Southwest Queensland’s 2020 fraudsters

HERE is a list of people who ripped off southwest businesses and residents during 2020.

phishing - fish hook with a credit card on white computer keyboard credit card fraud generic, scammers, theft

Many Southwest Queensland residents have faced newfound financial hardships during the COVID crisis, but four fraudsters have tried to sip money away from others during this trying time.

Here are four of Southwest Queensland’s fraudsters who faced court during 2020:

Lane Andrew Hearn

Lane Andrew Hearn fronted Roma Magistrates Court.

Lane Andrew Hearn was hoping to make a buck by flipping a stolen camera but found himself in front of Roma Magistrates Court instead.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Heather Whiting told the court on August that police searched a Roma home on June 21, 2019 and found a number of items, including a Fuji SLR camera.

Hearn pleaded guilty to unlawfully possessing a camera.

He was sentenced to three months imprisonment, wholly suspended, for possessing suspected stolen property and for fraud.

He was convicted and not further punished for breaching probation and community service orders.

For charges of possessing a dangerous drug in April 2019, possessing property used with the drugs misuse act, and breaching a condition of bail in May 2019, Hearn was fined $750.

A conviction was recorded for all offences.

Nicole Millard

Nicole Ellen Millard

A pregnant woman appeared in court via videolink from jail, pleading guilty to a span of offences.

Nicole Ellen Millard, 38, pleaded guilty to 11 charges including dangerous driving, fraud, obstructing police, stealing, possession of dangerous drugs, supplying dangerous drugs and breaching bail.

Police prosecutor sergeant Heather Whiting told the Roma Magistrates Court the most serious of offences occurred in June last year, when Millard used a Toyota Landcruiser wagon to ram another car on McDowall St.

“This is aggravated by the fact there were two previous dangerous operations on the defendant’s history,” Sgt Whiting said.

“Also around 14 breaches of bail on her history, 13 of which occurred from March 15-May 14 until she was brought into custody.

“This seems to reflect Ms Millard’s lifestyle at the time being quite itinerant and perhaps, chaotic.”

Magistrate Peter Saggers sentenced Ms Millard to 12 months in jail.

The defendant was released on parole with just over three months of pre-sentence custody already served taken into account.

Millard’s conviction was automatically recorded as she was sentenced to imprisonment.

Keisha May Hearn

Keisha May Hearn

A MOTHER-of-three with a “poor history of dishonesty” has been told by the magistrate that she has narrowly avoided jail time.

Keisha May Hearn fronted Roma Magistrates Court on Tuesday, facing five charges including fraud, possessing dangerous drugs and unlawful use of a motor vehicle.

Police prosecutor sergeant Heather Whiting told the court that in early September, a friend of Hearn’s had attended her house and accidentally left her drivers licence behind.

The court heard that on September 4 Hearn had taken the person’s drivers licence on a trip to Brisbane with her friends.

She had then used the drivers licence at a car hire office, and signed a 24-hour contract on September 5 at 9.30am

The court heard Hearn then used the vehicle to drive back to Roma, surpassing the 24-hour period.

Hearn was fined $600 and was sentenced to 18 months of probation. Convictions were recorded.

Originally published as