Real estate agent jailed

A REAL estate agent took more than $110,000 from his clients’ trust accounts to try to save his flagging business and fund his lifestyle.

Anthony James Mauceri took the rental money tenants had paid into trust accounts and the deposit for a home from a buyer between January and June 2019.

A majority of the 63 transactions were made in May and June of that year. He was found out when one of his clients went looking for missing rent.

The 60-year-old pleaded guilty in Southport District Court to a real estate salesperson dishonestly converting an amount to own or someone else’s use.

Judge Katherine Mcginness sentenced him to three years’ prison, to be suspended after he has served seven months.

Judge Mcginness noted it was “fortunate” that the victims had been compensated.

Crown prosecutor Christopher Cook said: “His business was going downhill and then he engaged in conduct of stealing from the trust accounts to fund the lifestyle he was living and try and keep the business going.”

The court was told his real estate agency had since folded.

Defence barrister Jason Buckland said most of the money was used to pay employees’ wages and commissions.