Sydney, Sept 13: A Perth man, Lee Sheridan, has been convicted of dealing with the proceeds of crime through GST fraud, contrary to s 400.4(3) of the Criminal Code (Cth).
He was sentenced to two years, but will not serve time in jail, instead being released after six months.
Sheridan provided his personal details to another individual, remaining wilfully blind to their intention to make fraudulent GST claims.
This led to the lodgement of seven original and 24 revised Business Activity Statements (BAS), resulting in $377,820 in fraudulently obtained GST refunds, which were paid into a bank account under his name.
Sheridan spent the money, with some payments made to the individual who lodged the false BAS.
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) discovered the fraudulent activity, leading to a prosecution by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Cth) following a referral from the ATO.
As part of Operation Protego, the ATO has acted against more than 57,000 alleged offenders, with $300 million in penalties and interest issued as of August 2024.
The operation has also led to the arrest of 104 individuals and the conviction of 53, with sentences including fines and imprisonment up to seven years.
The ATO continues to support investigations into GST fraud in collaboration with local law enforcement.
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