Woman conned $375,000 from friends, lovers
QueenslandA cunning female con artist tricked friends and lovers into giving her tens of thousands of dollars by posing as a savvy financial adviser.
The "ruthless" gambling addict who used internet dating sites to meet her victims was sentenced to six years' imprisonment on Tuesday for frauds totalling $375,000.
Denise Irene Hogan, 44, portrayed herself to her victims as either a savvy financial adviser or a successful businesswoman.
In reality she was a Telstra worker with a serious betting problem.
Brisbane's District Court heard Hogan had the ability to trick intelligent people - including a teacher and a member of the defence force - into handing over large sums of cash without any paperwork.
Former girlfriend Nadine Harrington met Hogan on the internet and fell for claims she was a successful options trader who'd "look after her".
Ms Harrington let her new girlfriend access her bank account and even lent her $100,000, which the serial fraudster pumped into her Centrebet account.
Another woman who met Hogan on the internet invested more than $100,000 with her, thinking she'd get double her money back.
However Hogan took the money and stole more from the woman's bank account, to which she'd also been given access.
And two female acquaintances lost $35,000 and $36,000 after falling for Hogan's investment ruse.
Prosecutor Katrina Overell called the former telecommunications worker a "convincing and ruthless fraudster" who'd been jailed in NSW for swindling a man out of his inheritance money.
Defence barrister Alastair McDougall asked the judge to take into account his client's gambling addiction and a childhood of horrific sexual abuse.
However Justice Leanne Clare said Hogan hadn't learned from her previous convictions and sentenced her to six years' imprisonment, with parole after 15 months.
"You showed ruthlessness in the execution of your offending as well as a gross abuse of trust which caused a great deal of pain and suffering," the judge told Hogan.
The fraudster has already served more than nine months in jail and will be eligible for parole in October.
Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/woman-conned-375000-from-friends-lovers-20140422-3720h.html#ixzz2zhhdSrHy
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