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Alleged gang member among 10 people as young as 18 charged with $1.8 million defrauding ATO
- 10 people between the ages of 18 and 22 indicted, allegedly defrauded ATO $1.8 million
- Arrested on arrest warrants in Brisbane and Toowoomba in the past three weeks
- BMW, cash, drugs, electronic equipment, crypto hardware wallets, IDs seized
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An alleged gang member is one of 10 people charged after he allegedly defrauded the Australian tax office for $1.8 million.
It followed investigations orchestrated by police in May into the alleged fraud committed by people associated with criminal street gangs.
In the past three weeks, 10 people between the ages of 18 and 22 were arrested after search warrants were executed in properties in Brisbane and Toowoomba.
A BMW coupe, cash, drugs, electronic equipment, crypto hardware wallets, IDs and designer clothes were all seized.
Police will allege that the people were involved in a number of large-scale deceptions against government agencies and financial institutions, providing false details to receive fraudulent payments.
Detectives have arrested and charged 10 people between the ages of 18 and 22 after they were found to have defrauded $1.8 million from the ATO (pictured)
An 18-year-old Redbank man has been charged with four counts of fraud and appeared before the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Saturday.
A 19-year-old Goodna man has been charged on nine counts of fraud, nine counts of receiving tainted property, and one count of money laundering, violating the requirement and possessing explosives.
He appeared before the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Friday.
A 20-year-old Redbank Plains man has been charged with 10 counts of fraud and one count of possession of dangerous drugs.
He fronted the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Friday.
A 22-year-old man from Chapel Hill has been charged with two counts of fraud and one of possession of tainted property.
He will appear before the Brisbane Magistrates Court on October 28.
A 20-year-old Ripley man has been charged with two counts of fraud, possession of tainted property and violation of the requirement and one of money laundering.
He was remanded in custody and will appear before the Brisbane Magistrates Court on November 7.
Police will allege that the people were involved in a number of large-scale deceptions against government agencies and financial institutions in which they provided false details to receive fraudulent payments (stock image)
A 20-year-old Springfield Lakes man has been charged with three counts of fraud, two counts of attempted fraud, receiving and possessing trained property, and one count of possession of dangerous drugs and possession of anything.
He appeared in court on Thursday and was remanded in custody until his next appearance at the Brisbane Magistrates Court on November 7.
A 22-year-old Redbank man was charged with two counts of fraud – remanded in custody after appearing before the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Thursday, and will appear in court on November 7.
An 18-year-old Kleinton man was charged with one charge of fraud, possession of explosives, possession of dangerous drugs, possession of utensils and violating the requirement – released on bail and will appear before Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Nov. to appear.
A 20-year-old woman from Kearneys Spring was charged with two counts of fraud and one count of possession of tainted property – released on bail and set to appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court on 10 October.
A 20-year-old Durack man has been charged with two counts of fraud – released on bail and will appear before the Richlands Magistrates Court on October 11.
Majority of indictees have appeared or are yet to appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court (pictured)
The investigation is in conjunction with the ATO’s Operation Protego, an investigation into widespread GST fraud in which violators concoct bogus companies and submit fictitious business statements in an attempt to obtain a fake GST refund.
Detective Acting Superintendent Tim Leadbetter of the Organized Crime Gangs Group said the arrests are the culmination of a complicated and complex investigation.
“This is an excellent example of investigators identifying violations and taking immediate action to investigate and disrupt the crime,” he said.
“We believe that the funds obtained are being used to commit further serious offences.
“The costs of violations are high and have a real impact on the economy and the community, the results would not have been possible without the help of the Australian tax authorities,” he added.