A “trusted participant” in one of Australia’s largest fraud conspiracies, the daughter of a former tax office deputy commissioner, has been sentenced to at least five years in prison.
In today’s NSW Supreme Court sentencing for her part in the Plutus Payroll conspiracy, Justice Anthony Payne stated that Lauren Cranston, 30, still does not think she has done anything wrong.
With a five-year non-parole period, she will be available for parole in March 2028.
She and four other defendants, including her older brother Adam Cranston, were found guilty in March of conspiring to cause a loss to the Commonwealth and dealing with the proceeds of crime totaling more than $1 million. The lengthy trial began in April 2022.
Due to Plutus Payroll’s lack of service fees, legitimate customers sent money to cover wages, taxes, and benefits.
Instead, Payne claimed on Monday, the funds were routed through inferior businesses run by “vulnerable and unsophisticated people” who did not comprehend them.
Through the scheme, more than $141 million was transferred, diverting more than $105 million that was due to the tax office.
Given that it occurred in the years before the COVID-19 pandemic, Payne said that it was not a victimless crime.
“The loss of over $100 million, which would have otherwise been available to fund government services, is a very significant injury suffered by all Australians,” he stated.
Cranston was unaware of and did not take part in the “gentlemen’s clubs” meetings where the plot was conceived.
She was not a part of the initial plotting, but the court said that she was a “trusted participant” who continued to be aware of the conspiracy from at least February 2015 on.
Although she followed orders, she was aware of the mechanics and played a crucial part in the conspiracy to facilitate tax fraud and money laundering, which she also made an effort to hide.
She was demonstrating her understanding of the history of the scam by the time officials were listening in.
Cranston was heard stating, “At least we are actually paying some taxes.”
According to the judge, Cranston earned roughly $182,000 and mostly took part in the conspiracy’s lower levels because of misguided loyalty to her older brother.
She hasn’t expressed regret, though.
The judge stated, “The offender still appears to believe that she and her co-conspirators have committed no crime.”
By way of an audiovisual hookup, Cranston appeared in court, dabbing her eyes with the sleeve of her green prison jumper as Payne read his sentence words and breaking down in tears as the judge got up to leave the bench.
