Fraudsters behind 'devastating' Canberra fraud plot avoid jail time

Key points

• Three people who defrauded a Canberra electrical wholesaler have avoided jail time. Ricky Byrne and Steven Quilter, former managers at POPES Electrical and Data Supplies in Phillip, used false invoices, refunds and stolen stock to defraud the business of hundreds of thousands of dollars between 2016 and 2019.
• Lisa Quilter helped sell the stolen stock. The wholesaler lost more than half a million dollars and closed two stores, laying off 12 staff.
• All three pleaded guilty and will serve intensive corrections orders in the community. Byrne and Steven Quilter must also pay a combined $250,000 in reparations.