A prosecutor has told Darwin local court that NT Police advised him: "Probably only a quarter of the people have reported the scheme."
He said: "There is a potential for other victims, based on information from police, but they're unable to charge."
29-year-old Michelle Thorpe fronted court on bail yesterday to plead guilty, while her co-defendant and spouse, 38-year-old Wesley Purcell remains in custody.
Through a rather unsophisticated online scam, the offending was carried out via the Facebook account: www.facebook.com/wesley.purcell.1 and on Gumtree through the email address shellyem0503@gmail.com.
The 39 scam transactions involved items never delivered, including a PlayStation5, tickets to the 'Easter Show', a box of Pokemon cards, a Fujifilm camera, Bass in the Grass tickets, Paul Kelly concert tickets, Kerser concert tickets, Kulin Bush Race tickets, Microsoft Surface Pro6 Laptop and more.
The most popular items scammed were the Apple iPad Pro and DJI Mavic2 Pro drone.
In all circumstances, victims were either blocked on Facebook or email correspondence stopped once the money was electronically transferred via PayID or direct deposit.
Bank accounts with several financial institutions were involved in the scam, along with multiple mobile phone numbers.
The offending was reported by victims to police via 'ReportCyber'.
A Darwin judge will have to decide later this month whether Thorpe will end up in jail on the 39 charges of 'Obtain a Benefit By Deception'.
Her lawyer put forward a case for a home detention assessment, with her partner Wesley Purcell currently in custody.
The charges relate to a period of offending from January 29th 2021 to November 27th 2022.
The prosecution said during their submission: "With regards to sentencing, we [barely audible] afford you the balance between punishment, and rehabilitation of the defendant.
"We do note the offending occurred in the home where the children were present. For that reason we believe a full term of imprisonment is the only available outcome because these are serious charges.
"Victims made payment via Pay ID and never received the items they were paying for.
"The victims are seeking restitution. We believe the defendants in this case have shown little remorse for the victims."
- Prosecution
Judge MacDonald responded: "They certainly showed no regard for the victims, with the offending. What do you know about any remorse."
Prosecution: "It hasn't been indicated as such your honour."
Retiring Judge Greg MacDonald presided over the matter, and commenced his remarks: "Michelle Emily Thorpe has pleaded guilty at a reasonably early opportunity. Certainly not the earliest opportunity.
"These agreed facts show that this is clearly a calculated, premeditated, and protracted course of criminal conduct.
"A period of some 22 months over which it's thought that her co-offender knowingly went about obtaining money on the basis of false representations on the sale of goods to people online.
"It was inevitable that considerable sentence of imprisonment be imposed for this sort of sentencing.
"However. The issue before me today is not that simple. We also have to consider whether the matter can be dealt with by way of a home detention order in whole, or in part, for the offending.
"The reason why that has to be considered in this case. There are two reasons.
"One, there are two young children of the defendant. I've been told nothing about the possible arrangements of their welfare in the event Ms Thorpe is sent into custody.
"I presume the children's families will take care of them if no arrangements have been made.
"I'm told Ms Thorpe's partner is in custody facing the same charges to which she has pleaded guilty today.
"I do note she has no criminal history in the NT, and I'm told by Mr Fraser for the prosecution that he's not aware of any criminal history elsewhere.
"Ms Thorpe is 29 years old and therefore an absence of a criminal history is relevant.
Documents were provided to the judge in relation to Thorpe's children's needs, which The Mango Inquirer will not detail online as a matter of privacy.
The judge went on: "The situation is complicated by the fact that I will no longer be sitting as a judge after Tuesday next week.
"That means another judge will have to complete the sentencing process, if I do return the matter for a home detention order.
"I'm not going to decline to take that step, simply because of my own circumstances.
"I will adjourn the matter so that a report on the possibility of a home detention order can be obtained. Another judge will need to weigh the facts found in exbibit B1 and the home detention reports will need further submissions a-fresh.
"I am of the view some standards of imprisonment are inevitable because of the extreme seriousness, in my mind, of the nature of the offending.
"An order of a suitability report is a 15-day turnaround, so I adjourn that to the 23rd July 10am.
"Bail is extended."
We are The Mango Inquirer.
