Conman declared ‘honey trap’ prostitute bankrupt, then set his sights on his own family
A PROSTITUTE who declined her conman client’s request to spy on another man and act as a “honey trap” was later declared bankrupt after he claimed false debts against her.
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A CONMAN who with his wife’s help claimed false debts against 10 victims, sending some bankrupt, has been jailed for eight years and one month.
Antonio and Patricia Dattilo even turned on members of their own family.
The father of two would used false affidavits falsely swearing his targets owed debts and had served writs on them. When his unwitting victims failed to appear in court to defend themselves, he would obtain judgment for those sums.
After the mother of a child at his son’s school refused his sexual advances Dattilo asked a prostitute, whose services he had used, to “honey trap” the woman’s husband, telling her the man was an employee he suspected of wife-bashing.
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When the call girl refused, instead helping the couple get an intervention order against him, he had her declared bankrupt. Her credit rating was ruined and she went broke trying to clear her name.
The County Court heard the crimes occurred over 15 months from November 2010, after the collapse of Dattilo’s olive oil importing business and an “acrimonious separation of business affairs” from his wife’s family
Patricia Dattilo’s sisters, Lina and Rosa Fato, became targets after a falling-out with her over the sale of a property.
Rosa Fato is still working to pay off a legal bill after Dattilo had her declared bankrupt.
Con Mancuso and Lani Hannah fell victim after evicting Dattilo from their factory after he stopped paying rent.
Mr Mancuso was declared bankrupt after more than $1.6 million of fake debts were lodged in the Federal Magistrates’ Court, and steps were taken to liquidate his company. He said he had been unaware of the bankruptcy until getting debt collection notices.
A second-hand-car dealer was another victim.
The Dattilos were charged in 2014, and eventually pleaded guilty: he to 22 charges of perverting and attempting to pervert justice and perjury, and she to 13 charges of perjury.
Dattilo was jailed for at least six years. But his wife’s three-year jail term was suspended for three years, so she can look after their son and daughter.
Outside court, Mr Mancuso and Ms Hannah, who said they spent eight years and $120,000 trying to clear their names, expressed disappointment.
Ms Hannah said: “It took us eight years to get the caveats removed from our properties, and even then it was only with police intervention.
“It’s been a nightmare for 10 years and he’s going to be in jail for six,” she said.
Judge Sandra Davis said Dattilo’s crimes were at the upper end of the range given their breadth and meticulous planning, and neither of the pair had expressed remorse.
Dattilo, who has convictions for deception for wrongly claiming a $95,000 tax refund and trying to claim a further $82,000, faces deportation to his native Italy on his release.