A glamorous fitness model could spend 10 years behind bars after police allegedly seized more than $220,000 in cash secreted in her bedroom.
Katiusha Stepanyan, a 27-year-old marketing executive turned fitness trainer, allegedly stashed another $10,000 in the lounge room of her family home in North Ryde, Sydney’s north.
Ms Stepanyan has been charged with two counts of recklessly dealing with the proceeds of crime.
Ms Stepanyan has been charged with two counts of recklessly dealing with the proceeds of crime
The police allege the money is linked to serious drug offences, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.
Ms Stepanyan’s assets, including her bank accounts, have since been frozen by the NSW Crime Commission.
The Sydney fitness model has not yet entered a plea, but her lawyer said she denied any guilt.
‘My client maintains her innocence and at this stage of proceedings she is entitled to that presumption,’ Leo Premutico said.
New South Wales Police officers executed a search at Ms Stepanyan’s North Ryde home in March this year.
Ms Stepanyan (pictured) has not yet entered a plea, but her lawyer said she denied any guilt
Ms Stepanyan (right) pictured alongside Steve Willis, also known as The Commando, who rose to fame in Australia’s The Biggest Loser. Mr Willis has no involvement in Ms Stepanyan’s charges
The police said the March raid did not directly relate to Ms Stepanyan.
When the police executed a second raid at the home, the $220,000 cash was seized.
The police confirmed a woman, then aged 26, was arrested and charged with two counts of recklessly dealing with the proceeds of crime.
Court documents show police opposed bail for Ms Stepanyan for several reasons, including her potential criminal associations.
‘The offence relates to a large amount of cash that is possibly linked to serious drug offences,’ a bail submission document said.
‘The accused resides with persons known to have been convicted of serious indictable offences,’ the court heard.
Ms Stepanyan’s brother Dimitri (pictured together) spent seven years behind bars for armed robbery
Ms Stepanyan was released on bail despite police objections.
Her bail conditions required her to live at home, report to the police every week and forfeit her passport.
The north Sydney woman worked as a marketing executive at the time of her arrest.
She has worked in various marketing jobs since 2011, according to her LinkedIn profile.
She was described as a ‘reliable, loyal and highly motivated strategist’ by a marketing director on the professional networking site.
According to online profiles, she is also a registered personal trainer and group exercise instructor.
According to Ms Stepanyan’s online profiles, she is a registered personal trainer and group exercise instructor
Ms Stepanyan’s brother Dimitri spent seven years behind bars for armed robbery before he was released in October, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.
Since his release from jail, Dimitri has been pictured alongside Ms Stepanyan in photos posted to social media.
Ms Stepanyan’s case is due to return to local court in early 2018.
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