A Sydney man is expected to appear before Camden Local court today (23 April 2026) charged in relation to alleged NDIS fraud.
The 33-year-old first came to the attention of the Fraud Fusion Taskforce (FFT) in January, 2024, after investigators suspected he was fraudulently making claims as a registered NDIS provider.
It will be alleged the man - who is suspected to be associated with serious organised criminal groups - claimed more than $1.5m for services which were not provided.
On 25 June 2024, FFT investigators executed a search warrant at an apartment in Bankstown, NSW.
Evidence obtained at the warrant allegedly linked the man to 80 claims submitted against 22 unknowing NDIS participants between 17 January and 30 March 2024.
On 19 August, 2024, a two-year banning order was made under section 73ZN(2)(a)(i) NDIS Act (2013) prohibiting the man from operating, undertaking or providing NDIS activities or services.
Following further inquiries, the NDIA successfully obtained an arrest warrant in February, 2026, and the AFP commenced an operation to locate and arrest the 33-year-old.
Today (23 April, 2026) AFP investigators located the man on a construction site in the Sydney suburb of Tahmoor, where he was arrested.
The man was charged with:
22 counts of obtaining a financial advantage by deception, contrary to Section 134.2(1) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth),
10 counts of attempting to obtain a financial advantage by deception, contrary to Sections 11.1(1) and 134.2(1) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth).
The maximum penalty for these offences is 10 years' imprisonment.
AFP Acting Commander Timothy Underhill said the AFP is committed in its pursuit of organised crime figures who sought to exploit Commonwealth payments designed to help those in genuine need.
"The AFP works closely with its partners in the Fraud Fusion Taskforce to detect and stop targeted fraud which simultaneously steals the money of honest and hard-working Australians while depriving vulnerable communities of much needed care," a/Commander Underhill said.
"Members of our community have allegedly been targeted, exploited and threatened by groups looking to fill their own pockets and steal public funds set aside for Australians who are reliant on this support."
A NDIA spokesperson said today's arrest sends a clear message to those who seek to exploit the NDIS - you will be caught and you will face the full force of the law.
"Through a strong, national, multi-agency response, we are disrupting alleged organised crime links attempting to profit from the NDIS," the spokesperson said.
"We work relentlessly with our Fraud Fusion Taskforce partners in pursuit of criminals to protect participants and the integrity of this world-first Scheme."
NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commissioner Louise Glanville said the Commission remains committed to taking strong action against those who do the wrong thing.
"Those who deliberately engage in fraudulent behaviour should be on notice that they will be detected. In this case we have already banned the individual and removed him from the NDIS Scheme," Commissioner Glanville said.
Australian Taxation Office (ATO) Assistant Commissioner Simon Hellmers welcomed the FFT's results.
"The ATO is committed to working with partner agencies through the Fraud Fusion Taskforce to prevent, detect and respond to fraudulent behaviour in government payments and programs along with ensuring compliance with the tax and superannuation systems," Mr Hellmers said.
The FFT is a multi-agency taskforce comprising 24 agencies, co-led by the NDIA and Services Australia, and also includes the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission (NDIS Commission), the Australian Taxation Office, the ACIC and the AFP, focusing on high-risk and serious criminal activity targeting government programs designed to help those most in need.
