Dishonesty Related Offences
Understanding Dishonesty Charges
Dishonesty offences cover a wide range of criminal acts where deception, fraud, or theft is used for personal gain. These offences often involve property, money, or identity, and can include fraud, identity theft, forgery, larceny, money laundering, and dealing with proceeds of crime.
Dishonesty offences are taken seriously across Australia, with the severity of penalties depending on factors such as the complexity of the crime, the use of digital means, and whether the offence was premeditated. Convictions for these offences can have lasting effects on your personal and professional life.
Key consequences:
- Criminal conviction, impacting future employment or professional licences
- Fines or imprisonment
- Long-term damage to personal reputation and relationships
At Brightstone Defence, we offer expert legal guidance and representation for those facing dishonesty charges. Our team works to protect your rights and achieve the best possible outcome in your case.
In NSW, dishonesty offences cover a wide range of crimes where someone intentionally acts to deceive or cheat others for personal gain usually involving money, property, identity offences and forgery. These offences are characterised by an element of dishonest intent to obtain property, financial advantage, or to cause financial disadvantage.
Section 4B(1) of the Act defines "dishonesty" as according to the standards of ordinary people and known by the defendant to be dishonest according to the standards of ordinary people.
These offences are set out in Section 15 of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) including:
- Money Laundering Offences
- Fraud Offences
- Identity Offences
- Forgery Offences
- Larceny
Even if it seems like "just a small thing", dishonesty offences are taken seriously especially if they involve planning, digital fraud, or repeat offending.
Elements the Prosecution Must Prove
To find someone guilty of a dishonesty offence, the prosecution needs to prove:
- The person acted dishonestly; lied, stole, faked, or deceived
- That the accused used deceptive conduct to obtain financial advantage or cause financial disadvantage to another person
- They did it intentionally
- The act resulted in benefit to themselves or harm to someone else; financial or otherwise
Possible Defences
There are several defences that might apply to dishonesty charges:
- Lack of intent – you did not mean to be dishonest or did not realise your actions were illegal
- Claim of Right – you honestly believed you had a right to the property or money
- Necessity – To prevent greater harm
- Duress – you were forced or threatened into doing it
- Mental health – that affected your judgment or understanding
Each defence depends on the facts, evidence, and your state of mind at the time of the offence.
Potential Penalties
Penalties for dishonesty offences vary depending on the seriousness of the crime and whether it's your first offence. They can include:
- Maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment if found guilty of fraud, by any deception or dishonestly obtaining another’s property or obtain any financial advantage or cause financial disadvantage to another
- Fines
- Community corrections
The consequences of a criminal conviction for dishonestly offences can be widely detrimental to potential prospects of employment, professional licenses, travel and personal relationships making it essential for a strong legal defence.
Legal Process
& Options
The legal process for dishonesty offences typically involves an investigation and charge by authorities, an initial court appearance where the accused enters a plea, a trial if pleading not guilty, and sentencing if found guilty, with legal representation being crucial at each stage.
Pleading
Not Guilty
Pleading not guilty to dishonesty offences in NSW requires a contested hearing where the prosecution must prove the accused’s guilt beyond reasonable doubt. This involves:
- The prosecution presenting evidence
- Examination and cross-examination of witnesses
- The defence challenging the prosecution’s case
- The court determining if guilt is proven beyond reasonable doubt
Pleading
Guilty
If you plead guilty, the matter proceeds to sentencing. The court will consider:
- The seriousness of the offence and any prior criminal history
- Whether the guilty plea was entered early (which may reduce the sentence)
- Any relevant personal circumstances or mitigating factors, such as mental health or genuine remorse
- Sentencing options which may include a fine, community corrections order, or in more serious cases, imprisonment
Money laundering is the process of disguising the origin of money or assets that were obtained illegally, to make them appear legitimate.
- It commonly involves:
- Transferring funds through bank accounts
- Buying property or assets with illegal money
- Using third parties (“money mules”) to move funds
It includes:
- Receiving, possessing, concealing, using, or disposing of money or property
- Moving funds through accounts
- Giving or accepting property in a transaction
- Penalties depend on the amount of money and theoffender’s state of mind (knowing, reckless, negligent). Maximum penaltiesinclude:
- Even low-level involvement (e.g. handling a few thousand dollars) can result in criminal charges.
Not necessarily. There are tiers of liability:
- Knowing: You’re aware the money is from crime
- Reckless: You suspect but ignore the risk
- Negligent: You should have known, but didn’t take care to check
- Yes, if you should have known or were reckless about its origin. For example:
- Letting someone transfer funds through your bank account
- Collecting or delivering cash for someone without asking why
You could be charged even if you didn’t receive a benefit.
A money mule is someone who transfers or moves illegal funds on behalf of others — often unknowingly. Criminals often recruit them via:
- Job scams
- Online friendships or relationships
- Fake “investment” schemes
Being a money mule is a criminal offence, even if you didn’t know the full story.
- Yes. Cryptocurrency is often used to hide illegal money trails. Using crypto to:
- Move proceeds of crime
- Avoid detection
- Convert illegal cash into digital assets
…can lead to money laundering charges.
Businesses like banks, casinos, and remitters must report suspicious activity to AUSTRAC, including:
- Large or unusual transactions
- Structured deposits
- Customers who avoid identification checks
Failure to comply with anti-money laundering (AML) laws can result in civil or criminal penalties for those businesses.
The outcome of whether or not the accused will be sentences to a jail conviction is dependent on several factors. The courts take into account the severity of the offence, if the accused has a prior criminal record, especially for similar offences. Circumstances of the offence such as if the accused acted under duress. The court will additionally take into consideration a non-custodial sentence, such as those of community service, good behaviour bonds and fines. Each case requires different attention and different approaches which is why it is crucial to have a strong legal team to help you in the matter.
The court will take into account the total amount of the proceeds as well as the accused circumstances. The court additionally takes into consideration the accused’s prior history and personal circumstances.
In NSW law under Section 192E of the Crimes Act 1900 sets out ‘fraud’ as “a person who, by any deception, dishonestly obtains property belonging to another or obtains a financial advantage or causes any financial disadvantage.”
Larceny is a term commonly used by criminal lawyers to describe that act of theft or stealing. In NSW larceny is defined as the act of taking someone else’s property without consent and intending to permanently deprive the owner of it.
- Yes
Fines can be imposed for dishonesty offences, usually for less severe crimes. However, fines are more commonly distributed for offences such as shoplifting. Offences that are more serious will carry larger scale penalties such as imprisonment or community service. However, each case is different it is important to have a strong legal team or receive accurate legal advice to assist you in receiving the best outcome for your situation.
- Intentional dishonesty means the offender knowingly engaged in deceit.
- Reckless dishonesty occurs when the offender acts carelessly or without regard to the truth, but does not necessarily intend to defraud.
Both can result in criminal charges, but intent usually attracts higher penalties.
A qualified lawyer can:
- Assess the evidence and identify weaknesses in the prosecution’s case.
- Advise on potential defences, such as lack of intent, mistake, or duress.
- Negotiate outcomes, including reduced charges or diversion programs where appropriate.
- Represent clients in court to protect their rights and achieve the best possible result.
Do not admit guilt or provide statements without legal advice. Contact an experienced criminal defence lawyer immediately to ensure your rights are protected and to receive guidance on how to respond.
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