An Albion Park woman who defrauded the government of more than $10,000 during the COVID-19 pandemic has been handed a prison sentence to be served in the community, with a stern warning from the judge that she must repay every cent.
Judge's warning
'You are going to pay it all back, every single cent, every single cent,' Judge Gabriel Fleming told the offender during sentencing at Wollongong Local Court.
Jade Amber Lee, 28, appeared before the court on Thursday, May 7, dressed in a striking red jumpsuit with her hair slicked back.
Charges and offences
Lee was charged with 14 counts of dealing with suspected proceeds of indictable crime totalling approximately $10,355.02.
Documents tendered to the court revealed that Lee lodged six Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment claims and seven Pandemic Leave Payment claims between April and May 2022.
The court heard that the offending involved a degree of planning, with Lee opening multiple accounts to access the money. Using seven fictitious identities, she falsely claimed loss of income due to COVID-19 and damage caused by flooding events.
Impact on community
Judge Fleming told Lee that she was not just taking money from the government but also from people in the community who needed it.
'There is a limited amount of money to help people ... and there is less money if there are people like you dipping into it,' she said. 'It is not there for just helping yourself.'
Sentence and conditions
Lee was sentenced to a two-year Intensive Corrections Order to be served in the community and was ordered to repay $10,355.02 in reparations. She must also undertake drug and alcohol counselling and participate in mental health treatment.
Judge Fleming said rehabilitation was the key for Lee not to return to custody.
