Detectives have charged two people and seized over $200,000 worth of wine following an investigation into an alleged $10 million financing fraud targeting a Sydney automotive group.
In January 2024, detectives attached to State Crime Command's Financial Crimes Squad – with assistance from the NSW Crime Commission (NSWCC) – launched an investigation into a criminal syndicate targeting automotive financing companies under Strike Force Myddleton.
The investigation found that the syndicate was allegedly using the stolen personal information of over 33 people to apply for financing through the various financial companies to purchase luxury cars that did not exist.
Following extensive investigations, strike force detectives executed a search warrant at a Middleton Grange home at about 6am on Wednesday 15 May 2024, where they arrested a 31-year-old woman.
The woman was taken to Liverpool Police Station, where she was charged with 102 counts of dishonestly obtain financial advantage by deception and one count of possess prohibited drug.
She was granted strict conditional bail and appeared in Liverpool Local Court on Wednesday 22 May 2024.
Following further investigations, strike force detectives – with assistance from Raptor Squad and the NSWCC – executed search warrants at a home in Carlingford and a warehouse unit in Alexandria at about 6am yesterday (Wednesday 14 August 2024).
During the searches, detectives located and seized a Tesla sedan, a Mercedes Benz van, multiple Rolex watches, large amounts of luxury jewellery and an estimated $200,000 worth of wine and other assorted alcohol.
Detectives arrested a 40-year-old man at the Carlingford property before taking him back to Gladesville Police Station.
He was charged with three counts of recklessly deal proceeds general crime intend to conceal, participate criminal group contribute criminal activity and recklessly deal with proceeds of crime greater than $5000.
The man was refused bail to appear before Burwood Local Court today (Thursday 15 August 2024).
Detectives will allege in court the man made a number of fraudulent applications through the woman – who used her position as an employee at the automotive financing business – to approve financing to the value of $600,000, which the man attempted to then launder through various bank accounts.
It will be further alleged the female employee went on to facilitate a total of over 50 luxury vehicles worth a combined $10 million between November 2022 and August 2023.
Detective Superintendent Gordon Arbinja, Commander of State Crime Command's Financial Crime Squad, wants the victims of this fraud to know more arrests are coming.
"We have several more targets allegedly involved in this criminal syndicate that we are interested in and want those victims of this syndicate to know more arrests are coming.
"No one should receive a letter in the mail saying they owe tens of thousands of dollars for a car they have never seen."
"I want to thank the businesses involved in this investigation for their outstanding cooperation. Thanks to them we have been able to prevent further innocent people from having their personal information caught up in this fraud. Det Supt Arbinja said.
Investigations under Strike Force Myddleton continue, and further arrests are expected.
Anyone with information that may assist investigators is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
