Drones, gold bars and bikes on hit list
The stolen cheques were signed with ‘‘from Santa’’ and ‘‘hahaha’’ but companies still showered Jason Gregory with drones, motorcycles and gold bullion – one even sending him twice what he ordered.
Little of what he managed to get has been recovered. He told police it was not his fault the seller provided the goods and that he believed he obtained lawful ownership of them.
In a fraud crime spree that would not be out of place in a Hollywood script, Gregory got hold of stolen chequebooks and began ordering goods from all over the country.
He ordered two drones worth $14,797 from Ferntech Ltd in November 2018 using a fake name and gave his address. The drones were delivered, then the cheque bounced.
Shortly after he went to Drone Depot, placing three orders for $30,788, $39,087 and $112,898. The cheque he deposited was signed off ‘‘hahaha’’. Drone Depot, however, had been contacted by Ferntech and never sent the equipment to Gregory.
Mighty Ape, a well-known online shop, was next on Gregory’s hit list. He ordered drones worth $18,521. Again, he deposited a cheque signed off ‘‘hahaha’’ but the order was cancelled.
In January, Gregory branched out to Trade Me. He agreed to buy an $8000 motorcycle, using another cheque signed off with his now trademark ‘‘hahaha’’.
Gregory also wanted gold. He ordered gold online from Morris and Watson, 30oz for $58,671 under the name Josh Frazer. Again, he used a cheque, this time signing it ‘‘from Santa’’. The gold was delivered to an associate and has not been recovered.
He also went to Regal Casting, who sell gold and precious metals. He ordered two 5oz gold bullion bars for $18,445.54. By mistake, Regal Casting sent two 10oz gold bars, which have never been found.
Gregory then tried Mighty Ape again, ordering more drones, for $4610, that were sent to him.
He tried for jewellery from Walker and Hall for $35,580 and $27,540, and 10 guns from Gun City, along with 10 thermal scopes. Neither sent the goods.
Gregory bought a motorcycle off Trade Me for $4250 using another cheque signed ‘‘from Santa’’. It was sent before the cheque was dishonoured.
In January, Gregory began to pass counterfeit money at service stations and at bars, asking for change. Not all the places he went to picked up that the money was counterfeit. He ordered three children’s motorcycles, two trail bikes and a quad bike from Sargent Motorcycles. All were delivered but only the quad bike was recovered.
In February, he tried a third time to get gold, along with silver, but the purchase was cancelled by the company.
He also beat up the man who received one of the motorcycles for him.
Gregory was jailed in 2009 for beating and robbing a Canadian tourist and was the driver of a car in 2016 that forced pedestrians to leap out of harm’s way as he sped along the walkway on Wellington’s waterfront.
He has pleaded guilty to charges of dishonestly using documents and is to be sentenced in Wellington District Court next week.