WHERE the rest of us see tragedy and uncertainty, they are accused of seeing opportunity.
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They are the alleged bushfire and COVID-19 fraudsters; men and women accused of taking advantage of schemes that are there to provide financial relief and support to help the most vulnerable people through one of the toughest years in recent history.
Detectives established Strike Force Roche to investigate alleged fraudulent claims for bushfire disaster relief and small business grants through government agencies and have so far charged half a dozen people in the Hunter.
Ellen Louise Howard, 31, of Aberdare, will appear in Cessnock Local Court again on Wednesday after she was arrested last week and accused of applying for 34 support and recovery payments she was not entitled to between March 12 and September 13 this year.
She was allegedly granted 11 payments, totalling $104,000, and attempted to obtain a further $258,000 in grants which she did not get, police say. Ms Howard, who is represented by solicitor Matt Unwin, has not entered pleas and remains behind bars after being refused bail by a registrar in Newcastle Bail Court on Saturday.
Another woman, Emmalee Jane Taylor, 28, of Killingworth, appeared in Toronto Local Court on Tuesday charged with one count of dishonestly obtain financial benefit by deception.
Ms Taylor, who is represented by solicitor Iain Bruce, pleaded not guilty and the matter was adjourned until February so detectives could serve a brief of evidence.
Ms Taylor is accused of fraudulently obtaining a $10,000 grant through a bushfire small business support scheme. Ms Taylor was arrested on November 11 and remains on conditional bail. Meanwhile, Belmont South man Stephen Gregory Hancock, 37, was arrested earlier this year and charged with four counts of dishonestly obtaining a financial advantage by deception for allegedly fraudulently obtaining $110,000 through government support grants.
Mr Hancock, who is also represented by Mr Bruce, will appear in Belmont Local Court on Wednesday.
Strike Force Roche detectives arrested Mr Hancock again last month, raiding his home and seizing a milling machine, which police allege was bought with fraudulently obtained funds, and ammunition.