Conspiracy theorist David Oneeglio accused of dodgy flood fundraiser
One of Australia’s most prominent conspiracy theorists is facing court over allegations he used funds raised for flood victims inappropriately.
A prominent conspiracy theorist who shared headlines of the horrific murder of two Queensland Police officers has faced court over allegations he used money raised for northern NSW flood victims inappropriately.
The Queensland Office of Fair Trading (OFT) told NCA NewsWire that charges against David Oneeglio, 48, had been filed following an investigation.
The Pottsville resident, who is friends with controversial chef Pete Evans, has been charged with one count each of failing to comply with lawful requirements, conducting unlawful appeals for support and person assisting an appeal converting money for own use or failing to properly account for the money in relation to the flooding in Lismore.
Mr Oneeglio’s connection to the flood fundraising charity, Aussie Helping Hands, was brought into question after concerns the money raised was not being used correctly.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported in May 2022 that Mr Oneeglio told his 73,000 Telegram followers he was only a volunteer of the charity.
Mr Oneeglio told the Herald the money that was sent to his account was for expenses incurred during his volunteering efforts, including repairs to his jet ski and truck.
He told the publication those donations were separate from those of Aussie Helping Hands.
“I asked for my name to be removed (from the AHH website) because people thought I controlled the accounts,” he said.
Mr Oneeglio had his matter mentioned for the first time on Friday in Brisbane Magistrates Court, where he appeared remotely from NSW.
While Mr Oneeglio is yet to enter an official plea, OFT prosecuting counsel Robert Vize told the court it was understood a plea of not guilty to all charges was expected.
Mr Vize requested a four-week adjournment to allow the OFT to prepare its full brief.
“At this stage the complainant is putting a full brief of evidence together,” he said.
Magistrate Colin Strofield adjourned the matter to March 17 to set a trial date if required.
Mr Oneeglio’s anti-vaccination rhetoric made national news in December after it was revealed Gareth Train, who was one of three people who killed two police officers and a bystander in the Western Downs in December last year, was a member of his Telegram.
Gareth, his wife Stacey and his brother Nathaniel were shot dead by police after a lengthy standoff between police after the trio lured the officers on to their Wieambilla property.
While there is no evidence to suggest Mr Oneeglio or any other group member was aware of the Train family’s plan to murder police officers, the prominent anti-vaxxer posted to his Telegram about the incident.
Mr Oneeglio shared a headline of the siege and claimed a number of people had predicted the gunmen would be “painted as far right extremists”.
“Well there you have it,” he wrote.
He added that he wasn’t trying to claim the story was “fabricated”.
“What I am saying is that no tragedy or crisis is allowed to go to waste and the war on conservatives continues,” he said.
“Maybe the gunmen were far right. Maybe they were not.
“We have every right to question the media apparatuses that has the blood of all the vaccine injured and dead on their hands.”
When one user noted they were “surprised this channel is still here”, Mr Oneeglio jumped in claiming “we haven’t done anything wrong”.