About Operation Bordelon
Operation Bordelon is an investigation into large-scale tax fraud and money laundering conspiracies. The investigation was conducted by the ATO-led Serious Financial Crime Taskforce (SFCT). It has resulted in a number of individuals being charged and prosecuted by the Commonwealth Department of Public Prosecution (CDPP) with various tax crime offences.
The investigation involved a syndicate allegedly using labour hire and payroll services companies to defraud the Commonwealth of more than $13 million in Pay As You Go (PAYG) withholding.
These companies should have sent the PAYG withholding they collected to the ATO. Instead, the proceeds were allegedly directed to syndicate members and their associates.
After an 18–month joint investigation involving the Australian Federal Police (AFP), ATO and Australian Securities and Investments Commission, the AFP executed search warrants in Queensland, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory.
To date, one person has been sentenced for their role in the alleged fraud. The remaining cases are still before the courts. Bookmark this page to keep up-to-date with future sentences.
Latest news
Read the latest news and sentencing details.
6 December 2024 – Six people jailed over $10 million tax fraud
Six people have been sentenced in the Kings Street Supreme Court to jail time for their roles in a $10 million tax fraud.
George Alex, Gordon McAndrew, Lindsay Kirschberg, Pasquale Loccisano and Mark Bryers were charged with conspiring to cause a loss to the Commonwealth in the amount of approximately $10 million (Tax Fraud Conspiracy) and conspiring to deal with proceeds of crime of $1 million or more.
George Alex was sentenced to a total of 9 years 3 months imprisonment, with a non-parole period of 6 years 2 months. He was the head of the organised crime syndicate and received a personal benefit of over $4.4 million from his role in the scheme. Some of these funds were used to purchase a property and car, pay rent and for medical procedures.
Gordon McAndrew was sentenced to a total of 8 years imprisonment, with a non-parole period of 5 years 6 months. He was a key facilitator of the fraud, oversaw payroll processing and the transfer of funds, and received over $600,000 for his role in the scheme.
Lindsay Kirschberg was sentenced to a total of 8 years imprisonment, with a non-parole period of 5 years 6 months. Together with Mr McAndrew, he was a key facilitator of the fraud, oversaw payroll processing and the transfer of funds, and received nearly a million dollars for his role in the scheme.
Pasquale Loccisano was sentenced to a total of 8 years 6 months imprisonment, with a non-parole period of 6 years. He was George Alex’s right-hand man and controlled 5 key money laundering entities within the scheme. He received over $500,000 for his role in the scheme.
Mark Bryers was sentenced to a total of 8 years 6 months imprisonment, with a non-parole period of 6 years. He was first engaged in early 2019 by key conspirators of the fraud, to help improve their payroll processing and received over $1.7 million for his role in the scheme.
Lucas Connell was sentenced to 1 year 6 months imprisonment, with a non-parole period of 8 months. He pled guilty to aid, abet, counsel or procure the commission of an offence on the first day of the trial. In 2019, Mr Connell was engaged by the syndicate to help with payroll processing and was listed as the Director of multiple entities that were used to siphon off money. He received over $480,000 for his role in the scheme.
Read more at Six people jailed over $10 million tax fraud.
31 March 2023 - Canberra man pled guilty
A 43 year old man, William Pahl, was sentenced to 2 years 6 months jail with a non-parole period of 1 year 3 months. He was charged with conspiring to cause a loss to the Commonwealth and received $136,535 for his role in the scheme.
Read more at Canberra man jailed for complex fraud linked to organised crime.