Jeremy Bannister appeared in Melbourne’s County Court last week, facing multiple fraud charges. It is alleged Bannister, 25, used online marketplaces eBay and Trading Post to trade in fake diamonds, jewellery and watches.
The court heard Bannister had claimed to be a qualified gemmologist who “sought quality gems from the cutting tables of Antwerp and Africa”.
In fact, Bannister was unemployed and allegedly used a number of false names and addresses to avoid detection on the websites.
Bannister’s plan came unstuck in December 2008 when a dissatisfied customer contacted police.
The customer made a complaint when a 3.77-carat diamond wedding ring he paid $4,500 for turned-out to be ”fake”, the news report stated.
After a three-month investigation police raided Bannister’s home in the Melbourne suburb of Glen Iris, uncovering fake stones, jewellery, and counterfeit brands including Rolex watches and Tiffany & Co.
Prosecutor Steven Milesi said the evidence implicated Bannister in “widespread fraud”.
Last week Bannister pleaded guilty to 43 charges, mostly relating to obtaining or attempting to obtain property by deception. He is accused of pocketing more than $157,000 from his victims.
According to The Age report, Bannister used the money to fund a lavish lifestyle, including purchases of a Porsche and a back-up BMW.
He would generate sales on online trading sites like eBay and Trading Post by writing his own “glowing reviews from satisfied customers”, pushing-up prices by bidding for his own items.
Bannister’s lawyer argued his client’s conduct was “amateurish” and bound to be detected, asking the judge to take into account Bannister’s lower level of mental functioning caused by an injury sustained when he was a teenager.
Judge Wendy Wilmoth adjourned sentencing to a later date.
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