The son of a former high-ranking Tax Office official is among three people found guilty of taking part in a $105 million tax fraud scheme in which participants spent millions on luxury properties, cars and boats.
Adam Michael Cranston, 36, Lauren Anne Cranston, 30, Dev Menon, 39, Jason Cornell Onley, 52, and Patrick Willmott, 36,
The Crown alleged that, to give Plutus a “squeaky clean” appearance, the tax debt was held by second-tier companies with vulnerable and drug-dependent people installed as straw directors. These companies were liquidated and replaced with new ones to continue the scheme. The Crown alleged Cranston was referring to the scheme when he was recorded in January 2017 saying “if this was uncovered ... it would be ‘f---ingSolicitor Dev Menon was heard saying it would be the “biggest tax fraud in Australia’s history”.
Menon’s barrister Peter Bruckner said his client did not believe he was participating in a tax fraud, did not have a financial motive, and was “brave” in the face of an alleged extortion plot involving threats of violence and media. In a January 2017 budget meeting, Onley allegedly told others he “didn’t sleep a wink” as the ATO was starting to garnish second-tier bank accounts, and he had been hoping to settle on a different Vaucluse home. The prosecutor alleged Onley knew his money was “tainted”.Willmott, a school friend of Adam Cranston, was allegedly involved from day one managing inaugural second-tier company Keystone, which the Crown said was left with a tax liability of $6 million.
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