Lauren Cranston, daughter of a former ATO deputy commissioner, has been found guilty of conspiring with four others to siphon more than $105 million in taxes to fund an extravagant lifestyle.
Cranston was accused of being part of one of the largest tax frauds in Australia’s history, along with her brother Adam Cranston, lawyer Dev Menon, Patrick Willmott, and Jason Onley.
All five had pleaded not guilty. During the trial, the court learned that Adam Cranston’s company, Plutus Payroll, had withheld $105 million in taxes over a three-year period.
The money was allegedly transferred to second-tier companies so the conspirators could spend it on luxury properties, cars, boats, and jewelry.
While Ms. Cranston’s lawyer told the jury that she was an employee and was unaware of any fraud, the jury found her guilty of conspiring with four others to cause loss to the Commonwealth and conspiring to deal with the proceeds of crime.
The decision came after a week of her brother Adam Cranston’s conviction, Menon, and Onley in the multimillion-dollar tax fraud. Michael Cranston, the father of Lauren and Adam, was an ATO deputy commissioner at the time of the tax fraud but has not been accused of any involvement.
Ms. Cranston will remain on bail until her next court appearance on Tuesday, while the jury continues to deliberate over Willmott’s alleged involvement.
»Daughter of former ATO head found guilty of siphoning over $105m in taxes to fund lavish lifestyle«
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