Serial
fraudster Michael Helsby-Knight was sentenced to three years and one month jail
by the Court of Appeal for his part in three overlapping scams in which just
over 110 victims were duped of $156,790.
His conviction followed three separate frauds
perpetrated over a twelve month period ending mid-2012: the Canton Trade Fair
Scheme; the Mike Caughey Trading Scheme; and the Foxconn Traders Scheme. After his arrest, Helsby-Wright was refused
bail and spent eighteen months in custody before trial because of his long
record of fraud-related offending stretching back to 1985.
The court was told the Canton Trade Fair Scheme
involved Helsby-Knight, using the name Michael Caughey, claiming to be the
authorised agent for a trade fair being held in Guangzhou and Canton in
2011-2012. There was in fact a trade
fair being held at that time. In a mass
email to Auckland businesses he offered free travel and accommodation to the trade
fair as part of an official trade delegation with interested parties required
to pay a $125 registration fee. Those
registering received a package, purportedly couriered from China, containing
Cathay Pacific ticket vouchers and accommodation vouchers for China. The documentation was false. Helsby-Knight collected about $5600 with this
fraud.
In the Mike Caughey Trading Scheme,
Helsby-Knight claimed to act for a Hong Kong registered company importing
discounted electronic goods. Customers
were required to pay a fifty per cent deposit on ordering with the balance due
on delivery. No goods were
delivered. Customers complaining were
told goods had been held up at Customs.
A total of $129,000 was collected in this scam.
The Foxconn Traders Scheme got underway with
Helsby-Knight changing his name by deed poll to “Foxconn Group plc”. He then obtained a passport in this corporate
name, opened a ANZ bank account as Foxconn Group plc and set up an associated
website. Glossy brochures were printed
offering for sale discounted high-end electronic goods. Either full payment or a substantial deposit
was required with each order. Goods did
not arrive. Customers of Foxconn lost
some $22,000.
Helsby-Knight
v. R. – Court of Appeal (21.07.15)
15.082