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 allegedly involved a syndicate 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 (ASIC), the AFP executed search warrants in Queensland, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory.
The SFCT is committed to identifying, investigating and prosecuting targets involved in the most complex forms of financial crime in the tax, super and registry system.
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.
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