A Central Coast man has been sentenced to a significant prison term for orchestrating a scam that defrauded the Australian government of funds through deceptive visa applications and fake business grants.
Court hands down four-year sentence
The 61-year-old man was sentenced in the District Court on Thursday, December 18, 2025. He received a total jail term of four years, with a non-parole period of two and a half years, meaning he will be eligible for release after serving that minimum time.
The offender had previously entered guilty pleas to multiple charges. He pleaded guilty to one count of obtaining a financial advantage by deception from the Commonwealth. In addition, he pleaded guilty to two separate charges brought by the Australian Border Force (ABF).
Nature of the criminal offences
The ABF charges related to the man aiding, abetting, procuring or counselling other individuals to provide documents containing misleading information to a person in a position of authority. This activity formed the core of his criminal enterprise.
According to police allegations, the man's scheme had two main facets. He facilitated fraudulent applications for Australian visas, undermining the integrity of the immigration system. Concurrently, he falsely applied for and obtained federal business grants, which are designed to support legitimate enterprises and stimulate the economy.
Authorities condemn attack on community systems
Australian Federal Police (AFP) Detective Superintendent Morgan Blunden strongly condemned the criminal activity. He emphasised that the AFP worked closely with partner agencies to identify those exploiting systems meant to benefit the public.
"People who defraud and mislead the Commonwealth are directly attacking the integrity of Australia's social systems and ripping money from the pockets of honest taxpayers," Detective Superintendent Blunden said.
He highlighted the broader impact of such crimes, noting that these actions have direct repercussions for the wider community, often diverting crucial funds away from vulnerable individuals and legitimate beneficiaries who rely on government support.
The successful prosecution serves as a warning that authorities are actively working to detect and punish complex fraud targeting public funds.
