The jailing of a western Sydney-based member of a NDIS fraud scheme has been hailed as a warning shot across the bow of anyone looking to leech from the vital program.
Merrylands man Ahmed Moussa, 24, was on Friday sentenced to three years behind bars after he was swept up in a multi-agency crackdown last year.
Moussa pleaded guilty to dealing with proceeds of crime valued at $2.1m and was on Friday sentenced inside Sydney’s Downing Centre District Court.
He was one of six people arrested in April, 2021 who were alleged to be members of a western Sydney crime syndicate which made over $10m worth of fraudulent NDIS claims over four years.
The Australian Federal Police, NDIA, AUSTRAC and several other government agencies in late 2020 launched a strike force, under the codename Operation Pegasus, to investigate several suspected NDIS fraud rings operating in western Sydney.
Police alleged the syndicate operated three companies to make fake and exaggerated claims and skim funding from genuine NDIS participants.
Moussa was charged with facilitating the withdrawal of illicit funds from a bank account and was on Friday sentenced to three years in jail with a non-parole period of 18 months.
“One would hope today acts as a deterrent but we know some criminals think they are above the law and will continue to try to steal money intended for Australians who genuinely rely on it to live an ordinary life,” Government Services Minister Bill Shorten said.
“The government has beefed up efforts to counter this type of criminal activity by establishing the Fraud Fusion Taskforce.
“The taskforce will allow the NDIA to work closely with a wider array of government agencies to share knowledge and catch any crooks who seek to infiltrate the NDIS.”