Matthew Long pleads guilty to sophisticated superannuation fraud

A former Noosa cocaine dealer lived the high life after concocting a scheme for his associates to access their retirement fund early, using the commission to fuel a luxury lifestyle.

Matthew James Long faced Maroochydore District Court on Monday. Picture: Patrick Woods.

A former Noosa cocaine dealer has admitted to being the “architect” of a sophisticated superannuation fraud which fuelled a luxury lifestyle.

Despite having no proper licencing as an accountant and only tertiary qualifications, Matthew James Long concocted the fraud to make retirement funds available for four people between 2019 and 2021.

Crown prosecutor Michael Andronicus said Long’s “sophisticated” scheme was uncovered after an investigation was sparked by police in 2020 into drug trafficking, which led to intercepts on the 36-year-old’s phone.

Mr Andronicus said police discovered that Long created a shell company under the guise of a self managed superannuation fund called Bali Property Investment, where he asked the men to transfer their super under the pretence it was a legitimate investment.

Maroochydore District Court was told he would hold 15 to 20 per cent as payment but transferred the rest back to them in increments under $10,000 to avoid detection.

Long outside court. Picture: Patrick Woods

Mr Andronicus said Long coached the men on how to talk to the Australian Taxation Office, checked the accuracy of their paperwork and tried to pitch the scheme to a prospective customer.

The court was told the men accessed $326,531 of their super while Long took $102,500 as commission.

Following his windfall, Mr Andronicus said the 36-year-old spent the money on debts, online gambling, alcohol, drugs and ate at expensive restaurants while he stayed in luxury hotels.

The court was told Long also used the money to make improvements at a Noosa boxing gym he used to be affiliated with.

A warrant was executed at Long’s home in March 2021 which later led to the Suffolk Park man being charged. He was later granted Supreme Court bail.

Matthew Long (right) after his sentence. Picture: Patrick Woods

The Crown prosecutor said Long’s drug dealing overlapped the fraud, where he was busted by police trafficking in “above street level” amounts of cocaine in the Noosa area.

He later pleaded guilty to drug trafficking in the Supreme Court at Brisbane on March 12 last year and was jailed for five years which was suspended after he served 12 months.

Further investigations by police uncovered a separate fraud committed in tandem with Long’s partner Alexandra Chiodo, where sent his partner two fraudulent documents to purport that she was paid a monthly wage to achieve a $42,000 car loan in 2021.

Mr Andronicus said Long concocted a false pay slip for himself and a letter detailing his employment before he fraudulently signed with a Noosa nightclub owner’s name.

The finance company approved the loan. The court was told this amount was then repaid.

The Crown prosecutor said the 36-year-old was not a nightclub manager as he alleged he was.

Chiodo pleaded guilty to one charge of uttering a forged document in January last year and was fined $1000 and placed on a good behaviour bond.

Long’s fraud was uncovered during an investigation into drug trafficking. Picture: Patrick Woods

Defence barrister Mark McCarthy KC said Long completed extensive rehabilitation while on bail and on parole and believed due to this, a return to custody was not required.

He told the court Chiodo had reconnected with Long after a brief split during their court proceedings and visited him regularly while he served his year behind bars.

Long now lives in Northern NSW and worked in construction. He was supported by his Victorian parents who sat with Chiodo in the public gallery on Monday.

Judge Gary Long said it was clear the 36-year-old was the “architect or orchestrator” of the frauds but had demonstrated a large amount of effort to rehabilitate. He agreed to not send him back to prison.

Long was given a four-year jail sentence, suspended immediately for five years. He was also jailed for nine months’ but given an immediate parole release, which meant he left court a free man.

Originally published as Matthew Long pleads guilty to sophisticated superannuation fraud