Prison for million-dollar fraudster
The Rotorua financial adviser stole from predominantly retiree clients.
Former financial adviser Linnet Lewis has been sentenced to five years and five months in jail for stealing about $1 million in client funds.
The 55-year-old was today sentenced in the High Court at Rotorua, after pleading guilty to 16 charges of theft by a person in a special relationship last month and being convicted.
The Serious Fraud Office laid the charges against Lewis in late 2013, after police referred the investigation to it 18 months earlier.
In 2004, Lewis set up a business to assist people, predominantly retirees, in managing their financial affairs, the SFO says.
This included acting as an agent or trustee, gaining complete control over her clients’ assets in paying their bills, arranging tax returns and managing property portfolios and investments.
Between 2005 and 2011 she stole about $1 million, sometimes using forged documents to commit the offences.
SFO director Julie Read says the sentence “sends a message” to others who might contemplate fraud.
“The sentence reflects the egregious breach of trust perpetrated by Ms Lewis upon vulnerable clients.”
Hamish McNicol
Fri, 19 Jun 2015
Fri, 19 Jun 2015
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Prison for million-dollar fraudster
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