An Auckland woman was sentenced to more than three years in prison for COVID-19 fraud, as well as Police and Department of Corrections charges.
Kahureremoa Fleur Mantell was sentenced in the Manukau District Court on 14 November to 3 years and 2 months in prison.
The charges
Mantell was found guilty by a jury of 33 charges of dishonestly using Small Business Cashflow Scheme (SBCS) and/or Resurgence Support Payment (RSP) applications to get COVID-19 relief money. The applications were made in her name and those of six other people.
She was also sentenced on 8 charges of knowingly using altered bank statements and invoices to obtain a pecuniary advantage.
Mantell was also sentenced on police and Corrections charges to be served concurrently with the other charges. No reparation was ordered.
COVID-related charges
Mantell had received a Ministry of Social Development benefit since 2014 but in 2020 told Inland Revenue she had been self-employed since 2019. She amended her income tax return for the 2019 year to create the false impression she was operating a business. She did the same thing in June 2020.
In May 2020, Mantell applied for a SBCS in the amount of $11,800.00, declared that she was operating a business activity and had suffered a 30% decline in revenue. The application was false as Mantell was not operating a business activity.
Mantell then provided altered bank statements to Inland Revenue to support her fraudulent SBCS application.
Mantell then made numerous false income tax filings, SBCS and RSP applications in the names of six other people, claiming thousands in tax refunds and Covid support products.
Premeditated offending
The offending was premeditated and took place over a period of approximately 10 months. Mantell has not repaid any of the money she obtained.
Mantell dishonestly attempted to obtain $122,612.64 in income tax returns and COVID-19 relief money. The total amount paid out was $68,912.64, $24,500.00 of which was deposited directly into her bank account.