“Unsophisticated people” were appointed as dummy directors of the companies and left carrying millions of dollars in debt. The court heard Willmott passed the personal details of a woman who had approached him after the death of her husband to his co-conspirators,and she was appointed as a director in name only.
The judge found Willmott knew the woman “would be vulnerable to being pursued by the Tax Office for enormous tax debts accrued by the second-tier companies”.
Payne said Willmott’s involvement in the conspiracies spanned about two years,to May 2016. He was not satisfied Willmott’s conduct in early 2017 formed part of the offending.
The Australian Federal Police began investigating in September 2016 and covertly recorded conversations. In February 2017,Willmott asked his fellow conspirators,“Will any of us go to jail?”
Menon replied,“No.” Adam Cranston said,“Not if we band together,and then we won’t.”
The judge found Willmott had shown no contrition nor remorse.
Loading
He could not conclude that he had good prospects of rehabilitation,and was “troubled that,even now,Mr Willmott does not acknowledge that any of his co-conspirators have done anything wrong”.
Payne said that nothing in a letter from Willmott to the court indicated he accepted crimes had been committed,and he “writes as though he’s a victim of conduct by others including the ATO[Australian Taxation Office],rather than the perpetrator of a serious crime”.
Sentencing Lauren Cranstonto a maximum eight years’ jail on Monday,the judge described Adam Cranston and Onley as principals and “architects of the scheme”,and Menon as a “significant participant in the conspiracies”.
The three men await sentencing on the same two charges as Willmott,which carry maximum penalties of 10 and 25 years’ imprisonment and/or fines of $108,000 and $270,000.
Loading
It was revealed in court on Thursday that the Commonwealth attorney-general decided to stop funding lawyers for Adam Cranston,who had been receiving legal aid since 2021 after his assets were seized and finances were frozen in 2017.
A spokesperson for the Attorney-General’s Department said Cranston was,until his conviction,provided with “extensive taxpayer-funded Commonwealth legal financial assistance” and directed questions to Legal Aid NSW,which has been contacted for comment. The case returns to court on Tuesday.
Willmott will first be eligible for parole in 2029.
The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the day’s most important and interesting stories,analysis and insights.Sign up here.