A TikTok mum broke down as a court heard how she used stolen money to fund her lavish lifestyle.
Raven Bianca Buck, 26, will spend no time behind bars, despite pleading guilty to one count of money laundering in Queensland’s Beenleigh District Court on Thursday.
The court heard the young mother’s then-boyfriend stole $151,000 from the Australian Taxation Office by claiming GST on false business activity statements.
Their scheme was stopped after more than $700,000 worth of false refunds were denied by the ATO.
Buck, who has 16,500 TikTok followers, received more than $48,000 from the scheme in 13 bank transfers over a five month period in 2022.
She withdrew at least $25,000 of the stolen funds in cash – and spent much of the money on a flashy car and expensive jewellery in just one day.
‘It’s known that she purchased over $6,000 worth of jewellery, as well as placed about $10,000 towards a Mercedes-Benz, which was her primary vehicle,’ Crown prosecutor Lauren Hall told the court, the Courier Mail reported.
‘Conversations revealed that, in her words, that he was doing dodgy sh*t and she didn’t ask him to be a criminal, but he was.
Raven Bianca Buck (pictured) used money scammed from the ATO to buy a Mercedes-Benz and $6,000 worth of jewellery in one day
Buck pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering in Beenleigh District Court (pictured)
‘She was away overseas at the time of a search warrant and had primary knowledge about the investigation, and her mobile phone was wiped.’
The court also heard Buck had struggled with mental health issues and was in an abusive relationship with her ex at the time.
She has spent the last three years in a steady job while providing as a single mother.
Buck was seen wiping back tears as her circumstances laid bare in court.
At one point, Judge Amanda McDonnell paused the proceedings to offer her tissues.
Judge McDonnell ultimately reduced Buck’s sentence as she was a young offender with limited criminal history.
She also noted that Buck pleaded guilty to her crimes early in the legal process.
‘You’re to be sentenced on the basis that you were aware that there was a substantial risk,’ Judge McDonnell said.
Buck (pictured) was handed an 18-month suspended sentence with the judge noting her limited criminal history and early admission of guilt
‘It was therefore unjustifiable for you to spend the money knowing there was a risk it was tainted property that you recklessly engaged in money laundering.’
Buck received a 18 month suspended jail sentence.
She refused to comment on the verdict as she left the court.
