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Pythoninfinite
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The story on Neil Simpson's recent court appearances and his conviction last week is in today's Daily Telegraph...
Jamie
Jamie
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Pythoninfinite
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The interesting thing is that identity theft and fraud are the main game for this man - DoEH investigators and police uncovered a treasure trove of stuff which has yet to see the light of day.
"Investigators uncovered a suburban snake pit downstairs and an identity fraud factory upstairs when they raided an ordinary-looking Padstow home last year."
He was jailed for fraud in 2000, but it seems he's a hard learner... It's tough on his family.
Jamie
"Investigators uncovered a suburban snake pit downstairs and an identity fraud factory upstairs when they raided an ordinary-looking Padstow home last year."
He was jailed for fraud in 2000, but it seems he's a hard learner... It's tough on his family.
Jamie
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Pythoninfinite
Guest
Unfortunately there are limits on the fines that can be imposed, and he would have received some concession for pleading guilty. He may even have got a custodial sentence, given his history, if he didn't plead guilty. I'm sure his highly-paid legal team (QC, barrister) would have told him it was in his interests to plead guilty.
He pleaded not guilty in Perth for his WA offence, was found guilty, then appealed the guilty decision in the Supreme Court, only to have to fork out $15,000 when his appeal was dismissed as ridiculous.
I just received a note from a friend of mine in Perth who's a forensic accountant with the Australian Crime Commission to say that the matter has been widely circulated to agencies around the country.
Jamie
He pleaded not guilty in Perth for his WA offence, was found guilty, then appealed the guilty decision in the Supreme Court, only to have to fork out $15,000 when his appeal was dismissed as ridiculous.
I just received a note from a friend of mine in Perth who's a forensic accountant with the Australian Crime Commission to say that the matter has been widely circulated to agencies around the country.
Jamie
andynic07
Very Well-Known Member
Out of interest was the fine only for the reptiles or did that also encompass the fraud?
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Pythoninfinite
Guest
Mostly to do with using false identities to hide his real ID in reptile transactions I believe. There's no doubt he'll feel that he's the victim here, but identity theft is not a victimless crime - he has left a trail of wreckage wherever he goes, and the wrecking intensifies as he's being held to account.
Jamie
Jamie
Pauls_Pythons
Very Well-Known Member
2k + 9k costs
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Pythoninfinite
Guest
He was fined overall $21,000 plus $18,000 costs for his NSW offences. I think the $2K + $9K was for his WA offence, which after appeal cost another $4K, $15K all up.
Jamie
Jamie
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The Reptile Outlet
Well-Known Member
This has been a long time coming.
Justdragons
Very Well-Known Member
is this the bloke who over time has ripped off a lot of aps members?
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Snowman
Guest
Guessing now is a bad time to ask for my RA subscription refund 
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Pythoninfinite
Guest
Guessing now is a bad time to ask for my RA subscription refund
You'd probably be guessing right Snowy
! Although I'm surprised he's not still promising "Issue 3 will be out next week, with Issue 4 to follow shortly thereafter..." That was the promise for months, even though Issue 2 was 6 months late. It's a pity to joke about it now, because the potential was huge if the focus was developing the magazine instead of waging vendettas against imagined threats. If it had all gone as originally planned and it was built on sound finances, it would be the best herp magazine in the world today, but he first kicked the Kuligowskis in the teeth, and progressively everyone else who had an interest in its success, including me. Jamie
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Bluetongue1
Guest
Thanks for the laugh, Snowman. Very clever!
His legal team did a job and a half to keep him out of jail as he was gone for all money. One can only wonder who convinced him to get the best legal advice this time around. Probably family. It certainly would have cost. As Jamie pointed out elsewhere, a Queen’s Counsel is extremely expensive. I think the other thing to bear in mind is that part of the penalty is the confiscation of all illegally held or illegally obtained reptiles, with zero recompense. That is a loss of big bucks straight out of his pocket and it will hurt.
Blue
His legal team did a job and a half to keep him out of jail as he was gone for all money. One can only wonder who convinced him to get the best legal advice this time around. Probably family. It certainly would have cost. As Jamie pointed out elsewhere, a Queen’s Counsel is extremely expensive. I think the other thing to bear in mind is that part of the penalty is the confiscation of all illegally held or illegally obtained reptiles, with zero recompense. That is a loss of big bucks straight out of his pocket and it will hurt.
Blue
I think there should be a life ban from owning reptiles, If you are convicted of being involved in smuggling. whether you smuggled them yourself or just brought them once they were here. Its disgusting what people will do to animals for money and there are a couple of people that have been convicted of this, they get a slap on the wrist and then continue to breed/keep large collections. the fine is a joke if he had sold just the albino boa it would of covered the lot...
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RedFox
Very Well-Known Member
If everyone who had bought an imported animal or progeny of an imported animal were banned for life, there would be a lot less people in this hobby...
Good to see the authorities being proactive hopefully it continues.
Good to see the authorities being proactive hopefully it continues.
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Pythoninfinite
Guest
Actually I think you'll find that albino Boas are a pretty much a dime a dozen - not much more expensive than normal coloured ones. To my knowledge he has never had a keeper's licence in NSW, and probably has never aspired to. His wife has been the licence holder. This is a manipulative and narcissistic individual with a massive and misplaced sense of entitlement, couldn't care less who he hurts as he slimes his way through his and other people's lives. Chameleon Geckos are one species he was especially interested in, and are worth a lot of money here and overseas - worth a lot more than albino Boas.
Jamie
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Bluetongue1
Guest
The obvious conclusion to be drawn from this is that the police agencies believe he is at high risk of offending again. Given that these agencies spend their professional lives dealing with such individuals at a level that allows them to discern recalcitrant recidivists from redeemable individuals, it reflects very poorly on Neil.
Blue
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Pythoninfinite
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Mike, despite his early suggestions that these charges would "come to nothing," he was obviously worried about the potential for conviction, indicated by his choice of very expensive representation, and I suspect his pleading guilty was based on legal advice, as I understand a custodial sentence was a possibility. Simpson seems to have access to very large sums of money from time to time, so I doubt if he feels much pain in that regard. Easy come, easy go...
Jamie
Jamie
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