A Sydney man is set to appear in court today charged over his alleged role in defrauding $3.5 million from the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
The 31-year-old, a director of a registered NDIS provider, was charged following a lengthy investigation by the Australian Government Fraud Fusion Taskforce, which brings together the Australian Federal Police, the National Disability Insurance Agency, the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission and the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission.
Investigators allege the probe began in February 2025 after the ACIC detected anomalies in the man’s financial activity. It is alleged he was involved in laundering millions of dollars obtained through fraudulent NDIS claims.
Police claim the accused repeatedly withdrew large sums of cash from multiple bank accounts across different banks between 2022 and 2025, allegedly to assist himself and others to launder the suspected proceeds of crime. The funds are alleged to have come from NDIS claims submitted for supports and services that were never delivered to participants.
In December 2025, AFP officers and NDIA fraud investigators executed a search warrant at a Villawood home in Sydney’s south-west. During the search, police allegedly seized $35,000 in cash believed to be proceeds of crime, along with air guns and gel blasters.
The man was later issued with a court attendance notice and is expected to appear before Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court today, charged with one count of dealing with money reasonably suspected to be proceeds of an indictable crime valued at $1 million or more, contrary to section 400.9(1AB) of the Criminal Code (Cth). The offence carries a maximum penalty of four years’ imprisonment.
The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission has issued a notice of intention to ban both the individual and the provider from operating within the Scheme. Investigations by the NDIA and the Commission are continuing, with further regulatory action anticipated.
AFP Detective Inspector Aidan Milner said authorities were determined to stop criminal exploitation of government programs designed to support vulnerable Australians.
“Fraud against Commonwealth programs is a key focus for the AFP and our partners, and we will be relentless in pursuing those who seek to exploit the welfare system,” Det Insp Milner said. “We will not stop pursuing groups who chop and change companies in a cynical effort to hide their criminal behaviour.”
NDIA chief executive Graeme Head said strong intelligence-sharing and collaboration across agencies were central to protecting NDIS participants. “Most providers do the right thing, but for the small number who don’t, they should expect a knock on the door,” he said.
NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commissioner Louise Glanville said fraud against the Scheme would not be tolerated. “By working together with our partners, we are removing bad actors and ensuring those who abuse the NDIS are held accountable,” she said.
ACIC national manager Chris Davey said the Fraud Fusion Taskforce played a critical role in disrupting organised crime targeting the disability sector.
The charge follows a broader national crackdown in November 2025, when taskforce agencies executed 33 search warrants across New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia and South Australia, seizing more than 43 terabytes of data as part of an AFP-coordinated operation targeting serious financial crime and money laundering.
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