A former reality television star has been accused of laundering money stolen from the Australian Taxation Office in the nation’s largest white-collar crime syndicate.
The X Factor singer Sophia Constantopedos allegedly helped move $250,000 in stolen ATO funds into a company in her name, the Daily Telegraph reported.
Her then-boyfriend, Daniel ‘Big D’ Rostankovski, was one of nine people arrested in May. He is charged with defrauding the Commonwealth and allegedly stealing over $100 million in taxpayers’ money.
A tendered affidavit from a federal agent alleges Mr Rostankovski created the company in his partner’s name to launder the money, and allegedly used it to buy her expensive gifts including a boat and luxury car.
Ms Constantopedos has not been charged with any offences.
X-Factor singer Sophia Constantopedos (pictured centre, with her bandmates who are not involved in the ATO case) allegedly helped move $250,000 in stolen ATO funds into a company in her name
Ms Constantopedos’ then-boyfriend, Daniel ‘Big D’ Rostankovski (pictured), was one of nine people arrested in May. He is charged with defrauding the Commonwealth and allegedly stealing over $100 million in taxpayers money
ATO Deputy Commissioner Michael Cranston resigned in June after a series of arrests over the alleged white-collar crime syndicate
Mr Rostankovski allegedly pedalled the money through a company in Ms Constantopedos’ name called Mermade Holdings.
Documents allege she agreed to have the money ‘disguised’ as a loan repayment from 2015, despite the company, of which she is the loan shareholder and director, only being established in 2016.
In November of last year, Mermade Holdings received another ‘loan repayment’ of $35,000, and the same day spent $35,000 on a ‘boat payment’, court documents say.
An $80,000 Range Rover was allegedly another gift given to Ms Constantopedos by Mr Rostankovski through the stolen funds.
Ms Constantopedos (centre, with her bandmates who are not involved in the case) was a member of one of the final four groups remaining on the X-Factor in 2011 as a member of singing trio Best Wishez
Mr Rostankovski (pictured) allegedly pedalled the money through a company in Ms Constantopedos’ name called Mermade Holdings
Ms Constantopedos was a member of one of the final four groups remaining on the X-Factor in 2011 as a member of singing trio Best Wishez.
Neither of the other two band members are alleged to be involved with the ATO case.
She was one of 60 parties who had their assets frozen following the claims that firms had used a series of second-tier companies to funnel an estimated $130 million from the ATO.
Adam Cranston, son of Deputy Commissioner Michael, is the alleged mastermind behind the fraud. His father resigned in June after the alleged crime ring broke.
Cranston, 58, is accused of obtaining information and exercising his influence as a Commonwealth public official between February and May 2017 for the benefit of his son, according to court documents
Police in May said he may have unwittingly been implicated in an alleged $130 million tax-evasion racket at the request of his 30-year-old son, who was charged with conspiring to defraud the Commonwealth.
Cranston, 58, is accused of obtaining information and exercising his influence as a Commonwealth public official between February and May 2017 for the benefit of his son, according to court documents.
Cranston’s 24-year-old daughter, Lauren, was also charged with conspiring to cause loss and dealing in the proceeds of crime.
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