Stunning details have been brought to light after Daniel Hausman entered a guilty plea and an agreed statement of facts was tendered to the court, which includes how he allegedly recruited journalist Stephen Barrett to help blackmail the syndicate out of $25 million.The agreed facts also state Daniel Rostankovski aka “Big D” threatened syndicate members by saying members of the Commancheros, an outlaw bikie gang, were “waiting downstairs … to come and belt the f**k out of you guys”.
Police allege several people defrauded the Commonwealth of more than $105 million between March 2014 and May 2017.Barrett has pleaded not guilty to making an unwarranted demand with the intention of obtaining a gain. Adam Cranston, who is the son of former deputy tax commissioner Michael Cranston, his sister Lauren Cranston, lawyer Dev Menon and referrer Jay Onley will stand trial next year after pleading not guilty to being involved in the tax fraud scam. The syndicate allegedly used a company called Plutus Payroll, which funnelled millions of dollars of tax and GST through a web of lower-tier companies headed by fake directors.
Rostankovski pleaded guilty to his role in the scheme, including keeping the fake directors in line.Court documents state Rostankovski allegedly told Hausman in 2016 he felt “discriminated” and “taken advantage of” by members of the alleged syndicate, including Adam Cranston.Hausman said he recently had a disagreement with Cranston, who he shared a Double Bay office space with. He said Cranston “intimidated him” with a rifle and emailed him anti-Semitic material, which he was “deeply upset” about since he had lost family members to the Nazis, according to the court documents. Hausman and Rostankovski played leading roles in blackmailing the syndicate, threatening media exposure and reputational damage unless $5m cash was forked out fast. Hausman agreed he played a “crucial role”.In January 2017, Hausman allegedly recruited long-time acquaintance and former Channel 7 and 60 Minutes producer Stephen Barrett, who Hausman referred to as “news man”, the documents claim. Hausman allegedly had a series of phone conversations with Barrett about their plan, including meeting him and Rostankovski in Newtown twice, the documents said.Barrett allegedly sent a text to Hausman on WhatsApp after the meeting, which said: “If what you tell me is spot on … Then we have a tiger by the tail …”Hausman allegedly met with Barrett and Rostankovski in the CBD on the morning of the first blackmail attempt on February 1, 2017, before the later two met Adam Cranston and Menon at Clamenz Lawyers.The court documents state Barrett allegedly introduced himself as a journalist with more than 39 years experience. He said he was aware of tax fraud allegations and asked to interview members of the syndicate. He said declining an interview with them could be detrimental, and he could sit down with the treasurer at the time, Scott Morrison. When Barrett left the meeting, the facts state Rostankovski threatened the men saying he had all the “Commo boys waiting downstairs … to come up and belt the f***k out of you guys”.Hausman said this was not in the plan.As pressure mounted on the syndicate, Hausman repeatedly sent WhatsApp messages, emails to others involved which included: “Silence is the deadliest weapon. Trust me. You’ve done your best. I’ve got these c****s on their knees. ($5m) is pittance”, and, “They’re over a barrel but it’s in their nature to fight to the end”.A few days later, Hausman said the situation needed a “final poke” and Barrett allegedly said he was “happy to do it”, according to the facts.After receiving the $5m, Hausman orchestrated the second blackmail — this time to get $20 million.He gave instructions for parts of the cash to be transferred to offshore accounts in Lebanon and Hong Kong.On February 15, 2017, Hausman drafted a message that read: “Now we have 9 weeks to bring down ARMAGEDDON and spank these c****s for the next 20 brother. Good stuff xx.”Hausman sent Rostankovski a draft message to be sent to the alleged syndicate: “Stop the bullshit and keep up the payments I strongly suggest”.He sent a message to another person which read: “ … they are all going to Long Bay. They will pay. But it’s in their nature to fight. Go get em you animal xx.”About 11am, on May 16, Hausman sent his partner Jessica Van Schreven a photo via WhatsApp of a wad of $50 notes and a wallet on top of a toilet with the caption, “How you deal with a journo”.The Daily Telegraph is not accusing Ms Van Schreven of any wrongdoing. Later the same day, Hausman confirmed in a group chat he “juiced (Barrett) up with ($2000) today” and “promised him ($8000) on success.”Hausman was arrested as part of Operation Elbrus and a search at his property found handwritten notes relating to the blackmail.He is due to be sentenced on March 23, 2021, after pleading guilty to making unwarranted demands with menace and dealing with the proceeds of crime.
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