Kye Sheehan: Gold Coast ‘fitfluencer’ charged with defrauding in excess of $200K
A southeast Queensland ‘fitfluencer’ who boasts more than 250,000 followers across his social media platforms has been hit with seven charges, including fraud and possessing anabolic steroids.
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A bodybuilding ‘fitfluencer’ who boasts more than 250,000 followers across his social media platforms has been hit with seven charges, including defrauding in excess of $200,000, dealing with the proceeds of crime, and possessing anabolic steroids.
Hope Island man Kye James Sheehan, 29, was charged with seven offences on June 24 following a raid by officers from Redcliffe CIB.
He is charged with three counts of possessing dangerous drugs, two counts of fraud, making a false entry in a record, and dealing with money or property worth $100,000 or more that is reasonably suspected of being the proceeds of crime.
His charges were mentioned in Southport Magistrates Court for the first time on Monday, July 14.
Defence lawyer Gabe Hanmer, of Osborne Butler Lawyers, appeared on Mr Sheehan’s behalf.
He told the court his client was on police bail and requested the charges be adjourned for a brief of evidence to be ordered.
The charges will next be mentioned on August 12.
No facts of the alleged offending were read onto the record at this stage of proceedings.
According to court documents, police allege the dishonesty offences were committed on unknown dates between September 1, 2020, and May 1, 2022.
It’s alleged Mr Sheehan dishonestly applied $150,000 belonging to a family trust, and dishonestly solicited $55,600 from a woman.
It is further alleged he made a false entry in a share deed on or about December 14, 2021, and dealt with cash in excess of $100,000 that was suspected of being the proceeds of crime.
When he was arrested and charged, police allege he was found with a horde of illicit steroids.
Police claim he was found in possession of Somatropin, a growth hormone, as well as Stanozolol and Drostanolone, both anabolic steroids.
On social media – he boasts more than 250,000 followers across his TikTok and Instagram accounts – Mr Sheehan talks up his 40-plus kilogram weight loss transformation, which has seen him compete in International Fitness and Bodybuilding Federation-accredited Men’s Classic Physique competitions.
“I lost 44 kilos... and my transformation post got 15.5 million views on TikTok and it got reviewed by the likes of [powerlifter] Larry Wheels and [strongman] Brian Shaw,” Mr Sheehan said in a June 11 video posted to Instagram.
“I never thought in my wildest dreams that I’d be stepping up on the stage in my underpants looking like Superman for my kids.
“I understand that navigating the fitness industry can be extremely hard. Find someone who’s walked the walk.”
He also uses his social media profiles to tout his online weight loss coaching business, with packages starting at $52 per week, plus a $207 set-up fee.
Prior to his rebirth as a ‘fitfluencer’, Mr Sheehan and business partner Matthew Hartnett opened a short-lived venue, Infinite Dessert Bar, at Palm Beach in 2018.
It closed barely six months after opening.
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Originally published as Kye Sheehan: Gold Coast ‘fitfluencer’ charged with defrauding in excess of $200K
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