint Laurent sunnies was waiting to be collected.
The pair set a trap to snare De-Waij when she came to the store.
De-Waij allegedly arrived to collect her wares but police pounced and arrested her on April 22.
Magistrate Fiona Hayes said De-Waij was “essentially a con-artist”, jailing the bunco queen for a maximum 18 months.
GRIFTER GRANNY
Scoundrel grandmother Lorraine Bull rorted $754,000 which she blew on household bills, home renovations and expensive international airfares.
Bull was sentenced in the County Court in October to a minimum two years’ jail after pleading guilty to nine offences including multiple rolled-up theft charges.
Bull fleeced $754,347 via 897 bogus transactions from her former employer Minorlink Pty Ltd between August 2003 and September 2017.
The former bookkeeper, who was in charge of wage management, company accounts and bank, used her position to transfer $559,559 to her personal bank accounts.
Bull masked her skulduggery by labelling the dodgy transfers as “electronic payments” and payments to third-party suppliers.
Bull siphoned $99,863 to pay off utilities including Telstra, EastLink CityLink, VicRoads, AAMI, Shell, Red Energy and Optus bills.
The fraudster also transferred more than $10,000 to cover car services for her and her family and blew more than $16,000 at Officeworks on goods including a HP computer and a Galaxy phone.
Bull splashed $23,490 on home renovations and splurged more than $10,000 on two Thai Airways airfare tickets for her and her late daughter.
Bull also diverted more than $33,000 to her daughter via bank transfers and ill-gotten blank Minorlink cheques.
The grandmother’s 14-year rort unravelled when Minorlink’s owner Jeffrey Siegman began winding down the business in late-2016.
Mr Siegman, who became “concerned about aspects of the company’s finances”, reported Bull to police in May 2017.
Bull, who ceased employment at Minorlink in April 2017, was interviewed by police in 2020.
Bull told investigators the thefts were “largely committed” to support her daughter, the court was told.
Judge Wendy Wilmoth said Bull’s moral culpability was “high”.
Bull was jailed for a maximum four years and eight months.
THE BREWSTER‘S MILLIONS MUM
Scoundrel mum Roselyn Taione blew $225,000 fleeced via a fraud on a five-day shopping frenzy at various stores including Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Breitling has avoided a jail term.
Taione was sentenced in the County Court in October to a three-year community correction order after pleading guilty to recklessly dealing with the proceeds of the crime.
The Melton South disability support worker’s frenetic spending splurge kicked-off after $225,651 mysteriously lobbed in her bank account on November 30 last year.
The cash, gleaned via a rort on a million-dollar plus Prahran property deal, was commission for real estate agent Burtons Pty Ltd but fraudulently diverted to Taione’s account.
Taione, who is not alleged to have been involved in the fraud, dumped the entire amount between November 30 and December 4.
Taione spent big at multiple stores including Foot Locker, JB Hi Fi and The Good Guys and splashed $22,000 at Costco on Apple products, jewellery and watches.
Taione also found time to fly up to Sydney where she burned money at Burberry, Gucci, Louis Vuitton and The Breitling Boutique.
Taione “ramped” her shopping spree up when she attempted to purchase a $57,000 Rolex at Crown Casino but the transaction ”failed”.
Taione also feverishly transferred and withdrew cash and purchased $16,000 in US currency worth more than $20,000 AUD.
Police, who tracked down Taione via her bank account and CCTV footage, arrested the mum at her former Strathtulloh home.
Investigators seized booty including $1350 cash, four iPhones, an iPad Pro, a Mac Book Pro, a Nintendo Switch, jewellery, three televisions, a Louis Vuitton handbag, Burberry clothing, Nike shoes and “assorted” homewares and appliances.
Taione told police she “didn’t know where the money came from” but “was scared because it was large amount of money”.
Taione claimed she was told she had 48 hours to spend the cash before her account was blocked and in return would receive $20,000 and get to keep her “cut” of the shopping spree.
Taione, who claimed it “didn’t come to her mind that something was dodgy”, told police she was instructed to take withdrawn cash to Sydney and leave it in a shoebox in a garage.
Taione also claimed she was instructed to dump her account which she did spending up big at the high-end Sydney stores.
The court heard many of Taione’s relatives received gifts including jewellery, a diamond ring and an iPhone.
Judge Robert Dyer said “it’s a lot of money”.
“A pair of Nikes at Costco is one thing but lining up for a Rolex for 57 grand at Crown is quite another,” he said.
The court was told Taione’s was too scared to give up the masterminds behind the fraud.
Taione, who works nights as a disability support worker, was convicted and also ordered to perform 300 hours of unpaid community work with discounts for treatment and repay the full $225,651.
THE SAND SHYSTER AND THE MOTOR RACING IDENTITY
Pollard was sentenced in the County Court in November to a 12-month jail term after pleading guilty to course of conduct theft and falsifying an account record charges.
Pollard, formerly known as Jessica Richardson-Ward, was a weighbridge attendant at Skye Sands quarry when she stole $415,600 between February 2011 and April 2015.
The court was told Pollard, without authority, sold sand at heavily discounted prices for cash to two customers then pocketed the cash for herself.
Some of the dodgy transactions were transferred directly to Pollard’s bank account, the court was told.
The fraudster issued bogus receipts to the customers who were unaware Pollard did not have authority to sell sand at discounted prices.
Pollard, who began working at the Harold Rd quarry in 2010, thieved more than $400,000 but the total loss to Skye Sands Pty Ltd was $812,000.
Skye Sands director Walter ‘Rusty’ French uncovered the lengthy racket when a customer asked him directly if the discounted sand deal could continue.
Mr French, an Australian motor racing identity, hauled Pollard in for questioning then commenced civil proceedings against his scoundrel ex-employee.
Pollard admitted her skulduggery and signed over property to Mr French including a Toyota Rukus, three motorcycles, a camper trailer and gym equipment.
Pollard, who was arrested in late-2018, told police she organised the cheap cash rates passed onto unsuspecting customers.
Pollard also put former Skye Sands site manager Daryl Tipper in the frame, telling police the deceased man “encouraged” her to pocket the cash and “split it with him”.
Pollard also said Mr Tipper had “instructed” her to get more cash customers but she didn’t want to.
The devious fraudster also claimed Mr Tipper told her to give customers the “impression” Mr French was aware of the discounts.
Pollard claimed she and Mr Tipper each received $120,000 and she blew her share on cars, a camper trailer, a wedding, holidays, furniture, bills and meals.
Mr Tipper’s name was first put forward as a possible co-offender only after he had died in a road accident, the court was told.
“This is a carefully thought out repetitive theft over years, it’ll be different if she did it once and then immediately regret that she ever did it …
“The community has to know if you rob your employer you’re likely to be punished severely,” Judge Matthew Smith said.
Pollard, a mother of two who told the court she now works as a direct care worker, was also handed a two-year community correction order.
THE GOLD DIGGER DIRTBAG
Malvern gold digger Marie Heeraman splashed out on clothes, hair and beauty salons, dining out and a flash new Peugeot after rorting $143,000 from her former lover.
Heeraman was sentenced in the County Court in August to two-year community correction order with conviction after pleading guilty to a course of conduct theft charge.
Heeraman fleeced her former partner Michael Peirce for $142,304 after she strung him along between October 2014 and August 2016.
The gold digger nurse got her thieving mitts on Mr Peirce’s dough after he gave the scoundrel access his inheritance money.
Mr Peirce received $234,100 via his deceased mum’s estate but transferred the money to a new account he opened with and controlled by Heeraman in October 2014.
The plan was Heeraman would look after Mr Peirce’s funds for his “benefit” by paying his expenses and providing him with cash as he needed it.
However, Heeraman transferred the cash to other accounts she opened on the same day then fleeced the funds via 808 bogus transactions.
In a shock coincidence, Mr Peirce and Heeraman’s relationship ended the same time the accounts were opened, the court was told.
Heeraman then moved to a Malvern property where she lived with a man who she married little more than 12 months later, the court heard.
Heeraman splashed Mr Peirce’s cash on various extravagances including restaurants, events, $10,000 on clothing and bridal wear, $5000 on homewares, a staggering $6000 plus on hairdressing, beauty salons and products and more than $46,000 in cash withdrawals.
Heeraman also threw down for a flash $27,000 Peugeot.
In contrast, while Heeraman was living it up on the other side of town, Mr Peirce, from Boronia, was left destitute and distraught.
Heeraman, who referred to Mr Peirce as ‘Pixie’, kept her former lover at bay with a string of deceitful messages.
“Just know that I love you & care about you v much & I will always be there for you, even when nobody else seems to care,” Heeraman said via a message sent to Mr Peirce three months after she married her husband.
“You”ll always be my dearest friend & yes, for life. You can count on me.”
Heeraman, who did not permit Mr Peirce to attend her wedding, made it “clear” she did not want her new husband to know about her contact with Mr Peirce, the court heard.
“I am truly helping you to spend yr $ wisely & to save & one day you”ll thank me for this,” Heeraman said via message sent after she had burned through $105,000 of her victim’s cash. “So pls understand my logic ok. It’s for yr best interest, as I don”t want you to run out of money ok.”
Heeraman also “advised” her victim to spend his Centrelink money carefully and look for a job.
CATCH ME IF YOU CAN CRICKETER CONMAN
Cricketer Daniel Hoggett’s escalating “thrillseeking” Catch Me If You Can identity theft fraud racket which left a slew of victims has been bowled over.
Hoggett fronted the County Court in September after pleading guilty to multiple obtain financial advantage charges.
Hoggett rorted almost $48,000 and attempted to fleece a further $168,500 between May 2016 and July last year.
The bumbling scoundrel stole multiple identities which he used to open various credit and bank accounts.
Hoggett, who also pleaded guilty to attempting to obtain a financial advantage by deception charges, made 24 Latitude After-Pay applications using bogus ID.
The majority of the funds Hoggett gleaned from the racket was not recovered by Latitude, the court was told.
Hoggett also opened various American Express, Bendigo Bank and Optus accounts and credit cards using stolen ID.
Hoggett used the accounts and credit cards to purchase expensive electronic goods including iPhone Pro phones and iPads.
Hoggett’s preferred retail target was the Good Guys with the fraudster opting to purchase his ill-gotten wares from that particular retailer on multiple occasions.
Hoggett was arrested, charged and bailed multiple times during his lengthy racket but investigators finally banged their man up for good in September last year.
Hoggett found school boring and was instead more focused on sport including cricket and football, the court was told.
Hoggett played for Knox City Cricket Club up until his latest remand and hopes to continue playing football and cricket.
SCOUNDREL ACCOUNTANT RORTED DEAD CLIENT
Scoundrel Frankston accountant Michael Carley claimed he stole more than $400,000 from a deceased client because the beneficiaries didn’t need the cash.
Carley was sentenced in the County Court in November to a minimum two years’ and six months’ jail after pleading guilty to theft and false accounting charges.
Carley was made an executor and power of attorney for his former client Kenneth Butler who died in 2003.
The court heard Carley formed his own practice Carley Advisory then began draining Mr Butler’s estate in 2010.
Carley fleeced $403,685.89 via multiple bogus transactions between July 2010 and July 2018.
The fraudster falsified accountancy records to mask his skulduggery.
Solicitors managing Mr Butler’s estate received an email tip-off in September 2018 that Carley had been “misappropriating funds” from his deceased client.
Carley, who was “initially evasive”, suggested to the solicitors the tip-off came from a “disgruntled employee” who was attempting to “cause him” problems.
However, Carley admitted to the solicitors that he “may have” overcharged accounting fees from “time to time”.
Carley also admitted using Mr Butler’s estate funds for his “own personal use” and he transferred dough to his personal account because he “needed funds in his business”.
Carley, who apologised for taking the money, claimed he had not done the “wrong thing” because he intended to repay the funds.
But Carley also admitted he had stolen money for his “own benefit”.
Carley claimed he had been paying money back and owed $50,000 but the prosecution summary states no money has been paid back.
Carley told the solicitors he took the money because none of the estate’s beneficiaries “needed the money at present” and the money was “easily available to him”.
Police arrested and interviewed Carley in May 2019.
The fraudster admitted using the money “at a point in time” when he was “struggling with his own business”.
The court held Carley was previously a well respected contributor to the community known in many circles including local schools.
Judge Michael McInerney said the “very serious” offending was a “grave breach of trust”
Carley was jailed for a maximum three years and eight months.
THE SLIPPERY COCAINE-FUELLED SWINDLER
Serial South Australian conman Dwayne Antojado fled to Melbourne where he committed a $100,000 Medibank rort to fund a “high-end” lifestyle of flashy clothes, clubs and cocaine.
Antojado pleaded guilty in the County Court in September to obtain property by deception.
Antojado rorted $120,901 from Medibank coffers after the scoundrel used 109 false identities to open accounts between October 2018 and December 2019.
The conman, who paid the minimum premiums for the accounts, lodged multiple bogus claims for non-existent health care services via Medibank subsidiary AHM.
Antojado exploited AHM’s online claiming system which did not require receipts, the court was told.
Antojado then funnelled the dough into various bank accounts held under his name.
The racket unravelled after police arrested Antojado for unrelated offending in June 2019.
Investigators, who discovered evidence Antojado had opened the AHM accounts, sought a search warrant to examine the scoundrel’s bank accounts.
Antojado’s run on the outside came to a screeching halt when police arrested and charged the fraudster in December 2019.
Antojado, a former student representative council president, competed in prestigious academic competition The Evatt Trophy, the court was told.
However, Antojado “lost his appetite” for education before dropping out of a University of South Australia business degree to work as a David Jones supervisor.
The court heard Antojado discovered how easy it would be to commit the scam after being led through the claim process by the representative.
Antojado spent more than a year behind bars in South Australia before getting paroled in early-2017.
Antojado’s parole was extended after he was sprung lying to his parole officer and missing appointments, the court was told.
The serial swindler eventually skipped out on parole and fled to Melbourne where he recommenced his Medibank scam modus operandi.
Antojado, who had spent 606 days on remand, will be sentenced on March 25.
METHHEAD POKIES BOSS FRAUDSTER
Former methhead pokies manager Jack Woolley stole more than $300,000 which he blew on a crippling ice addiction and gambling at Crown Casino.
Woolley was sentenced in the County Court in May to a minimum 14 months’ jail after pleading guilty to a rolled-up charge of theft.
Woolley was the Waterloo Cup Hotel venue manager when he rorted $381,880 via 80 bogus transactions between July 2016 and March 2017.
The thieving degenerate helped himself to the Moonee Ponds’ hotel pokie machine takings — including pocketing $14,000 during a single rort.
Woolley masked his skulduggery by manipulating eftpos and transaction data, the court was told.
However, his thievery ended abruptly after senior finance staff for the venue’s owners, Supreme Hotel Group, discovered records had been manipulated and cash was missing.
An internal investigation revealed Woolley was the duty manager when each of the cash discrepancies occurred.
Woolley, who was hauled in for a meeting with the group’s owner and other senior staff, initially denied the offending.
Woolley eventually copped to his scam, agreed to repay the cash then was sacked on the spot.
Woolley immediately handed back $3500 but ghosted his ex-employer when his audacious promise to repay $360,000 in 28 days went kaput.
Hotel management set police on Woolley when he failed to repay any more cash.
Woolley told investigators he was “pretty much taking takings from the day” and would “recoup” the stolen funds by manipulating computer information.
The thief said he would “skim” money and sometimes stole cash bags “depending on whether he needed coin to buy more gear”.
Woolley estimated he stole “393” but wasn’t certain because he was “cooked off his head”.
Woolley, who admitted having a “pretty bad” ice addiction, said he spent the funds on a “bit of gambling” but the cash went “predominantly on the gear”.
Woolley also told police he “put a fair bit of cash through Crown” and he was using a $1000 ‘ball’ of meth a day.
Judge Fran Dalziel jailed Woolley for a maximum two years and three months.
MUM’S MILLION-DOLLAR SPLURGE
Scoundrel mum Anna Acevska stole almost $1.5 million from her former employer which she splurged on luxury goods and gambling.
Acevska was sentenced in the County Court in October to a minimum 15 months’ jail after pleading guilty to a rolled-up charge of theft.
Acevska rorted $1,432,301 from her ex-boss Williamstown Crane Hire via 243 bogus transactions between November 2018 and March last year.
The Truganina mother of two used her $1100 a week office manager role to diddle invoices and funnel dough into bank accounts controlled by her and her two sons.
Acevska’s skulduggery was unravelled in March last year while the fraudster was on leave.
Williamstown Crane Hire staff questioned Acevska on her return but the scoundrel left the meeting after becoming “extremely light-headed”.
Acevska continually blocked her ex-boss‘ efforts to make contact with excuses that she was “too ill” or was “moving house”.
The matter was referred to police who raided Acevska’s Woolshed Drive home on September 1 last year.
Investigators seized a swag of expensive luxury goods Acevska purchased with her ill-gotten gains including a black Mercedes AMG hatch, a Rolex watch and an Apple laptop.
Police also seized a booty of designer brand clothing and accessories including Versace and Gucci Handbags, Louis Vuitton, Versace, Giuseppe Zanotti, Christian Louboutin and Valentino Garavani shoes, a Moncler puffer jacket, a Louis Vuitton blazer and a Dolce & Gabbana hoodie.
Acevska told police she stole the money because she “just needed”.
Acevska also said she “bet a lot” and went to the pokies “probably four times a week”.
Judge Anne Hassan said the offending was “extremely serious” and a “grave breach of trust”.
Acevska was jailed for a maximum two years and three months.
THE BOGUS BROKER SCUMBAG
Bogus stock broker Matthew Waij duped friends, family and other victims out of more than $2.7m, which he blew on a jetsetting luxury lifestyle.
Waij was sentenced in the County Court in September to a minimum four years and two months’ jail after pleading guilty to 18 fraud charges.
Waij rorted $2,729,500 via his protracted fraud racket between September 2006 and June 2017.
The scoundrel’s many victims included his uncle, aunt, a former Southern Cross Bendigo employee, a Shepparton builder and a Shepparton dairy farmer.
Waij, who the court was told never held an Australian Financial Services licence, fronted as a licenced financial adviser and stock broker.
The fraudster, who provided financial “advice” to his victims, arranged for their superannuation savings to be transferred to self-managed super funds.
Waij promised the cash would be soundly invested but instead took control of their cash and transferred the dough to various bank accounts.
The conman masked his thievery with various letterheads of companies which either didn’t exist or he wasn’t associated with.
Waij, who falsely claimed he held a masters in finance and accounting, created several companies — many of which were based in Shepparton — to help funnel the cash.
In reality, Waij was using his victim’s cash to pay other investors in a racket described by the prosecution as “robbing Peter to pay Paul”.
“Is that a Ponzi scheme,” Judge Douglas Trapnell said.
“The whole problem with a Ponzi scheme is when the music stops and a lot of people don’t have chairs to sit on.”
Waij, who told several victims he had offices in Melbourne and Hong Kong, also spent the cash on flash Gucci products, legal bills, gambling, Men’s Gallery Sydney, lavish dinners, flights, hotels, traveller’s cheques and Deliveroo orders according to bank records submitted to the court.
Police caught up with Waij in October 2019 while he was serving a jail term for a fraud he committed in 2006.
Waij told police he sent $10m “overseas”, paid a $700,000 ATO bill and had “civil litigation against 67 people”.
The court heard Waij — who changed his name from Matthew Way –— dropped out of a Deakin University business degree in the early 2000s.
Waij worked for Westpac while still at uni then shifted to Goldman Sachs in 2005, the court was told.
Waij, who appeared via videolink from Fulham Correctional, is serving a seven-year jail term for prior fraud offending.
THE LADBROKES DEGENERATE
Former company director Jaicome ‘Jake’ Spinella rorted more than $3 million which he dumped through his online gambling account in just seven months.
Spinella was sentenced in the County Court in June to a minimum two years jail after he pleaded guilty to a rolled-up charge of obtaining financial advantage by deception.
Spinella, a former co-director of Melbourne concreting business Bauen Concrete Pty Ltd, siphoned $3,131,718.82 of company dough into his Ladbrokes’ account between December 2016 and July 2017.
The degenerate gambler was solely responsible for Bauen finances when he used the company’s credit card to swindle the cash into his Ladbrokes’ account.
Spinella, of Maribyrnong, started off small with just two $220 payments, but his thieving quickly ballooned with the dud punter making 150 payments totalling $1,086,450 in June 2017 alone.
Spinella made a total of 569 payments between December 2016 and July 2017.
The court heard the company had been successful, having grown from one employee in November 2015 to 55 staff in July 2017.
Bauen also made about $5.6 million in sales between January and March 2017.
But it was forced to go into liquidation on July 21, 2017 shortly after Spinella confessed his crime to his co-director and they realised the company was insolvent.
When Spinella was later interviewed by Australia Securities and Investment Commission officers he told them his first couple of payments to Ladbrokes on the company card were an accident, because it looked identical to his personal one.
But he admitted he then ‘lent’ himself $3.13 million.
He told the investigators his gambling had escalated as he tried to pay back what he’d already taken.
The court heard Bauen receivers sued Ladbrokes to recoup back losses after it was submitted the gambling giant encouraged Spinella to punt with VIP offers.
A confidential mediation settlement was reached this month but Ladbrokes did not consent for the details of the settlement to be released, the court was told.
Judge Michael Cahill said Spinella committed a “serious abuse of trust”.
“You deceived not only the company but also your friend,” Judge Cahill said.
Spinella, a dad, was jailed for a maximum four years.
THE JETSETTING CONWOMAN
Mentone scoundrel Jenna Ross stole almost $170,000 from her former employer via a protracted credit card expense fraud.
Jenna Ross fronted the County Court in March after pleading guilty to a rolled-up charge of obtain a financial advantage by deception.
Ross fleeced $165,133 from her ex-employer Suncorp Group Ltd between May 2014 and January 2018.
The former management assistant used her lofty role working directly under senior managers to illegally access company American Express credit cards.
The crafty assistant masked her skulduggery by falsifying company expense records.
Ross dumped $86,250 on gift cards and $78,883 on business class flights and accommodation for her and her friends, the court was told.
Ross booked holidays to Sydney, Gold Coast, Adelaide, Perth, Los Angeles, New York, Las Vegas, Dallas, Austin, San Francisco.
Ross also booked premium accommodation for her planned escapades including the Hilton Garden in New York City, Le Meridian in Dallas and the flashy Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas.
Ross lied to friends about how she funded their glamour holidays, telling them she won some of the trips and her sister booked special deals.
Ross forged emails to fool friends the holidays were legitimate.
The fraudster also spent some of the money on dine-out meals, fines and her local club.
Ross’s racket unravelled in early-2018 when Suncorp investigators smelled a rat.
Ross, who resigned in March 2018, was not charged until November 2019.
Some friends who were the benefits of the travel jaunts gave references to the court on behalf of Ross.
Judge Chris Yan said Ross “didn’t always go to the well”.
“When she goes to the well she does a good job of it,” Judge Ryan said.
Ross copped a three-year community correction order with conviction, must complete 300 hours unpaid work and seek treatment for her mental health.
DOLE CHEAT GRANNY
Mornington Peninsula grandmother Barbara Bell-McLaren fleeced more than $100,000 from Centrelink.
Bell-McLaren was sentenced in the County Court in February to two-year suspended jail term after pleading guilty to obtaining a financial advantage by deception.
Bell-McLaren rorted $107,255 in aged care pension payments via 31 false declarations between 2012 and 2018.
The court was told Bell-McLaren funnelled the dough into multiple bank accounts then dumped most the cash through the pokies.
The Hastings granny neglected to tell Centrelink she was pulling good coin working two jobs during her offending period.
Bell-McLaren, who also goes by Barbara Joan Bell-McLaren and Barbara Bell, raked in a combined $305,000 driving buses for Cranbourne Transit and peninsula pokies joint The Hastings Club.
The latter company is linked to the Hastings Football and Netball Club with which Bell-McLaren is associated.
Bell-McLaren’s skulduggery was detected by Centrelink via data-matching in mid-2017.
Centrelink wrote the dole-cheat a letter informing her of the data-match then invited her in for an interview in October 2018.
Bell-McLaren, who admitted her offending had “snowballed”, told Centrelink she blew the cash on gambling, living expenses and a new kitchen for her house.
The granny also told Centrelink she didn’t consider her bus driving role at The Hastings Club to be work.
Judge George Georgiou called Bell-McLaren’s offending an “ongoing course of conduct” which was “deliberate and calculated behaviour”.
However, Judge Georgiou spared the granny an immediate jail term citing her age and some personal circumstances as factors in mitigation.
Bell-McLaren was handed a two-year jail term wholly suspended for three years.
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