A Central Coast man has been sentenced to four years' imprisonment, following an investigation into significant visa and migration fraud offences.
An Australian Border Force (ABF) investigation commenced in 2019, which included several federal agencies encompassing the Australian Federal Police (AFP), AUSTRAC and Department of Home Affairs.
The sentencing follows the 61-year-old man pleading guilty to the following offences on 5 September 2025:
- Two (2) counts of aid/abet/procure/counsel other persons to furnish or cause to be furnished documents containing false or misleading statements or information to a person exercising powers under the Migration Act 1958. This is contrary to section 11.2(1) of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth) and 234(1)(c) Migration Act 1958.
- One (1) count of aid/abet/procure/counsel other persons to present a forged or false document for any purpose, contrary to section 11.2(1) Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth) and section 234(1)(a) Migration Act 1958.
Today (Thursday 18 November 2025), at the NSW District Court, the man was sentenced to a total of four years' imprisonment, with a non-parole period of two (2) years and six (6) months.
In agreed facts, the man charged visa applicants between $35,000 and $50,000 to assist with their visa applications, regardless of the application outcome. The investigation also identified the misappropriation of the Federal Government JobKeeper Program, established to support businesses impacted during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The AFP also charged the man with obtaining financial advantage by deception and dealing with the proceeds of crime, contrary to the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth).
ABF Investigations NSW/ACT Acting Superintendent Mark Rea commended the ongoing diligence and professionalism of the ABF Investigators who pursued this matter.
"Visa and migration fraud investigations are extremely complex in nature, with perpetrators' main intention to exploit Australia's visa and migration system for their own personal gain," Acting Superintendent Rea said.
"Not only are these 'cash for visa' schemes exploiting the individual, but they are also abusing the broader Australian community, whilst attempting to undermine the integrity and security of Australia's visa programs.
"If you know of someone who is involved in migration fraud, is operating illegally as an unregistered migration agent, or if you are a victim of migration fraud, please report it via Australia's Border Watch program."
