Melbourne hoon ringleader Andrew Drew jailed for TikTok GST fraud racket: Court

A scoundrel Melbourne hoon swindled taxpayer cash via a TikTok GST scam to fund lavish spending and a $1600 daily coke binge.

A Melbourne hoon who used TikTok to perpetrate a GST fraud racket to bankroll drugs, gambling, car parts and other lavish spending will be out of prison before Anzac Day.

Andrew Drew, 24, was sentenced in the County Court on Friday to 14-months jail time after pleading guilty to multiple dishonestly obtain financial advantage by deception charges.

Drew’s arrest exposed an investigation into a suspected widespread multimillion-dollar GST fraud allegedly involving Melbourne’s outlaw hoon network.

Australian Taxation Office Operation Protego investigators teamed with Victoria Police’s anti-hoon squad to snare Drew and others suspected of being involved in the Australia-wide scam.

Drew learned how to commit the lucrative fraud via his TikTok network and the scam was allegedly shared, taught and perpetrated by other suspected Melbourne hoons.

It’s understood investigators are probing up to 40 “persons of interest” linked to Melbourne’s hoon network and suspected of swindling about $6m.

Drew, who also pleaded guilty to multiple attempts to obtain financial advantage charges, created a fake “automotive” business and lodged bogus claims to glean taxpayer cash.

He also falsified various NSW addresses to throw investigators off his scent.

The court heard Drew rorted $111,494 between February and August 2022.

Drew is a convicted Melbourne hoon.

Drew, who also stole money from the Flood Relief Disaster Fund, was arrested less than a month after he was released from prison for serious hoon offending.

Drew told investigators he was going to call the ATO to arrange a “payment plan” on the day he was arrested.

The Bayswater North apprentice mechanic admitted spending $60,000 to $70,000 of his stolen money on cocaine and other drugs.

The degenerate scoundrel also spent $5000 on car parts, $30,000 to $35,000 on pokies, $14,000 on a lawyer, $1500 on “baby stuff” and some on “rent and bills”.

Drew told cops he had a $1600 daily cocaine habit and blew about 4g a day up his nose.

He also admitted learning the GST fraud via TikTok but didn’t offer up any others involved in the scam.

Drew told investigators he lodged the claims “alone” and “didn’t require assistance from anyone”.

The 24-year-old claimed he initially set up his business to be legitimate but became “greedy” and “went on a path of destruction”.

The court heard Drew was jailed in October 2022 for 16 months for taunting cops and inciting illegal street meets across Melbourne.

Drew forfeited his former hoon car.

Drew, who had his parole revoked after he was charged with the GST fraud, first landed on the police radar after his distinctive Holden Commodore was spotted at several illegal street meets in November 2021.

He performed burnouts and other dangerous moves at meets at Keysborough, Knoxfield and Dandenong South.

Dandenong High Risk Driving Crew members tracked down Drew and his distinctive Commodore – bearing plates ‘RN4MUK’ – in December 2021.

Drew conspired with his then girlfriend Zara Lunney-Adams to have associate Caleb Cromarty nominate himself as the driver and throw police off the scent.

Drew, who said he needed someone to “take the fall” for his “skid bullshit”, discussed the scheme with Cromarty.

However, Cromarty crumbled hopelessly during his police interview and Drew confessed to his crimes.

Investigators accessed Drew’s phone which revealed he had been inciting illegal street meets across Melbourne.

Drew, via Snapchat, incited other hoon bogans to meet up for illegal street gatherings on ten occasions between March 2021 and February 2022.

Zara Lunney-Adams

“Alright c---s its that time of the week again, grab ya sets, grab ya 16 year old sluts and lets bring the good old days back,” Drew said.

“You know the drill no meet ups at servos don’t bring attention to us … If cops come block them … remember it’s us against them … if they follow you go on a hike.”

Drew also taunted police in various other messages.

“No more mother’s meetings … block the roads if the cops come … there is more of us than them … f--- the cops … don’t run like a girl’s dick.”

Police were called to numerous hoon meets – some which had 200 drivers racing each other – that matched up with Drew’s Snapchat timeline.

Cops swamped hoons at Hallam, Dandenong South, Knoxfield, Chirnside Park, Rowville, Scoresby, Springvale, Tullamarine and Keysborough.

Drew, during his 2022 plea hearing, sobbed and threw his hands on his head after an application to forfeit his beloved Commodore was unopposed by the defence.

Lunney-Adams and Cromarty – who both pleaded guilty to attempt to pervert the course of justice – were convicted and handed two-year community correction orders.

Drew, who had spent 85 days on remand, will be released onto a two-year good behaviour bond after serving three months.

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