Financial Crimes Squad detectives have charged two men with over 300 alleged fraud-related offences under Strike Force Whitley.
Strike Force Whitley was established by State Crime Command’s Financial Crimes Squad – with assistance from Australian Federal Police and Services Australia – to investigate two men’s alleged involvement in stealing identities for the purpose of serious and violent crime linked to Organised Criminal Networks (OCNs).
Following extensive inquiries, about 6am yesterday (Tuesday 28 November 2023), strike force detectives – with assistance from the Public Order and Riot Squad – executed a search warrant at Macquarie Park where they arrested a 30-year-old man.
He was taken to Gladesville Police Station where he was charged with 124 fraud-related offences including:
– Knowingly direct activities of criminal group
– Deal with identity info to commit etc indictable offence
– Possess identity info to commit etc indictable offence
– Knowingly deal with proceeds of crime intent to conceal
– Dishonestly obtain financial advantage etc by deception
– Make false document to obtain financial advantage etc
– Make, possess etc equipment etc to make false document
– Use false document to influence exercise of public duty
– Use false document to obtain property
– Supply prohibited drug >indictable &
– Fail to comply digital evidence access order direction
The man was bail refused to appear before Burwood Local Court today (Wednesday 29 November 2023).
Simultaneously, strike force detectives – with assistance from North West Metropolitan Operational Support Group – executed a search warrant in Tregear where they arrested a 29-year-old man.
He was taken to Mt Druitt Police Station where he was charged with 201 offences, including:
– Obtain a financial advantage by deception
– Deal with identity info to commit etc indictable offence
– Deal with proceeds of indictable crime-money/property >=$100000
– Dishonestly open a mail-receptacle
The man was refused bail to appear in Mt Druitt Local Court today.
During the searches police located documentation, electronics, credit cards, ID cards, hologram stickers, over $10,000 in cash and other items relevant to the investigation.
All items were seized to undergo further forensic examination.
Police will allege in court the men stole identities for the purpose of buying phones and cars allegedly linked to serious and violent crimes and OCNs.
It’s further alleged the identities were also used for the purpose of making fraudulent COVID-19 claims to the value of $150,000.
