The Australian Federal Police (AFP) has arrested and charged nine people for their association with a syndicate allegedly responsible for a $165 million tax fraud against the Australian Government.
[The ABC reports one of the arrested was 30-year-old Adam Cranston, the son of deputy Australian Tax Office (ATO) commissioner, Michael Cranston. Michael Cranston is reportedly being charged with abusing his position as a public official in relation to the police arrests but is not believed to be a conspirator.]
The eight-month investigation, codenamed Operation Elbrus and conducted with assistance from ATO investigators, culminated yesterday with 28 search warrants in Sydney, Wollongong and the Southern Highlands. A further six search warrants are being executed today.
Six people were charged with conspiracy to defraud the Commonwealth for their alleged role in the syndicate, while two men were charged with money laundering offences. One was charged in relation to an alleged extortion on the syndicate, which also resulted in additional charges against two people charged in relation to the syndicate.
Another man was issued a court attendance notice for allegedly abusing his position as a public official, but he was not part of the criminal syndicate.
It will be alleged in court that the fraud involved a company established by the syndicate to provide payroll services to legitimate clients. The money received from these companies was transferred to subcontracted companies – allegedly controlled by syndicate members – to process payroll. While processing these payments, funds paid by legitimate clients to service tax obligations were allegedly diverted by the syndicate for their own personal gain.
Tax Office investigators estimate the amount of tax obligations not paid to the ATO to be approximately $165 million.
Yesterday’s search warrant activity also involved members from the AFP-led Criminal Assets Confiscation Taskforce (CACT) restraining significant assets suspected to be the proceeds of crime. These assets include luxury residential houses, funds in bank accounts, luxury cars, boats, motorbikes and aircraft.
AFP Deputy Commissioner Leanne Close said yesterday’s activity involved more than 290 AFP members.
“The scale of this alleged fraud is unprecedented for the AFP; the response from our members yesterday is a direct response to the level of offending that we have identified during this operation,” she said.
“Investigations such as this are inherently complex and we still have a lot more work to undertake as we analyse the material that has been seized.
“The threat posed by this syndicate to the revenue stream is demonstrated by the fact that $165 million was removed from the tax system, ultimately removing it from possible use by the community.”
A total of six people were charged with one count of Conspiracy to defraud (causing a loss), two people were charged with one count of dealing with property reasonably suspected of being proceeds of crime, and three people were charged with one count of demand with menaces intend obtaining a gain or causing a loss (Blackmail).
Most of the charged people are scheduled to appear in Sydney Central Local Court today. The Wahronga man is set to appear before Newtown Local Court today, while the Balgownie woman is scheduled to appear before Wollongong Local Court today. The Picton woman was granted police bail to appear before Narellan Local Court on 13 June, 2017. The Cronulla man was granted police bail to appear before Downing Centre Local Court on 8 June, 2017.
A 58-year-old Menai man was issued a court attendance notice to appear in Sydney Central Local Court on 13 June, 2017, in relation to his alleged abuse of his position as a public official.
How the scheme worked
The legitimate payroll company – run by the syndicate members – accepted money from legitimate clients to process payroll on their behalf. This money was transferred to seven sub-contracted companies known as Tier 2 companies, which then made payroll payments to individual workers of clients.
The directors of these Tier 2 companies are known as straw directors. They are essentially a front – individuals recruited to appear to be running the companies, but the syndicate members retain effective control.
As part of their contractual obligations to the legitimate payroll company’s clients, the Tier 2 companies are required to remit pay as you go (PAYG) withholding tax payments to the ATO on behalf of the clients. However, investigators found that only part of these tax obligations were paid. The remaining money was allegedly siphoned off by the syndicate members and channelled through a complex series of companies and trusts for their own personal gain.
Media enquiries:
AFP National Media: (02) 6131 6333
