On 23 April 2021, Mr Vaughn Thomas Hopkins appeared at the Dandenong Magistrates’ Court and pleaded guilty to four charges of obtaining a financial advantage by deception contrary to section 82(1) of the Crimes Act 1958 (Vic).

Following his guilty plea, Mr Hopkins was sentenced to a fine of $3,000 which was imposed without conviction.

The charges followed an ASIC investigation into Mr Hopkins’ conduct between 2014 and 2015 while he was a finance broker at Combined Motor Traders, a Cranbourne used-car dealership.

ASIC alleged that Mr Hopkins obtained car loans by submitting loan applications for four customers supported by false documents that had not been provided to him by the customers. The loans totalled $61,109.40 and were approved by Esanda, a division of ANZ at that time. Mr Hopkins was paid commission based on loans that he arranged.

The matter was prosecuted by the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions after an investigation and referral of a prosecution brief by ASIC.

Background

In December 2016, ASIC permanently banned Mr Hopkins from engaging in credit activities (16-456MR).

On 1 December 2020, Mr Adam Edward Greene, also a former finance broker at Combined Motor Traders, was sentenced after pleading guilty to four counts of fraud involving approximately $85,300 (20-313MR).

On 22 March 2021, Mr Daniel Wilson, also a former finance broker at Combined Motor Traders, appeared at the Ringwood Magistrates’ Court on four counts of fraud, involving approximately $56,454. Mr Wilson’s matter has been adjourned to 20 May 2021 for further mention.